The line opened in 1888, and is one of the few funiculars employing water propulsion.

At the upper station, tanks on the downhill car are filled with up to 7,000 litres (1,500 imp gal; 1,800 US gal) of water to ensure that it is heavier than the uphill car.

When the downhill carriage arrives at the lower station, the water is discharged and pumped uphill.

[1] In 1939, it was planned to convert the line to electric propulsion and to provide larger cars, but the outbreak of World War II prevented this.

In 1988 the line was protected as a technical monument by the State of Hesse.