Schiefe Ebene

The Schiefe Ebene (German pronunciation: [ˈʃiːfə ˈʔeːbənə] ⓘ; literally 'inclined plane') is a steep incline on Bamberg–Hof section of the Ludwig South-North Railway in the region of Upper Franconia, in Bavaria, Germany.

The Schiefe Ebene is located in the Landkreis (country district) of Kulmbach, beginning east of Neuenmarkt–Wirsberg station and ending at Marktschorgast.

On its way into the Franconian Forest mountains the ramp climbs 157.7 metres over a distance of 6.8 kilometres and therefore has an average incline of 23‰ (UK: 1 in 6).

From 2001 to 2004 the Schiefe Ebene was also traversed by modern ICE-TD power cars (DBAG Class 605) with tilting technology.

The fireman, the engine driver and a non-commissioned officer died in the accident and an unknown number of people were injured.

An ICE TD on the Schiefe Ebene (March 2002)
41 018 climbing the Schiefe Ebene with 01 1066 as pusher (Video, 34,4 MB)
Double-headed pacifics on the Schiefe Ebene at Easter 1972.
41 018 climbing the Schiefe Ebene, November 2016