Field aerial ropeway «Murman-Seilbahn»

Constructed by German troops in 1941-1942 for providing logistics of their front on Murmansk sector by order of 6th mountain troops division (commander - Major General Ferdinand Sherner). It was typical for so called military portable field aerial ropeway with hosting capacity 150 - 200 kg. Its constructively used single closed circle tractive-bearing rope and drive from internal combustion engine.

It was built by special military unit together with field engineers using the forced labor of Soviet war prisoners. Several complete sets were integrated into main provision ropeway.

It had been built from the two opposite directions: Petsamo and Bolshaya Litsa. The first sector of the ropeway was launched at the beginning of 1942. The constructive works were finished in autumn 1942.

«Murman-Seilbahn» - is the longest ropeway in the world that ever been constructed for the military purposes. The ropeway consisted of separate sections that were united into one system with adjuster, driving and combined way stations.

Each of these stations was also used as a platform for loading-unloading work. Each section of the ropeway could work independently from the rest sectors.

The skips were of two different types - wood made platform (1,0 - 0,8 m) and metal made scoops.

The slips were fixed on figured metal bracket. The skips were disconnected automatically with the cable inside stations and were rolled out by hands on suspended monorail.

The ropeway was damaged by German troops at their retreatment during the Soviet Petsamo - Kirkenes operation in October 1944. It was disassembled for everyday necessities by Soviet troops and local residents after the Second World War. The fragment of the ropeway from original components has been under reconstruction since 2006 by the enthusiast to military history.