Funicular from an inclined elevator by the presence of two vehicles which counterbalance each other. The name "funicular" itself is derived from the Latin word "", the diminutive of , which translates as "rope". The basic idea of funicular operation is that two cars are always attached to each other by a cable, which runs through a pulley at the top of the slope. Counterbalancing of the two cars, with one going up and one going down, minimizes the energy needed to lift the car going up. Winching is normally done by an electric drive that turns the pulley. Sheave wheels
Hoist (device) Hoist (device) A hoist is a device used for lifting or lowering a load by means of a drum or lift-wheel around which rope or chain wraps. It may be manually operated, electrically or pneumatically driven and may use chain, fiber or wire rope as its lifting medium. The most familiar form is an elevator, the car of which is raised and lowered by a hoist mechanism. Most hoists couple to their loads using a lifting hook. The basic hoist has two important characteristics to define it: Lifting medium and power type. The lifting medium is either wire rope, wrapped