>>1796598It's a funicular with a level carriage, that's not particularly weird.
Now, the pantograph isn't used to draw power, instead both cars are connected in series to the motor at the top, so both have to give power for the funicular system to run, inversely, any car can stop the mechanism, which makes sense if there may be hazards on the road. Think of it like a water line with two faucets, only if you open both it'll run, at there'll be as much water as the least open faucet. Considering this is from the turn of the century it's stunningly brilliant engineering.
Other funiculars have pantographs at times, but they're usually just to power the electrics and/or for communication. And some have pantographs that are only used at the station to charge the battery for the electrics.
