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Funicular, Abt, chain ferry, cable cars and other unusual railways

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From Chile to New Zealand to UK - ride the rails of history!

Funicular railways date back to 1515 but were most popular in late 1800s. The Abt rack and pinion railway system was built to combat very steep inclines. The underwater Chain ferry pulled a vehicular ferry across a river. Around the world some of the originals devices are still in operation.
I've rode on several funiculars, including the famous Ascensor Artilleria, the longest in Chile. I've see the remains of the Vesuvius funicular track.
Today in New Zealand householders are building private funiculars to carry them to their houses perched on the steep and inaccessible inclines.
Recently I experienced the West Coast Tourist railway in Tasmania's rugged wilderness. Operating on a rack and pinion system, it is named after its inventor, a German by the name of Abt.
The only chain ferry I know of is at Cowes on the Isle of Wight.

Pic: Ascensor Artilleria in Chile

View from the Abt railway in Tasmania

Setting off from Strahan at sea level, it's not hard to see that this line has risen to quite a height.
Here the view is spectacular from the rear carriage of the train overlooking one of the King River gorges which runs through the Tasmania's Wilderness area.

Old steam locomotives resored for Abt Tourist railway

A legacy of the old mining methods on Tasmania's west coast is the Abt railway which runs between Queenstown and Strahan on the west coast of Tasmania.
This 35 km railway incorporates a Rack and Pinion system to carry a train up some incredible rises. The engines used today are the 100 year old Steam Locomotives that worked on the line built for the Mt Lyell Mining & Railway Company.

Pic: Abt Engine No 3

Abt railway - Rated on of the TOP 10 railway experiences in the world

The track cuts through the wilderness by hand and its 40 trestle bridges and 2 iron bridges provide spectacular views of the King River as it winds through steep gorges and valleys.
The Abt tourist railway is ranked as one of the top 10 railway experiences in the world.

Wilderness railway bridge near Rinadeena station

Along the journey are several stops including stations at Lynchford, where you try your hand at gold panning, Dubbil Barril with its own quaint history and Rinadeena where the railway reaches its highest point and the passengers disembark for lunch.

Abt railway system - West Coast Wilderness railway

With inclines as steep as 1 in 16, the engine uses a steam driven cogwheel which engages with the twin toothed rack rail which runs down the centre of the 3ft 6in gauge line. This rack and pinion system allows the engine to pull the train up the steep hills.

Queenstown Tourist Railway Station, Tasmania

The full line opened in 1899 but ran into disrepair and closed in 1963.
After 37 years a group of enthusiasts decided to rebuild the line and after a massive restoration project the trains again steam through the wilderness forests.
While the rolling stock once hauled a fortune in pure copper, today's heritage style carriages carry tourists.

The world's oldest funicular - Reisszug, Austria - 1515

Reisszug funicular to Hohensalzburg Castle at Salzburg, Austria was first noted in 1515. Using wooden rails, the car was hauled by hand or animal power on a hemp rope. It may have used sled-style runners.
Today the original line has been replaced by steel cables and an electric motor though the route through the castle's fortified walls is the same.
The present funicular railway is 190 metres (620 ft) long, rises 80 metres (260 ft) with a maximum incline of 67 degrees.
The single track carries one car only with capacity for 3 passengers.
The Guage is 1.3 metres (4 ft 3 in) , maximum speed: 0.5 metres per second (1.6 ft/s) , journey time: 5 minutes 45 seconds

Note: The Reiszug should not be confused with the Festungsbahn, a funicular that provides public access to the Hohensalzburg Castle, and which dates from 1892.[1]
English: The Hohensalzburg Castle in Austria, showing the route of the historic Reiszug funicular. The lower route is picked out by two parallel vertical walls, whilst the gateways on the upper route can just be seen. For more information, please see the Wikipedia article Reiszug.

Author - Festung_Hohesalzburg_vom_Gaisberg.jpg: User:MatthiasKabel
Pic courtesy - Wikimedia Commons

MULES - busy little engines haul big ships

They run up and down the lines like ants - back wards and forwards.

They work on the locks in the Panama Canal.

I have set up a full page with plenty of pics about transitting the canal.
You can find it in one of the links below.

Railway tracks on the locks Panama Canal

It's not a light load to control.

Note: one mule at either side of the container ship.
There are also two at the bow which are not visible.

The unique Shipley Glen Tramway

The Shipley Glen Tramway is located only a few hundred yards from the LEEDS AND LIVERPOOL CANAL in Saltaire, Yorkshire.
It was built in 1895, for the benefit of the working classes and to attract them to the local beauty spot, Shipley Glen located near Saltaire in West Yorkshire.
At the time, it attracted thousands of visitors each weekend.
Sam Wells, an engineeer and entrepreneur par excellence, built the most amazing rides of the day on the green at the top of the Glen.
There was a Aerial Glide which transported the riders above the treetops in a gondola. And an Aerial slide.
There was a switchback railway and a togbboggan ride and of course the cable tramway.
It was an amusement park like no other - one hundred years ahead of its time.

Today only the tramway remains.

I took this photo when I vistited the Glen. I rode it to the top.(M Muir 2006)

Shipley Glen funicular Tramway - engineering facts

The Shipley Glen Cable Tramway is the oldest working cable tramway in Great Britain (cliff lifts excepted).
It runs for almost a quarter of a mile uphill through dense woodland.

The Tramway has a gauge of 20".
There are twin tracks with a tram on each line.
The maximum gradient is 1 in 7.
The Tramway started operating for th public on May 18th 1895.
It was originally powered by a Suction Gas Engine, then by Town Gas (which had problems due to the smell, and then Oil (1915) before being converted to electric in 1928.
It was the brainchild of engineer, Sam Wilson who erected several other rides on the green at the top of Shipley Glen.

Shipley Glen Tramway Museum

At the bottom of the tramway there is a museum.
It is well worth a visit.
There are lots of original old photos from the early 1900s and restored carriages from the tramway.
Beneath the museum you can see the original wheel which the cable passed around.

Visiting the Shipley Glen Tramway and its museum inspired me to include this funicular and Shipley Glen in my historical novel, THE BLACK THREAD (see link below).

Excerpt from Shipley Glen tramway notice

Engineer and entepreneur, Sam Wilson, realised the potential (of the land at the top of the Glen) and in 1888 he built the Ocean Switchback, a big dipper-type ride, in a field alongside Brackenhall Farm.
Shortly after came the Tobbogan Run Slide, advertised as the 'Longest, Widest and Steepest Tobbogan Slide ever Erected on Earth'.
In 1895 he opened the Glen Tramway which still runs to the top of the Glen today.
Such was the popularity of the Glen, that on Easter Monday 1913 it is said that 100,000 people passed through.

Valparaiso, Chile

From the top of the ascensor Artilleria you get a fantastic view of the city and coastline, and a parorama view over the docks and the beautiful bay which is Valparaiso Harbour.
Sorry that does not show in this photo.

The Maritime Museum, on the top of the hill, is well worth a visit.
I spent about three hours here and could have spent three days.
If you love ships and history - this is the place.
Much of its history stretches back to the days of the Spanish Conquistadors with heaps of 1800s models and artefacts, eg. a pair of pistols owned by Lord Cochrane.
I spent two nights in the town and only wished I could speak Spanish.

Chile - Ascensor (funicular railway)

I photoed this old funicular from the Cerro Artilleria.
It is obviously one of the older ascencors and is a long one too.

Perhaps someone can tell me the name of it.

Ascensor Artilleria - going up

This Funicular railway was built in 1893 and is still in constant use.
I've rode on it when I visited Chile in 2008.

It travels up from the busy streets of the port to the Old Custom House at the top which is now the Naval Academy and a wonderful Maritime Museum.

Chain ferry - Floating Bridge

Cowes, Isle of Wight

This unusual but effective system operates with an underwater chain to draw this vehicular and passenger ferry acorss the Medina River at Cowes, Isle of Wight on the South Coast of England.
The ferry operates on a regular basis 365 days of the year and is free to pedestrians.
When I visited the island a few years ago there was pressure for the ferry to be superceded but it is still going strong today.

Pic: 2006

Vintage Steampowered Quayside Crane

Steam crane - HobartThis vintage steam crane, built 1906 by Jessop and Appleby in Leicester, England, was last used in 1954. It stands at the entrance to Constitution Dock in Hobart where the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race finishes.

Note: Ancient meets modern - vertical wind generators on the building in the background provide electric power.

Wellington Cable Car

The Wellington Cable Car is one of Wellington's oldest and today is a popular tourist attractions.
It costs $3 one way or $5 return for a five minute journey from the heart of the city to the Wellington Botanic Gardens which provides a magnificent lookout over the City and harbour from the Hutt Valley to Mount Victoria.
Also situated at the top station if the award winning Cable Car museum which has been built in the original cable car winding room. A short walk through the gardens brings you to the Carter observatory and planetarium
History
1898 The Upland Estate Company set up The Kelburne & Karori Tramway Company to provide transport facilities between their proposed residential subdivision and the City.
1899 Work on the tram line began using prison labour from The Terrace Gaol. Three shifts worked road the clock to construct the system, including digging 3 tunnels with pick and shovel.
1902 The Cable Car started operating on 22 February 1902 and proved to be an instant success with over 425,000 passenger trips on the cable car in the first year.
Information from Wellington's cable car museum website.
Pic: MM

Wellington's 'Relentless Red Rattlers'

The Wellington cable railway rises 119 meters over distance of 610 metres and operates at a speed of 15.3 km/hour.
The car can carry a 100 passengers maximum load.
The main motor is a 185kw (240 HP) 500 volt DC traction motor, with a regenerative braking and field weaken breaking system
1. Regenerative motor braking
2. Hydraulic service brake controlled by the PLC
3. Hydraulic service brake
4. Car gripping brakes (2 per car)
Rope: 690 metres, 2200 KG 30mm right hand Langs lay polypropylene core, supported on 120 rubber track rollers overlength of track (18 years between replacement)
Rails 31 KG /per metre Australian high carbon steel - 1000mm guage on pine sleepers
For more information go to: http://www.wellingtoncablecar.co.nz/

NZ funicular's original winding gear

The original winding house for the cable car system has converted into an excellent museum which features the original winding gear in its original site, restored to working order.
This gear served the railway from 1902-1978 and appears as it did in 1933. At that time the steam engine that drove the winding room wheels was replaced by two 112 kw electric motors.
The 1,490 metre steel haulage cable, was driven by a system of wheels seen in the picture.
The haulage system - a funicular balance rope/endless street cable car driving rope hybrid - is believed to be the only one of its kind in the world.
For more information go to: http://www.cablecarmuseum.co.nz/displays.html
Pic: MM

Restored cable car - Wellington funicular

One of the main attractions in the Wellington museum is seeing two of the original cable car system's three grip cars and a trailer.
Grip Car 1 (1901) and its trailer (originally a horse-drawn tram c1882) have both been restored to their 1970s appearance. Grip Car 3 was meticulously restored over a nine-month period to its appearance c1905 in line with a detailed conservation plan.
For more information link to http://www.wellingtoncablecar.co.nz/
Pic: MM

Wellington's funicular - 'modern Swiss tin cans'

Going down!
The present day Wellington funicular railway was designed by a leading Swiss cable car company.
It operates two cars with a driven balance rope running on a single track. A passing loop is situated halfway up the hill. Besides the electric drive and control system, there are numerous safety features, including overload prevention and earthquake protection.
The new cars commenced service on 22 October 1979, and the "modern Swiss tin cans" were designed to reflect the old-world charm of the original carriages. Red exteriors trimmed with gold and interiors furnished in varnished hardwood helped to create the atmosphere.
If you ever visit Wellington, I can recommend a ride on the cable car and a visit to the museum.
Pic: MM

Italian funicular destroyed by volcano

While NewZealand's funiculars have been built to withstand earthquakes, the funicular on Mount Vesuvius could not withstand the spectacular volcanic eruptions of 1944.
If you climb to the top of Mount Vesuvious (the sleeping volcano which claimed the city of Pompeii in 79AD), you can still see the remnants of the funicular railway tracks.
This inclined railway inspired the song Funiculì, Funiculà, composed in 1880.

Note: The word funicular comes from the Latin funiculus, a diminutive of funis, "rope".
The basic principle of funicular operation is that two cars are attached to each other by a cable, which runs through a pulley at the top of the hill.

Pic: From the crater of Mt. Vesuvius you can see a cable and the remains of a platform and in distance the city of Naples.
For more on Italy go to my Cruising Europe site near bottom of page.

One of Scarborough's working funiculars

Scarborough is a seaside on the North Yorkshire Coast.

I remember the thrill of riding the funicular when I was a child on holiday in Scarborough and I still enjoy it today.

The oldest funicular railway in Britain dates from 1875 and is in Scarborough.

St Nicholas Cliff funicular railway, Scarborough

More to come

Photo: Courtesy Virtual Tourist Website 1743908.jpg

THE CONDOR'S FEATHER

A dramatic adventure set in Patagonia in 1885

It was when I visited South America and was inspired to write this novel, that I enjoyed riding on the funiculars of Valpariso.
I didn't include them in this book but they are mentioned in an earlier book, The Twisting Vine, which is now only available in Large Print or from your local library.

THE CONDOR'S FEATHER is due July 2009.
To order at a BIG discount price and with FREE WORLDWIDE DELIVERY go to:
THE BOOK DEPOSITORY.
UK buyers can order postage free from the publisher www.Halebooks.com

For more details go to the link below.

Age of Sail novel from Margaret Muir

FLOATING GOLD

FLOATING GOLD, published May 2010 , has received excellent reviews by age-of-sail enthusiasts. Here are some excerpts:

FLOATING GOLD is a wonderful blend of classic Georgian naval fiction, a mystery/thriller and a grand treasure hunt. A rousing tale, well told. It's a well-paced and vividly drawn tale of adventure in the high latitudes and on the high seas. Highly recommended.
http://www.oldsaltblog.com

When you have read as many naval fiction novels as I have, the first challenge a new author and book has to meet is - do the story and characters seem fresh? This is a challenge Floating Gold achieves from cover to cover in a pacy narrative which held my attention.
Would I like to read more of Captain Quintrell, Lieutenant Parry, Acting Carpenter Will Ethridge and their adventures? I certainly would.
A book I recommend.
http://www.historicnavalfiction.com

FLOATING GOLD is a nautical thriller that involves a well-plotted treasure hunt. Other nautical heroes too have been chasing treasures on the high seas and in exotic locations, most often Spanish galleons loaded with gold, but none of them - to my knowledge - have ever been chasing a treasure like the one that is featured in this book.
It is an innovative and entertaining tale, rich on detail about England and life at sea, and a tale that is very well told.
FLOATING GOLD is an excellent nautical fiction debut by Margaret Muir. I hope she continues to write about Quintrell - a character that I feel has a lot of potential.
If you like historical fiction, salty sea tales or clever adventures, FLOATING GOLD is a book you should get hold of - it is very entertaining, well written and intelligently plotted! http://www.navyfiction.com

To order a copy go to Hale Books (UK) or The Book Depository (world-wide postage free).

My other sites - Website and BLOG

Margaret Muir's website
Mainly about books and fairly static
Margaret Muir's Blog
About all sorts - history, books, dogs, goats, sailing, travel, movies and more

The magic of TALL SHIPS and AMBERGRIS

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Matthew Brady - the gentleman bushranger


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GOATS, NEWFOUNDLAND DOGS and WRITING with KIDS

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Travel with me around the world

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Historical novels by Margaret Muir

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Do unusual railways interest you too?

  • ErHawkns7100 Nov 3, 2011 @ 12:28 am | delete
    Awesome stuff. I would love to visit some of these one day.
  • Michey Mar 29, 2011 @ 10:37 pm | delete
    Great lens with beautiful pictures and places, and a lot to learn and discover. I use the funicular in sky resorts in Europe, in Palm Spring USA (CA) and in Italian Alps. 5*
  • poddys Nov 16, 2010 @ 4:12 pm | delete
    Great lens. I have been on other funicular railways in Bournemouth (Dorset) and Linton/Lynemouth (Devon) in England. There is a big chain ferry close to the Isle of Wight, across the entrance to Poole Harbour in Dorset. I have been on the cable car in Wellington too.
  • Pan_narrans Feb 26, 2010 @ 4:56 pm | delete
    I'm Jealous, but try the ones in Genoa, they run up inside solid rock.
    Anyway my point in visiting is:
    I started writing some lenses explaining how to book train tickets on various European web sites. Then I thought it would be a good idea to join a Group that was interested in train travel.
    Then I found out that Groups were no more, they were in fact ex-groups, just lenses now.
    So I've made something for myself. Train Travel Compound Lens
    A compound lens is lots of little lenses that are grouped together to work as a single lens. Science teacher joke, sorry.
    I've tried to keep it simple, and am still relearning my HTML skills to make it a prettier.
    Since you have a lens that includes something about travelling by rail, I hope you will take the time to have a look at my work and perhaps join the group (with a small g) for mutual benefit.
    Comments are welcome, either at the Train Travel Forum, someone has to be first, or direct to me.
    Best wishes,
    Ian. aka Pan_narrans
  • throughglasseyes Sep 25, 2009 @ 5:44 pm | delete
    Thanks to Mr Conductor, for taking time out to leave a comment. Marg
    [in reply to Bryant "MR CONDUCTOR" Schmude]
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throughglasseyes

Hi, I live in Tasmania (Australia) and I'm an author. Last year I completed another course of study. Also in 2011 all my books were published in Paperback... more »

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