Funicular

A funicular, also called funicular railway or inclined railway, inclined plane, or in the United Kingdom a cliff railway, consists of a system of transport in which cables attach to a tram-like vehicle on rails to move it up and down a very steep slope.

Introduction

Funiculars are also called trams or cable cars in many places. Typically the steepness of the track does not vary very much, which differentiates the funicular from a cable railway. In addition, the cars of a funicular usually are permanently attached at the end(s) of the cable whereas the cars on a cable railway can usually detach and reattach to the cable during normal operation. The vehicle is often specially designed for the particular inclination, so that seats and/or floors remain roughly horizontal.

Related Topics:
Tram - Cable car - Track - Vehicle - Design

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It is thus a hybrid between cable transport and rail transport. Two cars at the end of a cable go alternately up and down on either two tracks or one track which splits and rejoins in the middle. Funiculars often occur in mountains. Many cities have short funiculars on hills or cliffs, such as the Montmartre funicular in Paris, or those in the English seaside resort of Scarborough.

Related Topics:
Hybrid - Car - Mountain - Hill - Cliff - Montmartre - Paris - English - Seaside resort - Scarborough

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Some urban funiculars are associated with a city's transit system. For example, the Montmartre funicular in Paris and the Montjuïc funicular in Barcelona are fare-integrated with those cities' metro systems.

Related Topics:
Montjuïc - Barcelona - Metro

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The world's steepest passenger railway is the Katoomba Scenic Railway, a funicular down the wall of the Jamison Valley near Katoomba, New South Wales, Australia, with maximum grade of 122% (52° from horizontal, 90° being vertical). http://infobluemountains.net.au/rail/ksr/Default.htm

Related Topics:
Katoomba Scenic Railway - Jamison Valley - Katoomba - New South Wales - Australia - Horizontal - Vertical

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~