Funicular

A funicular or funicular railway, also called inclined plane, is a system of transportation in which cables are attached to a tram-like vehicle on rails to move it up and down a very steep slope. The vehicle is specially designed for the particular inclination, so that seats and/or floors are horizontal. 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 are often used in the 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.

Funiculars are called tram or cable car in many places.

Gütschbahn in Lucerne from Führer für Luzern, Vierwaldstättersee und Umgebung, Luzern, 1893.

Funiculars of the world:

• Bergen, Norway
• Duquesne Incline[?] and Monongahela Incline[?], Pittsburgh, United States
• Gütschbahn[?], Lucerne, Switzerland
• Hong Kong Victoria Peak[?]
• Harderbahn[?], Interlaken[?], Switzerland
• Istanbul, Turkey (underground)
• Likabitos[?], Athens
• Lynmouth[?], Devon, UK
• Montjuïc, Barcelona
• Montserrat (mountain), Catalonia
• Montmartre, Paris, France
• Mendelbahn[?], South Tyrol, Italy
• Naples, Italy
• Nazaré, Portugal[?]
• Quebec City
• Tibidabo, Barcelona
• Vallvidrera, Barcelona
• Wellington, New Zealand (Kelburn)

See also: Kaprun disaster, Public transport

External Links

• Urban Mountain Railways and People Movers (http://www.p.lodz.pl/I35/personal/jw37/urbtr/funicul-eng.html)
• Fløibanen funicular in Bergen (http://tramandmetro.info/bttl-1.html)