Enjoy this short ride on the Worlds shortest and steepest railway. The Fenelon Place Elevator was built in 1893. It travels 296 feet (90 m) and angles up at 41 degrees. Track gauge is the standard 4' 8 1/2".
I've been on this many times through the years. My mother is from Dubuque. This was always on the things to do list when we would visit. We would also go to Eagle Point Park, the lock and dam, the Ham House. Mines of Spain and Crystal Lake Cave. Dubuque is one of my favorite cities. There was an elevator on 11th street at one time but it is long gone.
I think this is really cool, but the world's steepest funicular is the Stoosbahn in Switzerland, at 46 deg. The second steepest is the Scenic World funicular in Katoomba, Australia.
This indeed, is fun. I was born, in Dubuque, Iowa...1965. I remember stories of the steep hill, my two older sisters would remember. Cool find, thank you. Oh, The Mississippi River... My father, a 33 year Veteran in The US Coast Guard, has his own story about tossing me into the river, before I could walk. We went on to swim AAU as kids...
I visited Dubuque several times over the sigh years, first time, I was with my Dad, he grew up there, it was more than sixty years ago when he and I visited, yep, he showed me this iconic piece of Dubuque history, I never forgot it and made it a point to visit and ride up the hill as many times as I could on my driving trips going from Wisconsin to Las Vegas. When my Dad and I went there those years ago, we visited the Red Star beer bottling plant, actually was then in operation. Also the stockyards, recall the Dubuque canned hams, still love the taste, although, the hams now are no longer "Dubuque".
Awesome video! I will definitely have to visit soon. It reminds me of a smaller version of the Duquesne Incline, or the Monongahela Incline, both in Pittsburgh, PA, and still in revenue service. You can even transfer to light rail or the bus.
thanks for posting! I'm from Iowa originally and have never been on this but plan to next time I'm down that way. This almost makes me want to do a national trip finding and riding every Funicular I can find. The famous Angels Flight in LA was closed when I lived there back in 2008.
Me too! And it is not only beautiful but very historic with all the mining and furniture making. It is an important center for religon with monasteries and .colleges. And the paper box company that blessed many ball games over the years. need I go on? Class of 1960
As was I. However, I grew up atop the infamous "Bluff Liquor" (imagine "Hollywood" sign), not far from "Jail hill" road (so curvy, the city closed it due to so many car wrecks), where the rail tunnel through the bluff under us shook the house a bit.
I have been on the funicular in Zagreb, Croatia, which was opened in 1890 and has an elevation of 66m (100 feet) and an incline of 52%. The steepest funicular is the Stoosbahn in Switzerland (opened in 2017) which has a maximum gradient of 110% (47.7 degrees). The world’s shortest funicular is the Fisherman’s Cliff Walk Railway in Southbourne, England. It is just 39m (128 feet) long. Therefore, this funicular in Dubuque, Iowa, USA, while charming, is neither the shortest nor the steepest in the world.
The steepest funicular in the world is actually the Scenic-Railway in Katoomba Australia. It has an Incline of 128% or 52 degrees. The Stoosbahn is the steepest one in Europe, not in the world. But no shame, it's a common misconception.
Actually, there is a 66 meter (217 ft) funicular in Zagreb, Croatia. It started operating in 1890, (at the time it was powered by steam) and it still does to this day! It is about as steep, the inclination is 52%
Fran Bartoluci Actually, there is a 744 metre funicular in Muotathal, Switzerland. It started operating in 2017, (at the time powered by electricity) and it still does to this day! Its about as steep, the max inclination is 110%
@@legend_darkstar Actually, there is a 39 metre (128 ft) funicular in Southbourne, England. It started operating in 1935, (at the time powered by a 16 kW electric motor) and it still does to this day! It's about as steep, the inclination is 67%
I don't believe this is the shortest. I was on one in Capitola, California. It goes from a small parking lot on top down to a delightful restaurant along a small creek at the bottom called SHADOW BROOK. Highly recommend this place if your in the area.
I had no idea there was a funicular in Iowa. Or, Tennessee. Fascinating! I have only ridden the Monongahela and Duquesne "inclines" (as they're called), the last two remaining in Pittsburgh. . There were a dozen or so there at one time. This one is interesting because of the bypass in the middle. Pittsburgh's funiculars run side-by-side on separate tracks, 4 rails instead of 3. I would love to take a ride on this one.
@@imdeplorable2241 The one in Tennessee is called the Incline Railway and it's located on Lookout mountain. Google it for more information. Definitely one to ride if you have never been on it.
It's always claimed that the Katoomba Funicular in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia is the steepest funicular and I've actually been on it!
Lynton and Lynmouth North Devon is the coolest. Very steep and. Long and water powered. Passengers seats are flat and level with a huge angled tank underneath. Top car fills with water the brakes are release and guy at the bottom release enough water to tip the balance and up it goes.
Thank you very much for this very beautiful video which presents us perfectly this funicular with quality images. The installation is both simple and efficient. From a technical standpoint, we observe that the two cabins are pulled not by a single cable winding on two winches but by a second. Does this second cable simply unite for the two cabins by passing over 2 pulleys to balance their weight? The closing of the only cabin door is automatic by a lever system. Is it the same for the 2 gates of the top station? Thank you for this information.
James B bruh Same I remember going to the ice cream shop right around the corner. And I remember getting pissed going there and the elevators were in the middle
I am "inclined" to think that the Scenic Railway, at Katoomba, near Sydney could be steeper? It was originally just intended to haul coal,, but now passengers have to lie in reclining seats just so they don't fall out. It goes from dry tableland climate all the way down into rainforest. glades, about 300 feet.I think?
Went on that about 12 months ago and was told that it is the steepest and quickest in the world. It is a bit of a give away when you get in the seat and your knees are just about touching yur face trip lasts about 30 seconds
@@berniesteadman7642 I can not think of any shorter or steeper funiculars in the US. in fact, the Fenelon Place Elevator even claims to be one of the shortest and steepest funiculars in the world, although some other funiculars make the same claim, and the Fisherman's Walk Cliff Railway seems to be shorter and steeper than the Fenelon Place Elevator. Fenelon Place Elevator article: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenelon_Place_Elevator
What an interesting place, I wonder if the old people in those houses at the top get an annual discount pass? 😂 Very U.K. thing to ask ….. sorry 🤷🏻♂️ So, in all seriousness, what was at the top, that made them install it, was it housing, or religion, or business, or science? I can think of examples for all of those that I’ve seen similar funicular railway’s to. Must be spectacular up there during a good thunderstorm though! 👍🏻😷🏳️🌈🇬🇧
Residential at the top, business district at the bottom. www.fenelonplaceelevator.com/ Built, I would say, for the same reason they built them in the UK and Continental Europe. Dubuque is an interesting town. It gets this popular reputation as Midwestern Bland, mostly from people who have never been there. I've only been there once in my life, but I liked what I saw. Geology is different from much of the Midwest USA, escaped glaciation, so not as flat as one thinks of the Midwest. A fairly old town by USA standards, for the Midwest, and the area was Spanish and French, before the Louisiana Purchase. So lots of nice antique buildings (you're in the UK, it's all relative). A bunch of liberal arts colleges run by Catholic church and by Lutheran church, I think three theological seminaries. Fairly diverse economy, reportedly growing since the early 21st century. This is a town of about 57,000 people.