In days gone by, cities built on bluffs faced a dilemma as they grew:  how to efficiently move people from the top of the hill, where homes were being built, to the lower ground where many worked.  A roadway might go miles out of the way, so a more efficient system was devised, a funicular railway.  These cable-driven railways moved people from the top of the hill to the bottom (or vice versa) along a very steep incline.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has one such system.  The Duquesne Incline opened in 1877 and was restored in the 1960s.  Today it is still operational, affording a beautiful view of the city from the top observation deck.  A museum of the incline’s history is at the top station, and tours that show the workings of the system are also available.  With a maximum round-trip fare of $4.50 for a round trip (with reduced rates for many groups and ages), it’s a slow-speed thrill ride as you climb the steep hill and look out over the city from above.  It’s not just for fun, however, as it is still used by commuters to get from home to work or school.

The main station of the Duquesne Incline is located at 1197 West Carson Street in Pittsburgh, and operates from 5:30 a.m. to 12:45 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 7 a.m. to 12:45 a.m. on Sunday.

Another such cable car can be found in Dubuque, Iowa, where the Mississippi River bluffs rise high above the downtown area of the city.  The Fenelon Place Elevator is the world’s shortest, steepest scenic railway, and from the top visitors can see three states.  The Fenelon Place Elevator got its start in the early 1880s, but fires caused it to be rebuilt several times.  Today it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and visitors or commuters can enjoy the ride for $2 roundrip.  Children 5-12 are half-price, and kids under 5 are free, a bargain price for a moving history lesson.  The top of the Fenelon Place Elevator offers views of downtown Dubuque, the Mississippi River, and surrounding areas, and at the bottom there are several shops and restaurants.  The downtown business district is just a few blocks away.

The Fenelon Place Elevator is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., April 1 through November 30, and is located at 512 Fenelon Place in Dubuque.

Other cities around the world have built funicular systems to move people up and down steep inclines.  Have you had a ride on one of these cable cars?

Linda (minnemom) writes about family travel at Travels with Children.  She continues to ride on these funicular railroads despite a strong fear of heights.

There are many great views of Zacatecas, Mexico. Since the city is sandwiched between Cerro El Grillo (Cricket Hill) and the massive stone monolith known as La Bufa, the city has of necessity grown up the sides of the valley. Houses that clamber up the slopes are accessed via steep stairways that are torturous to climb but provide a lovely vista over church domes and multi-colored casitas that hunker together in the valley below, using up every bit of available space.

Crossing from one side of the valley to La Bufa hill

Yet with all this gorgeous colonial scenery on the ground, the very best view is seen from the Teleferico, a cable car that ferries passengers between the two hilltops and provides a bird’s eye view of the UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes the entire historic center of Zacatecas. In operation since 1975, the Read More »

Stechelberg to Murren gondola stops at the delightful high mountain village of Gimmelwald

From the center of Switzerland’s Lauterbrennan valley, I gazed up at the encircling Alps. Treeless gray slopes lead to razor-sharp peaks encased in pure white snow; although breathtakingly beautiful, the mountains also appeared inaccessible. Yet, I was bound for the tiny village of Stechelberg at the far end of the valley, where I would catch the gondola to Gimmelwald, an even smaller burg perched on the mountaintop. Read More »

Duquesne Incline Lower Station

I’m not sure what I was thinking when I added a trip up the Duquesne Incline to our Pittsburgh itinerary.  Maybe I didn’t realize quite how high or how steep the ride was.  Or maybe it’s because I didn’t realize the thing has been operating since 1877.  Once we got to the station, however, there was no turning back.  We bought our tickets and chugged along up the very steep hill, all the way to the top of Mt. Washington. Read More »