Has anyone modeled a funicular railway in HO or have ideas I could use? I would like to try and would appreciate advice on where I can see photos or a design. For an HO layout I would probably use N scale to keep the size relative as the cars and rails would seem to be smaller in prototype.
You might check out the “otis elevating railroad”. Very cool but long since gone. Do a google search or get the book “Rip VanWinkle Railroads” I believe that the author was Helmer. I don’t have my copy handy. Good luck with your search.
How about a 70.9% grade on a hillside railroad?
The Johnstown Inclined Plane has been the world’s steepest vertical railroad since 1891. It is still operating as a National Historic Landmark in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. It was built after the devastating Johnstown Flood of 1889 (2,209 victims) as a future escape route from flooding that was very beneficial in the 1936 Johnstown Flood, and was still used during the 1977 Johnstown Flood.
Main Page is http://www.inclinedplane.com/
Links Page is http://www.inclinedplane.com/othrvrr.htm
Here’s some text from the Links Page…
Funiculars, Inclined Planes and Vertical Railroads are all similar devises that pull a vehicle up a steep incline, utilizing a cable (steel rope) system. A variety of such vehicle systems exist around the world, from the simple one and two passenger variety, often used by homeowners who live atop cliffs or mountaintops, to those the size of Johnstown’s Incline, with cars that can accommodate vehicles as well as passengers. Some funiculars consist of many cars strung together, not unlike a true railroad.
Some, like Johnstown’s Incline, use two cars to counterbalance each other on two separate tracks. Others consist of two cars, on one track with a central siding where the cars separate and bypass one another, such as the Altoona Curve funicular. Other types of funiculars may utilize only one passenger car that is hoisted up and down the hillside or mountain.
I drive by this unique railroad almost every day, and have often thought about modeling it if the design and space allows it. A steep prototype would mean less layout real estate, and it would not necessarily have to be connected to any other part of the layout with an interchange. The Johnstown prototype offers hillside trees, obser
Thanks to ‘larak’ and ‘tgindy’ for the replies. As far as I know we only have one real cable railway in Australia, at Katoomba in the Blue Mountains. We have a few inclined plane units but these are mainly on private property. Enjoyed the ‘tour’ around the various sites mentioned by ‘tgindy’ - so much so I might try a cog railway after the style of Pikes Peak - not on such a grand scale though! The forums are great and an excellent source of information and ideas.
Here is another link for some good pictures and info.
Here is a link with pictures of funiculars in Portugal. Personally I like the one in Braga going to the Bom Jesus church on top of a hill. It is waterpowered. That would be difficult to model though.
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/pt/funicular/pix.html
greetings,
Marc Immeker