Worlds shortest and steepest funicular railway Dubuque, Iowa 2018

[@jeffpierce725]

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.

[@PunmasterSTP]

Funicular? More like just plain ole fun! Thanks for sharing.

[@rickdees2411]

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".

[@travelingtom923]

Dubuque is a neat town

[@th3thrilld3m0n]

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.

[@marconiusrex24]

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.

[@travelingtom923]

Yes they are pretty neat. I would like to ride all of them one day.

[@marconiusrex24]

@@travelingtom923 Didn't realize how few of them still exist in the States. I'd probably need to expand my trip to Europe! :-)

[@jonathanrodway6684]

I come from the uk, I went on it back in June 2013. And I enjoy it 👍

[@gloriathornton9124]

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...

[@garbhanbyrne8132]

3:02 I'm sure he was glad that furry wasnt in the train with him

[@travelingtom923]

Yeah not sure what was going on with that guy.

[@rickokemp1244]

Wow! Even the wild animals ride the steep railway! Didn't even see him until you pointed it out!

[@TylerV73]

Lmfao 🤣 didn’t even notice that, place is super cool though, just visited today.

[@leighs.9463]

Plot twist: the camera man is also a furry

[@elosogonzalez8739]

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.

[@theleastofpilgrims3379]

wow, that’s actually 2 feet shorter than the rebuilt Angel’s Flight, which was originally over 300 feet. So it turns out the Angel’s Flight, which uses a very similar design, isn’t the Shortest Railway in the World after all! 😂 Thank you for sharing! :)

[@buddyclem7328]

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.

[@steveluck9541]

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.

[@lkytdsvc]

I love the rollers that hold the cable up, they're made of wooden logs.

[@gerardacronin334]

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.

[@two-scarredmask89]

I think they get away with it with the claim "scenic railway"

[@birusan2262]

fair enough, but this is pretty sick stuff for Iowa

[@gerardacronin334]

@@birusan2262 Well, I suppose that Iowa is the world to some people.

[@trikolo]

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.

[@fb5601]

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%

[@legend_darkstar]

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%

[@Jokaanan]

@@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%

[@LandNfan]

Thanks for posting. They fascinate me, but the only funicular I’ve been on is the one in Chattanooga, TN that goes up Lookout Mountain.

[@imdeplorable2241]

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.

[@kevincollins8014]

@@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.

[@theleastofpilgrims3379]

@@imdeplorable2241Angel’s Flight in LA also has a bypass in the middle (when it was first rebuilt in 1996 following a 30 year hiatus, the contractor, who was something of a shyster who only had experience with ski lifts, used a transmission to connect two cables together rather than wrapping one cable around a bullwheel as is customary, and provided inadequate maintenance instructions which did not mention the need to inspect the transmission and check the fluid levels - so this resulted in the gears shearing off and a collision happening. This design was insane, and the contractor, whose company name was itself equally wacky, “Yantrak” , fled to Mexico to avoid prosecution for manslaughter. I’m not sure if he was ever arrested. Suffice it to say, the third rebuilt Angel;s Flight and the original did not have that problem, nor does this, so I have and will continue to ride on this, and on similar systems which only have a single track before the passing loop, including one at Horseshoe Curve in PA that provides access to railway observation, and the funicular in Innsbruck, and the epic funicular in Bergen, Norway. These are also used on the three legendary funiculars in Lisbon, Portugal, which operates together with the five hill trams (which are electric trams, albeit very powerful electric trams which do things you wouldn’t think a streetcar was capable of, at speeds the Cable Car in San Francisco would be envious of), A passing loop is also used, if memory serves, by the funicular subway in Tel Aviv or in Istanbul, one or the other, possibly both; it is an extremely common configuration as it has the advantage of being much less expensive, especially for longer funiculars. Also in the UK, there is a funicular system in Wales which runs on the street, and has passing loops, similar to the system in Lisbon. I’ve never heard of any problems with the vast majority of these systems, except with the Yantrak designed lowest-bidder system installed when Angel’s Flight was rebuilt in 1996 (they used the original cars, and had the original machinery, but rather than use the original machinery they just installed a stupid design from a company not qualified to manufacture funicular railways, and indeed not really competent at ski lifts either; I have heard that even before the Angel’s Flight accident, ski resorts were removing Yantrak systems due to problems with reliability… I doubt such a fly by night would be able to secure such a bid these days, but at any rate avoiding companies whose name cheaply riffs off another, like “Yantrak”, is always a good idea. The other funicular in downtown LA, which had very similiar cars to this and the Angel’s Flight, called the Court Flight, did have two parallel tracks, but sadly closed in 1942 when due to WWII the elderly lady who inherited it from her husband was unable to hire any workers to help her run the system, but rumors are that the cars are preserved in a private collection.

[@susanlary6968]

I never knew this existed before Tom! now its on my bucket list to ride!

[@LemonJuice419]

I actually live in Dubuque and I ride this all the time

[@usmanmuhammed8897]

It's look a like security guard cabin.

[@pbblue1986]

According to the Guinness book of world records the shortest at 39 meters is fisherman's walk cliff lift in Bournemouth

[@termm-O-vision]

Unexpected furries

[@yelahneb]

2:50 😻

[@burroaks7]

lmfao I had to double take and rewind I was like wtf for real?? lol

[@Jokaanan]

World's shortest furrnicular railway

[@SamZarifYT]

Kill it with fire

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

This would make the setting of a great horror film.

[@kevanhubbard9673]

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!

[@oldfarmer9004]

We’ve been there! It’s an extraordinary view!

[@jeanclaudeMalbec]

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.

[@Baxfam1]

I was born in this beautiful city

[@richarddeckert291]

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

[@carlyaustin4683]

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.

[@elosogonzalez8739]

Been through there several times. Never knew this existed. I'd love to take a ride.

[@richierex]

One in Saltburn by the Sea in UK is shorter. It's 212ft and is water balanced

[@DawsonsMemes]

Interesting how they both share a single middle rail and separate in the middle

[@kevinketchum3974]

This is the town where Sylvester Stallone and director Norm J. shot the movie F.I.S.T. back in 1977.

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

That movie was bad.

[@travelingtom923]

Never heard of it but will check it out. I do like the 70's movies.

[@Shastasays]

I loved this ride. Scary at first but fun.

[@lylahbillmeyer3901]

When ur from Iowa and you took a school field trips there😭😂

[@jerrysmith1929]

I rode this years ago when I still was living in Iowa.

[@bluebear6570]

It may be the shortest, but not the steepest funicular railway in the world. The by far steepest is the Stoos railway in Switzerland with an angle of 47.7 degrees.

[@carsten4594]

Hah! You haven't seen the one at the Shadowbrook Restaurant, Capitola, CA.

[@KT4Dani]

Wow, is this a big cat at upper station 😅

[@travelingtom923]

It is!

[@robertorosso2820]

Fantastico vedere la città cosi. Meraviglioso. E un godere il panorama da non venire più giù.

[@rodyates1]

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?

[@jimspink2922]

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

[@zeeshanshaikh916]

Fabulous shot bro

[@williamanderson5437]

What about 'The Angels Flight' in Los Angeles - shorter than this I would think.....

[@glenngoetz3054]

This one is 2 feet shorter!!

[@shanelipe2552]

LOVE ANGELS Flight in LA.

[@stephenberry1205]

Steepest is 52 degrees 128% Scenic Railway Katoomba Australia according to Guinness Book

[@railwaystuff]

Its not the steepest one anymore

[@anthonypickel1455]

I love riding on the 4th street elevator

[@snozcocram]

I think Angeles Flight is smaller.

[@2quintly]

Outstanding, . . . .

[@legend_darkstar]

the steepest funicular is the stoosbahn tho with an incline of 110%

[@marconiusrex24]

maybe this one is the steepest existing built in the 19th Century though. ?

[@legend_darkstar]

@@marconiusrex24 well you wouldn't advertise it as the worlds steepest funicular then would you?

[@legend_darkstar]

@KS PRADEEP Mate, 110% means 110 Metres up per 100 Metres forward, not 110°! 110% is 47.73°

[@marty6055]

I will be in Dubuque next month. What is at the top? Is this a "must do" attraction?

[@travelingtom923]

The top is just a neighbor hood. I think it is a must do in the area. Doesn't take much time.

[@marty6055]

Thanks Tom.

[@hey_buddy_waz_up]

I remember my mother used to give me a handful of quarters, and let me ride this elevator while she was in the antique shops.

[@Grantz5K]

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

[@harri2626]

Your own Horseshoe Curve funicular is only 88m long.

[@nancyhernandez7833]

Did u guys hear the BNSF sd70 horn in the background

[@SB--dn1qf]

hell yea

[@eyestoenvy]

Pittsburg's seem both steeper and longer .......

[@freesaxon6835]

Yes it's great, but why is there a man dressed as a dog at the top ?

[@travelingtom923]

I wish I knew.

[@Thistle_Bee]

2:50 be like 😸

[@englishruraldoggynerd]

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! 👍🏻😷🏳️‍🌈🇬🇧

[@saudade2100]

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.

[@usmanmuhammed8897]

So beautifully place tell me which place?

[@travelingtom923]

Dubuque, Iowa, USA.

[@usmanmuhammed8897]

@@travelingtom923 ohh really really thanks I will come here. I will travel in this car. And watching beautifull surroundings.

[@hgy6677]

Literally Queenanne.

[@MachineHeadDissent]

They just had a special on television about this....

[@travelingtom923]

You should go ride it. Hard to tell how much longer this old stuff will still be around.

[@1943L]

The one in Folkstone UK. Looks shorter to me.

[@berniesteadman7642]

Correct. Shorter at only 39 meters and steeper at 67%. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisherman%27s_Walk_Cliff_Railway

[@ParasocialCatgirl]

@@berniesteadman7642 video is clickbait confirm???

[@berniesteadman7642]

@@ParasocialCatgirl It might be the shortest and steepest in the US. I'd say badly researched/titled clip rather than clickbait

[@SleepTrain456]

@@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

[@shchef18]

if you do the math, it goes about 1 mph. fast car noise here

[@MicahTrainVlogs]

The worlds steapest railway is in Australia in the Blue mpuntains

[@TiborLDR]

WAU i must see it nice 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@travelingtom923]

You must ride it as well!

[@hgy6677]

Silenthill 2020

[@mamtajagasia7094]

Thank you to Indian engineer wound full design it God bless you to all.

[@TronixGuy93]

They should call them boring-iculars...

[@drewjeers815]

Well I spose it beats a long staircase

[@青木良純]

It is oblique elevator. Very funny!

[@ewan_rbx4690]

Worlds steepestis in Lynmouth, Somerset, UK

[@Kyrelel]

Gelmerbahn is 46 deg, so this is not the world's steepest

[@TiborLDR]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zagreb_Funicular shortest public-transport funiculars in the world

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

Free candy at the top!

[@trevoraver5864]

It's lovely but not the steepest or shortest I am afraid.

[@lighthouselaura4324]

The wolf a the top...

[@Hans_P_G]

Gosh, i thought it was a furrycular...🦝

[@63bert]

The steepest funicolar is an elevator

[@lukasb8599]

It isnt the shortest funicular the shortest funicular is in zagreb croatia

[@youreadthisinyourmindright2604]

There's a furry waiting for him! XD

[@joemak93]

no switzerland one is steeper

[@martingries1150]

Dubuque looks like a German city : )

[@travelingtom923]

Yes it does.

[@Poopchute]

Dubuque had a large German Catholic population immigrate in the early 19th century so that would make sense!

[@alfonsog9263]

It's a knockoff of Angel's Flight.

[@andrewdarley8988]

Maybe the shortwest and steepest in the USA but NOT the world. We have shorter and steeper in the UK. It is a common misconception amongst Americans that America IS the world and has the biggest, best and most spectacular everything.

[@theq4602]

Funiculi Funicula!

[@alehamdro]

So impatien hahaha

[@nnrcer]

なんか、雑

[@MINI-ME666]

fake - muck ado about nothihg!!!!