The Top 10 Coolest Funiculars of the World

A funicular is a type of cable railway system which connects points along a railway track laid on a steep slope. The system is characterized by two counterbalanced carriages (also called cars or trains) permanently attached to opposite ends of a haulage cable, which is looped over a pulley at the upper end of the track. The result of such a configuration is that the two carriages move synchronously: as one ascends, the other descends at an equal speed. This feature distinguishes funiculars from inclined elevators, which have a single car that is hauled uphill.

The term funicular derives from the Latin word funiculus, the diminutive of funis, meaning 'rope' ~Wikipedia
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[petermostyneccleston]

The Great Orme Tramway is a Funicular Railway, with two trams from Llandudno to Half way station, and another two from Half Way Station, to the Summit. You have to change trams at Half Way, and continue on the upper part of the journey.

It is a Funicular being powered from the winch in Half Way Station. The cable is connected to all four trams.

The gauge is 3'6" . There are three stations, Victoria which is on Church Walks, Half Way Station which is a bit higher up than half way, and the Summit Station.

[DPernici]

You missed the “Funicolare della Mendola”. Opened in 1903 and 2.37km long. Is one of the longest and steepest in Europe

[markknight]

Lynton and Lyndmouth in England should on that list. A water powered railway

[Eeroke]

Trieste - Opicana tramway has a cool section with 'funicular tractors'.

[ThomasK]

Some very spectacular funiculars are missing:

Schweiz: 120-FUL Sierre / Siders - Montana, length 4191 m, height difference 931 m (funicular with most stations in the world; 8 stations = world record)
Schweiz: 135-FUL Schlattli - Stoos, length 1753 m, height difference 743m, maximum gradient 110% = 47.7 degrees (steepest funicular in the world)
Österreich: 236-FUL Interfragant - Mölltaler Gletscher, length 4827 m, height difference 1012 m (longest funicular in the world)
Österreich: 165-FUL Spital am Pyhrn - Wurzeralm, length 2937 m, height difference 622 m, speed 14 m / s = 50.4 km / h (fastest funicular in the world)
Schweiz: Saas Fee, Felskinn - Metro Allalin, length 1447 m, height difference 465 m, height of the mountain station 3445 m = highest funicular in the world

[robertrawley]

Naples Italy has four operating funiculars as a part of their Public Transit System.
'Funicolare Centrale' 1.234km has 4 stations and carries about 10 million each year. It opened in 1928. Carriages are large at 420 people. Trip time of 4 minutes means 6, 200 people per hour potential. Vomero at the top of the hill, is a bustling 2 km square district of Metro Naples, population about 48, 000. Chiaia, Mergellina, & Montesanto are the other 3 operating funiculars in Naples.
(A now defunct system, the Sorrento Funicular, operated nearby from 1883 to 1886.)

[charlesarnold]

My favourite is Lynton - Lynmouth, North Devon, UK.

[muratsahin]

The Tünel (English: Tunnel) designated as the F2 line on the Istanbul transport map is a historic underground funicular line in Istanbul, Turkey. It has two stations, connecting Karaköy and Beyoğlu. The tunnel runs uphill from near the confluence of the Golden Horn with the Bosphorus and is about 573 metres (1, 880 feet) long. Inaugurated on 17 January, 1875 the Tünel is the second-oldest fully underground urban railway in the world

[Skydiver-gkbk]

I visited Israel a few years ago. They are having a similar one called "Carmelit". The view at the top is unbelievable! You can see the entire part of North Israel, as well as the Southern part of Lebanon... (on a clear day)!

[Luigi-ujml]

A very interesting "half" funicular equipped with a single Abt type switch is made up of the horizontal section of the famous horizontal - vertical lift which connects via Balbi with Corso Dogali in Genoa

[TakeruDavis]

Aww, I was hoping to see Prague funicular here

[mbstarburstmapper]

I think the Triest-Opicina tramway would have been a nice contender. Sure, it's not fully a funicular, as just a part of it operates as a funicular, but you got to admit that it's cool.

[federicodadamo]

I also recommend that you get to know the two funiculars and the Genoa rack railway in Italy!

[Shahrdad]

The one in Neroberg Bahn in Wiesbaden is also cool, especially since it operates via water. The tank on the car on top of the hill is filled with water, and the weight of the water is what pulls the other train up the hill. Water is dumped out at the bottom and pumped back up into the car on top.

[moritzdavis]

There is a very old and nice one in Chattanooga Tennessee.

[TRAMartig]

The Heidelberg Königstuhl Funicular is very interesting, it consist of two parts: The lower part from the city to the "Molkenkur" with a stop at the famous Heidelberg Castle is a very modern funicular, built in 1890, rebuilt in 1962 and completely renewed in 2004. The upper section has still its historical appearance, but was also technically updated in 2004 because of new legal requirements after the Kaprun catastrophe.

[aidanlimhuadenghshs]

probably unpopular opinion, but I find the honk kong funicular and penang, malaysia one also pretty nice and scenic. The one in penang has some cool "easter eggs" in my opinion

edit : Yes I just realised I spelled hong kong wrongly my bad

[billythorne]

if you like funiculars then you should definitely visit the Carmelit in Haifa.

[kailichttrager]

Forget not the Gelmerbahn, the second most steepest Stanseilbahn (funicular) in the world, that is now beaten byTHE steepest Stanseilbahn that has like six barrels on each of the two carriages as they turn to keep a horizontal plane. Complete with tunnel, this is relatively new in the Canton Schwyz called the Stoosbahn.by the Hintere Schlattli i

[aussiedrives-K]

Hungerburgbahn in Innsbruck, Austria. Great video!😊👍❤