"The rails are silent now, but from 1902 to 1978 they hummed under the weight of two sturdy cars making thousands of passenger runs annually. Traveling 2,200 feet of sheer mountainside trackway to 1,540 feet above sea-level, this was the Mount Beacon Incline Railway, the world's steepest passenger funicular.

"The incline was the vision of several Manchester, New Hampshire entrepreneurs who were charmed by Mount Beacon's incredible history, natural beauty, and panoramic vistas. Partnering with prosperous local businessmen, by 1901 they had raised enough capital to begin building. The Otis Elevator Company engineered the railway and supervised its construction by several subcontractors. These included the Mohawk Construction Co. of Mohawk, New York and the Ramapo Iron Works of Hillburn, New York (which manufactured the railway cars)

. . . "The Mount Beacon Incline is the Coney Island Cyclone of mountaintop railways. Though no longer the steepest in the world or a technological marvel by 21st century standards, it earned its place in history by operating across four generations, thrilling millions, and always getting its passengers back down the mountain safely. To restore it is to honor those who came before us and to preserve a tremendous piece of American engineering and leisure history. We hope you'll join us in the effort to bring this lost mountain railway back to life.

"In 1995, Mount Beacon and remains of the historic Incline were conserved by Scenic Hudson."

Press blue button for more about the history and restoration of the Mount Beacon Incline Railway.

Location: Beacon

Categories
Town History