List of funicular railways
Updated: 5/20/2026, 7:45:06 PM Wikipedia source
This is a list of funicular railways, organised by place within country and continent. The funiculars range from short urban lines to significant multi-section mountain railways. A funicular railway is distinguished from the similar incline elevator in that it has two vehicles that counterbalance one another rather than independently operated cars.
Tables
· Africa › Réunion
Takamaka funicular
Takamaka funicular
Location
Saint-Benoît
Name of system
Takamaka funicular
Date opened
1968
Notes
Industrial funicular for Takamaka hydroelectric power stations employees
| Location | Name of system | Date opened | Date closed | Notes |
| Saint-Benoît | Takamaka funicular | 1968 | Industrial funicular for Takamaka hydroelectric power stations employees |
· Africa › Saint Helena
Jacob's Ladder
Jacob's Ladder
Location
Jamestown
Name of system
Jacob's Ladder
Date opened
1829
Date closed
1871
| Location | Name of system | Date opened | Date closed | Notes |
| Jamestown | Jacob's Ladder | 1829 | 1871 |
· Africa › South Africa
Flying Dutchman Funicular
Flying Dutchman Funicular
Location
Cape of Good Hope
Name of system
Flying Dutchman Funicular
Date opened
1996
| Location | Name of system | Date opened | Date closed | Notes |
| Cape of Good Hope | Flying Dutchman Funicular | 1996 |
· Americas › Brazil
Niterói funicular
Niterói funicular
Location
Niterói
Name of system
Niterói funicular
Date opened
1906
Date closed
1950s
São Paulo Railway
São Paulo Railway
Location
Paranapiacaba
Name of system
São Paulo Railway
Date opened
1867
1982
Notes
Consist of two lines, (1982 later rack operated
Outeiro da Glória funicular
Outeiro da Glória funicular
Location
Rio de Janeiro
Name of system
Outeiro da Glória funicular
Date opened
1942
(Modernized 2003)
1877
1877
Location
Paula Mattos funicular
Name of system
1877
Date opened
1926
Gonçalves funicular
Gonçalves funicular
Location
Salvador
Name of system
Gonçalves funicular
Date opened
1889
1981
1981
Location
Liberdade-Calçada funicular
Name of system
1981
1915
2006
1915
2006
Location
Pilar funicular
Name of system
1915
2006
Date opened
1984 (later reopened)
Date closed
Replacing a rack railway from 1897
Monte Serrat funicular
Monte Serrat funicular
Location
Santos
Name of system
Monte Serrat funicular
Date opened
1927
| Location | Name of system | Date opened | Date closed | Notes |
| Niterói | Niterói funicular | 1906 | 1950s | |
| Paranapiacaba | São Paulo Railway | 1867 1982 | Consist of two lines, (1982 later rack operated | |
| Rio de Janeiro | Outeiro da Glória funicular | 1942 (Modernized 2003) | ||
| Paula Mattos funicular | 1877 | 1926 | ||
| Salvador | Gonçalves funicular | 1889 | ||
| Liberdade-Calçada funicular | 1981 | |||
| Pilar funicular | 1915 2006 | 1984 (later reopened) | Replacing a rack railway from 1897 | |
| Santos | Monte Serrat funicular | 1927 |
· Americas › Canada
Edmonton Incline Railway
Edmonton Incline Railway
Province
Alberta
Location
Edmonton
Name of system
Edmonton Incline Railway
Date opened
1908
Date closed
1913
Notes
Now site of Stairs (Incline Railway).
Hamilton Incline Railway
Hamilton Incline Railway
Province
Ontario
Location
Hamilton
Name of system
Hamilton Incline Railway
Date opened
1900
Date closed
1936
1966
1966
Province
Niagara Falls
Location
Falls Incline Railway
Name of system
1966
Date closed
Also known as the Horseshoe Falls Incline
1889
1889
Province
Leander Colt Incline
Location
circa 1869
Name of system
1889
1990
–
1990
–
Province
Hornblower Niagara Funicular
Location
1894
reopened 2019
Name of system
1990
–
Date opened
Also known as the Maid of the Mist Incline and the Clifton Incline
1990
–
1990
–
Province
Maid of the Mist Incline
Location
1894
reopened 2019
Name of system
1990
–
1934
1934
Province
Whirlpool Rapids Incline
Location
circa 1876
Name of system
1934
Mount Royal Funicular Railway
Mount Royal Funicular Railway
Province
Quebec
Location
Montreal
Name of system
Mount Royal Funicular Railway
Date opened
1884
Date closed
1918
1879 (Cable)
1879 (Cable)
Province
Quebec City
Location
Old Quebec Funicular
Name of system
1879 (Cable)
Date opened
1907 (Cable)
Date closed
This has been modified to operate as a pair of inclined elevators, it is no longer a funicular
| Province | Location | Name of system | Date opened | Date closed | Notes |
| Alberta | Edmonton | Edmonton Incline Railway | 1908 | 1913 | Now site of Stairs (Incline Railway). |
| 100 Street Funicular | 2017 | This is an inclined elevator, not a funicular | |||
| Ontario | Hamilton | Hamilton Incline Railway | 1900 | 1936 | |
| Niagara Falls | Falls Incline Railway | 1966 | Also known as the Horseshoe Falls Incline | ||
| Leander Colt Incline | circa 1869 | 1889 | |||
| Hornblower Niagara Funicular | 1894 reopened 2019 | 1990 – | Also known as the Maid of the Mist Incline and the Clifton Incline | ||
| Maid of the Mist Incline | 1894 reopened 2019 | 1990 – | |||
| Whirlpool Rapids Incline | circa 1876 | 1934 | |||
| Quebec | Montreal | Mount Royal Funicular Railway | 1884 | 1918 | |
| Quebec City | Old Quebec Funicular | 1879 (Cable) | 1907 (Cable) | This has been modified to operate as a pair of inclined elevators, it is no longer a funicular | |
| 1907 (Electric) rebuilt in 1946, in operation to this day. | 1945 (Electric) |
References
- Association des Funiculaires de Francehttps://www.funiculaires-france.fr/de-takamaka/
- Friends of Latin American Railwayshttps://www.ferrolatino.ch/en/reports/brazil/
- Friends of Latin American Railwayshttps://www.ferrolatino.ch/en/reports/brazil/
- Agenda Bafafahttps://bafafa.com.br/turismo/historias-do-rio/santa-teresa-teve-plano-inclinado-da-rua-riachuelo-ate-proximo-ao-largo-do-guimaraes
- turismosantoshttps://web.archive.org/web/20180206142927/http://www.turismosantos.com.br/?q=pt-br%2Fnode%2F74
- "Crews prepare to install cab from Switzerland as construction on river valley funicular project continues"http://www.edmontonexaminer.com/2016/11/02/crews-prepare-to-install-cab-from-switzerland-as-construction-on-river-valley-funicular-project-continues
- CBC Newshttp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-funicular-launch-river-valley-stairs-accessible-1.4441601
- "Valparaiso"https://web.archive.org/web/20110930154841/http://www.funiculars.net/funiculars.php?sok=valparaiso&pos=0
- Reactivación del Malacate ubicado en el municipio de Ixtaczoquitlán, Veracruzhttp://www.ecorfan.org/actas/A%20T%20II/AT%20II_6.pdf
- "Grutas de Garcia"https://web.archive.org/web/20110711010532/http://www.floatplan.com/monterrey/grutas.htm
- El Conquistador Resorthttps://www.conquistadorresort.com/amenities/funicular
- Shadowbrookhttps://www.shadowbrook-capitola.com/
- Anne T. Kent California Room - 102 Years Ago: Fairfax Incline Railroad Installedhttps://web.archive.org/web/20171026053834/https://annetkent.kontribune.com/articles/6449
- "Fairfax Incline Railroad Installed". Marin Journal. 14 August 1913.
- erhahttp://erha.org/playa.html
- wwwhttps://www.opensfhistory.org/osfhcrucible/2019/02/15/laymans-folly-a-closer-look/
- wwwhttps://www.sfgate.com/realestate/walkthrough/article/2-bedroom-Las-Casitas-Spanish-Revival-served-by-a-5205041.php
- "Trail's End – Inclines and Funicular Railways in Colorado – Colorado Gambler"https://web.archive.org/web/20160501102453/http://coloradogambler.com/trails-end-inclines-funicular-railways-colorado/
- The Funiculars of Golden, Colorado, Barb Warden, 2012
- wwwhttp://www.cable-car-guy.com/html/ccnynj.html#orange