Prospect Park Incline Railway

The Prospect Park Incline Railway was a funicular railway in the city of Niagara Falls, New York, United States. It was built in 1845 on the United States side of the Niagara Falls at Prospect Point Park. An accident in 1907 claimed a single life and lead to the closure of this line.cite web | url = http://www.niagarafrontier.com/inclinecrash.html | title = Niagara Falls 1907 INCLINE RAILWAY CRASH a history | publisher = www.niagarafrontier.com | accessdate = March 24 | accessyear = 2007] cite web | url = http://www.niagaraparks.com/nfgg/fihistory.php | title = Falls Incline History | publisher = Niagara Parks Commission | accessdate = March 24 | accessyear = 2007]

The incline railway was covered and consisted of two parallel rail tracks leading from the top of the gorge to the bottom, with each track carrying an open railcar with a capacity of 15-20 passengers. The line was originally on water counter-balance principals, but was later converted to electrical operation.cite web | url = http://www.niagarafrontier.com/inclinecrash.html | title = Niagara Falls 1907 INCLINE RAILWAY CRASH a history | accessdate = March 24 | publisher = www.niagarafrontier.com | accessyear = 2007]

Following the 1907 accident, the funicular railway was removed in 1908. In 1910, it was replaced with elevators, which operated in separate shafts drilled through the rock and opened out to a building at the base of the gorge. In 1960 the elevators were closed due to a rock fall. It replaced with the current Prospect Point Observation Tower in 1961.cite web | url = http://www.niagarafrontier.com/inclinecrash.html | title = Niagara Falls 1907 INCLINE RAILWAY CRASH a history | accessdate = March 24 | publisher = www.niagarafrontier.com | accessyear = 2007]

ee also

* Spanish Aerocar
* Niagara Parks Commission People Mover
* Incline railways at Niagara Falls

References