Westcliff Railway - Bournemouth, Dorset, UK
Posted by: AngelPick
N 50° 42.897 W 001° 52.875
30U E 578981 N 5618723
The third Funicular Railway lift in Bournemouth, this one at West Cliff. Save your legs while accessing the glorious beaches from the top of the cliffs.
Waymark Code: WMHKKW
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 07/20/2013
Views: 5
Wikipedia describes the cliff lift:
HERE
The West Cliff Railway was opened in 1908 by Bournemouth Corporation, some four months after the opening of the nearby East Cliff Railway. Like the East Cliff Railway, it was electrically operated from the start, with winding gear situated at the upper station driven by a 25 horsepower (19 kW) winding motor. The line was controlled by a driver at the upper station, assisted by an attendant at the lower station. Wooden-bodied cars were used.
The winding motor was replaced in the 1960s by a 28 horsepower (21 kW) three-phase motor. The cars were also replaced in the 1960s by aluminium-bodied cars intended to be interchangeable across all three of Bournemouth's surviving cliff railways. In 1987 the track was re-laid, and during the 1990s the line was further upgraded with the installation of an electronic control system.
The West Cliff Railway is one of three such cliff railways in Bournemouth, the other two being the East Cliff Railway and the Fisherman's Walk Cliff Railway. All three operate between April and October.
The line is owned and operated by Bournemouth Borough Council.
A few technical details:
Length: 145 feet (40 m)
Gradient: 70.4%
Cars: 2
Capacity: 12 passengers per car
Configuration: Double track
Gauge: 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m)
Traction: Electricity
The cliff lift costs 80p for an adult to go down and £1.20 to go up.
Other prices are detailed in the gallery.