Funicular de Santiago
Posted by: 
Beeklust
S 33° 25.800 W 070° 38.155
19H E 347916 N 6299845
The Funicular de Santiago is a funicular railway on a slope of the San Cristóbal Hill, in the city of Santiago de Chile.
Waymark Code: WM14B8B
Location: Chile
Date Posted: 06/04/2021
Views: 0
The idea of a funicular originated when the Cerro San Cristóbal began to be taken for public use in the 1910s, project that was finally commissioned to the Italian engineer Ernesto Bosso in 1922. The foundation stone of the funicular was laid on 24 November 1923, and its construction was completed in 1925, being inaugurated on 25 April of that year by the then President of Chile Arturo Alessandri. The station located at the feet of the hill was designed by architect Luciano Kulczewski,[1] while the strength of steel wire ropes was tested by engineer Jorge Alessandri, who later went on to become president of Chile (1958-1964).
Between July 11 and August 11, 1949 the service was suspended for repairs and maintenance.[3] From 10 to 13 and from 17 to 20 July 1950, the funicular was closed to undergo repair works.[4] In those years full fares ranged between $3.6 and $7.4, and the student fare was $2.
In 1968, the original wooden car roofs were replaced with canvas tops supported by metal frames. The Pope John Paul II traveled in the funicular of Santiago during his only visit to Chile in 1987. The funicular was declared as a National Monument of Chile on November 16, 2000.
The funicular is 485 metres (1,591 ft) long and consists of three stations: "Pío Nono" (at the base of the hill), "Zoo" and "Cumbre", where the Santuario a la Virgen is located and where there is a connection with the Santiago Cable Car.
Is the station/depot currently used for railroad purposes?: Yes
Is the station/depot open to the public?: Yes
What rail lines does/did the station/depot serve?: up and down hill
Station/Depot Web Site: [Web Link]
If the station/depot is not being used for railroad purposes, what is it currently used for?: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
Please post an original picture of the station/depot taken while you were there. Please also record how you came to be at this station/depot and any interesting information you learned about it while there.