Lookout Mountain Incline Railway | |
Location | 3917 St. Elmo Avenue, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37409 |
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Coordinates | 35°0′28″N 85°20′8″W / 35.00778°N 85.33556°W |
Built | November 16, 1895 |
Architect | Josephus "Jo" Conn Guild Sr. |
NRHP reference No. | 73001774[1] |
Added to NRHP | April 26, 1973 |
The Lookout Mountain Incline Railway is a 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge[2] inclined plane funicular railway leading to the top of Lookout Mountain from the historic St. Elmo neighborhood of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Passengers are transported from St. Elmo's Station at the base, to Point Park at the mountain summit, which overlooks the city and the Tennessee River. It is just a short drive to three of Chattanooga's main tourist attractions, Ruby Falls, Cavern Castle, and Rock City.[3] The railway is approximately one mile (1.6 km) in length (single-track except for a short two-track passing loop at the midway point, allowing operation of two cars at one time). It has a maximum grade of 72.7%, making it one of the world's steepest passenger railways.[4] It obtained Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark status in 1991. The cable system for the cars was made by the Otis Elevator Company.