Aberystwyth Cliff Railway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aberystwyth Cliff Railway |
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| Info | |
| Locale | Aberystwyth |
| Transit type | Funicular railway |
| Number of stations | 2 |
| Operation | |
| Began operation | 1 August 1896 |
| Operator(s) | Constitution Hill Ltd |
| Technical | |
| System length | 778 feet (237 m) |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 10 in (1,473 mm) |
The Aberystwyth Cliff Railway is a special train that goes up and down a steep hill. It's also known as Rheilffordd y Graig in Welsh. It first opened on August 1, 1896. This railway is about 778 feet (237 meters) long. It's the second longest funicular railway in the British Isles. The only one longer is the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway. Since 1987, it has been a 'Grade II listed structure.' This means it's an important historical building.
The Cliff Railway was built as part of Constitution Hill. This was a big project started in the 1890s. The railway took visitors to the top of the hill. There, people could enjoy attractions like a camera obscura. The railway first worked using a water balance system. This changed in 1921 when it became electric. Many people rode the railway in its early years. But numbers went down after the Second World War. Today, Constitution Hill Ltd owns and runs the railway. This company is a registered charity. The railway usually runs from April to October. It has a shorter schedule during the colder months.
Contents
What is the Aberystwyth Cliff Railway?
The Aberystwyth Cliff Railway is a type of train called a funicular. It was built as part of the Constitution Hill area. The Aberystwyth Improvement Company started this project in 1895. Constitution Hill was like an early theme park. It had arcades and a restaurant at the bottom. At the top, there was a camera obscura and a park. The funicular railway was made to carry people between these two areas.
George Croydon Marks designed Constitution Hill and the railway. He also designed the pavilion for the Aberystwyth Royal Pier. He created a winding path as another way to get up the hill. Workers dug out about 12,000 tonnes of rock for this path. This made space for a footbridge over the railway. The railway is surrounded by the beautiful gardens of Constitution Hill.
How Does the Cliff Railway Work?
The cliff railway uses two cars that are always connected by a strong cable. Each car can carry up to 30 passengers. When it first opened, it used a water balance system. A pump at the bottom station moved water to the top. Each passenger car had a tank that could hold 4 tonnes of water. Water was added to the car at the top. This made it heavy, so it rolled down the hill. As it went down, it pulled the lighter car on the other track up to the top.
The railway goes straight up the hill. It climbs about 430 feet (131 meters) over a distance of 778 feet (237 meters). This means it's very steep, with a gradient of more than 1 in 2. The tracks are 4 feet 8 inches wide. This is a bit narrower than a standard train track. The tracks are laid on wooden sleepers.
In 1921, the railway changed to electric power. A 41 kW electric motor moves the cars. In 1934, new equipment was added. This included a special device called a mercury arc rectifier. It helps to provide the right amount of power. A strong steel cable connects both cars. This cable goes around a large drum at the top of the hill. The motor turns this drum, which moves the cars. An automatic system stops the motor and the cars when needed.
The two cars on the railway have names: Lord Geraint and Lord Marks.
Running the Railway
The cliff railway opened in 1896. It helped make Constitution Hill a very popular place for fun. In the 1920s and 1930s, many visitors rode the railway. But after the Second World War, fewer people visited. In 1948, the Aberystwyth Pier Company bought the railway. They tried to make it popular again with repairs and upgrades. But they couldn't get more passengers.
In 1976, the railway closed for a short time because of a problem with its brakes. In the late 1970s, a local mining company took over. They formed the Aberystwyth Cliff Railway Company. In 1978, a new electrical system was put in. This system is still used today. It takes power from the National Grid and can even send extra energy back.
In November 1987, the cliff railway became a 'Grade II listed structure.' This means it's protected because of its history. In 1998, Constitution Hill Ltd bought the railway. This is a registered charity. Volunteers manage the railway. All the money earned helps to maintain and fix the railway. The railway has also received some money from European Union funds.
The railway operates under a special law called a light railway order. It is open to passengers mostly in the summer. This is usually from April to October. It has a limited schedule during the colder months.
The upper station was updated in 2005. It now has a café and a gift shop. The roof was repaired in 2014. Ramps and other changes make it easy for wheelchair users to access the service. The ticket office at the lower station is now a holiday apartment. There were once four wooden bridges over the railway for paths. Three of these bridges are still there today.
In Fiction
The Aberystwyth Cliff Railway appears in books by the author Malcolm Pryce.
