East Hill Cliff Railway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids East Hill Cliff Railway |
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The upper station and car in 2005, before closure and replacement
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| Overview | |
| Status | in use |
| Locale | Hastings, United Kingdom |
| Service | |
| Type | Funicular |
| Operator(s) | Hastings Borough Council |
| History | |
| Opened | 1902 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 0.0505 mi (0.0813 km) |
| Number of tracks | Double track |
| Track gauge | 5 ft (1,524 mm) |
| Maximum incline | 78% |
The East Hill Cliff Railway, also known as the East Hill Lift, is a special type of railway called a funicular railway. It is located in the seaside town of Hastings in England. This railway helps people get to Hastings Country Park.
It goes up the East Hill, which gives amazing views. From the top, you can see the Old Town and Rock-a-Nore. You can also see The Stade, which is famous for having Europe's largest fishing fleet that launches boats from the beach.
Contents
How the East Hill Lift Works
The East Hill Cliff Railway is owned and run by the Hastings Borough Council. It has some interesting features:
- Length: It is about 267 feet long.
- Steepness: The slope is very steep, at 78%.
- Cars: There are two cars that go up and down.
- Capacity: Each car can carry up to 16 passengers.
- Tracks: It uses a double track system.
- Gauge: The tracks are 5 feet wide.
- Power: It runs on electricity.
History of the Railway
The East Hill Cliff Railway first opened in August 1902. When it was new, it worked using a system called "water balance." This meant that water tanks in the upper station's towers were used to help the cars move.
Between 1973 and 1976, the railway was updated. It was changed to run on electricity, and new cars were added.
A Brief Closure and Reopening
In June 2007, the railway had to close. There was a problem with a control panel. This caused the cars to go past their stopping point, which damaged both the cars and the stations.
In 2008, the Hastings Borough Council decided to fix it up completely. This included getting new cars and new safety systems. They also repaired the damaged stations. The railway was able to reopen in March 2010.
Did You Know?
The East Hill Cliff Railway is now the steepest funicular railway in the United Kingdom. Other similar railways in Broadstairs and Margate have closed down.
Hastings also has another funicular railway called the West Hill Cliff Railway. This one takes you to Hastings Castle and the Smugglers Adventure in St. Clements Caves.
You can even see a model of the East Hill Cliff Railway! It is on display at the Brighton Toy and Model Museum.
