West Hill Cliff Railway facts for kids
The West Hill Cliff Railway, also known as the West Hill Lift, is a special type of railway called a funicular railway. It is found in the seaside town of Hastings in England. This railway mostly runs inside a tunnel. It helps people get to Hastings Castle and St Clement's Caves from George Street, which is right by the sea.
The West Hill is a great spot! It looks out over the sea to the south. To the east, you can see the historic Old Town. To the west, you'll find the main shopping and business area of Hastings.
Contents
What is the West Hill Lift?
The West Hill Lift is a funicular railway. This means it uses two cars that are connected by a cable. As one car goes up, the other car goes down, helping to balance the weight. This makes it a very energy-efficient way to travel up steep hills!
The railway is owned and run by the Hastings Borough Council. Here are some interesting facts about its size and how it works:
- Length: It travels about 152 meters (500 feet) up the hill.
- Height difference: It climbs about 52 meters (170 feet) from the bottom to the top.
- Steepness: The track is quite steep, with a gradient of 33%.
- Cars: There are 2 cars that move up and down.
- Capacity: Each car can carry up to 16 passengers.
- Tracks: It has two separate tracks, one for each car.
- Track width: The tracks are 1.83 meters (6 feet) wide.
- Power: It runs on electricity.
History of the West Hill Lift
The idea for the West Hill Lift started a long time ago, in 1889. A private company called the Hastings Lift Company began building it. However, some local people were not happy about the construction. This caused delays, and the project ended up costing more than expected.
Finally, the railway opened in 1891. When it first started, it was powered by a gas engine.
Changes in Ownership and Power
The first company that built the railway faced financial difficulties and went out of business in 1894. This was probably because of the delays and extra costs during construction.
Another company, the Hastings Passenger Lift Company, took over. They operated the railway for many years, until 1947. That's when the Hastings Borough Council bought the line.
A big change happened in 1971 when the railway was updated to run on electricity instead of gas. Then, in 1991, the railway celebrated its 100th birthday! To mark this special year, the entire line was fully refurbished and made like new again.
Exploring Hastings with Cliff Railways
The West Hill Lift is not the only cliff railway in Hastings! There is also the East Hill Cliff Lift. This other railway helps visitors reach the beautiful Hastings Country Park. Together, these two lifts make it easy for people to explore different parts of Hastings and enjoy the amazing views.
