The West Hill Cliff Railway, or West Hill Lift, is a

funicular railway A funicular (, , ) is a type of cable railway system that connects points along a railway track laid on a steep slope. The system is characterized by two counterbalanced carriages (also called cars or trains) permanently attached to opposite en ...

located in the

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

seaside town of

Hastings Hastings () is a large seaside town and borough in East Sussex on the south coast of England, east to the county town of Lewes and south east of London. The town gives its name to the Battle of Hastings, which took place to the north-west ...

. It runs largely in tunnel, and provides access to

Hastings Castle Hastings Castle is a keep and bailey castle ruin situated in the town of Hastings, East Sussex. It overlooks the English Channel, into which large parts of the castle have fallen over the years. History Immediately after landing in England ...

and St Clement's Caves from George Street, on the town's sea front. The West Hill overlooks the sea to the south, the Old Town to the east, and the current central business district of Hastings to the west. The line is owned and operated by Hastings Borough Council and has the following technical parameters: *Length: ' *Height difference: ' *Gradient: ''33%'' *Cars: ''2'' *Capacity: ''16 passengers per car'' *Configuration: '' Double track'' *Gauge: ' *Traction: ''Electricity'' Construction of the line was started in 1889 by a private operator, the Hastings Lift Company. The line met with local opposition, which meant that the work took longer to complete than originally envisaged, and construction costs were over 50% higher than envisaged. The line finally opened in 1891, and was originally powered by a gas engine. The first operator went

bankrupt Bankruptcy is a legal process through which people or other entities who cannot repay debts to creditors may seek relief from some or all of their debts. In most jurisdictions, bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor ...

in 1894, probably as a result of the construction delays and cost overrun. The Hastings Passenger Lift Company took over and operated the line until 1947, when Hastings Borough Council bought the line. It was converted from a water balanced system to electric operation in 1971. To mark the railway's centenary year, the line was fully refurbished in 1991. The West Hill Lift is complemented by the East Hill Cliff Lift, giving visitors access to

Hastings Country Park Hastings Country Park was formed in 1974 and covers east of Hastings in England. Sandstone cliffs, glens covered with gorse and trees, footpaths, nature trails, picnic areas and ample car parking are some of the features at the country park. Set ...

References

External links

Article on Hastings Cliff Railways from ''The Heritage Trail'' web site
* ttps://emilypeasgood.com/the-illusion-of-conscious-thought-2018/ Article about the 2018 Coastal Currents Art Festival sound installation in the West Hill Cliff Railway
{{Coord, 50, 51, 20.43, N, 0, 35, 16.08, E, region:GB, display=title Transport in Hastings Funicular railways in the United Kingdom Tourist attractions in East Sussex 6 ft gauge railways in England

See also

References

External links