The Ascensor Artillería is one of the 16

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

railways located in the

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in western South America. It is the southernmost country in the world and the closest to Antarctica, stretching along a narrow strip of land between the Andes, Andes Mountains and the Paci ...

an city of

Valparaíso Valparaíso () is a major city, Communes of Chile, commune, Port, seaport, and naval base facility in the Valparaíso Region of Chile. Valparaíso was originally named after Valparaíso de Arriba, in Castilla–La Mancha, Castile-La Mancha, Spain ...

. It links the "plan" (flat area) of the city with the Artillería hill, and is privately owned. The line runs all year.

History

This was the third funicular railway built in the city of Valparaíso. It was inaugurated on 29 December 1892, but didn't enter service until 22 of January 1893, due to a lack of water to run the machinery. It was so successful that its designer Ernesto Onfray built another adjacent to it in 1908, making it the only funicular in the city with four tracks and two independent machine rooms. In 1968 the first line of the funicular ceased operation due to low ridership. Today the funicular uses the second line, and is a major landmark.

Specifications

* Two cars have traditional funicular design, with a capacity of 25 passengers * Drive equipment located at the top station * The trip takes 80 seconds * track * Hoisting ropes attached to upper ends of car chassis * Fares are paid at the top station

History

Specifications

See also