Greetings family, friends, neighbors and traim buddies! This issue of "Postcards from the Past" features the Incline railway that scales Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the new home of my daughter Cindy and husband Christopher who have recently checked out the classic landmark....Bill
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POSTCARDS OF THE PAST
INCLINE RAILWAY CAR ASCENDING LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN CHATTANOOGA, TENN
Overlooking the Chattanooga Valley, unusual rock formations, the site of a pivotal Civil battle, and the home of classic hotels and incline railways, Lookout Mountain has been a tourist destination for generations attracting upwards of 100,000 people annually. The first incline, Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain Railway, operated from 1886 until 1895 and was dismantled in 1900 after suffering several destructive fires. The second, the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, began operations in 1895 and for many years was the primary mode of transportation to the communities at the top of the mountain, the Point Hotel, and the popular attractions Rock City, Cavern Castle and Ruby Falls. In the early days a short line “Dinky” steam locomotive shuffled travelers further to see other views from the mountain top. The single track 4 ft. 8-1/2” gauge incline funicular railway travels from St. Elmo’s Station 1.6 miles to Point Park at the summit of Lookout Mountain. A short two-track loop midway up the mountain allows the two cars to pass. Two one hundred horsepower electric motors are capable of pulling up to 70 tons each on the steel cables. Passenger seating faces backwards, looking down the mountain, on one of the worlds steepest incline railroads at a 72.7% maximum grade, “America’s Most Amazing Mile”. Car designs evolved through the years from the original open wooden cars to comfortable year-round modern enclosed cars that are now operated by the areas public transit agency, Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority.
Circa 1942 postcard from the collection of Bill Ralph
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