Southend Cliff Railway

Southend Cliff Railway
Stairs of the railway
View from the top station across the Thames Estuary, with Southend Pier in the background

The Southend Cliff Railway, or Southend Cliff Lift, is a funicular in the English town of Southend-on-Sea, constructed in 1912.[1][2] The lift operated for the first time on Bank Holiday Monday, in August of that year.[3]

Technical details

The line is owned and operated by the Museums Service of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, and has the following technical parameters:[1][2][4]

  • Length: 130 feet (40 m)
  • Height difference: 57 feet (17 m)
  • Gradient: 43,4%
  • Cars: 1
  • Capacity: 12 passengers per car
  • Configuration: Single track, with separate counterweight track
  • Main track gauge: 4 ft 6 in (1,372 mm)
  • Counterweight track gauge: 21 in (533 mm)
  • Traction: Electricity

The line has an unusual configuration, as it runs on a single-track elevated structure. The counterweight track runs within this structure, immediately below the main track that carries the passenger car.[1][2]

Operation

The line operates daily in summer between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm. A fare of one pound return for adults is charged, and concessions are fifty pence return.[5][6]

History

The line runs on the site of a pioneering moving walkway, a forerunner of today's escalator. This was constructed in 1901 by the American engineer Jesse W. Reno, but soon proved noisy and unreliable due its exposed location.[3] The current lift was constructed by Waygood & Company,[3] now part of the famous Otis Elevator Company. Since opening in 1912 it has been modernised three times, in 1930, 1959 and 1990. Each modernisation has resulted in the replacement of the car.[2]

In 2003 the line was closed due to technical problems, and refurbishment was undertaken on the stations. However, during the time that it was closed, the regulations governing its operation changed, requiring modifications before it could be reopened.[7] The line finally re-opened on 25 May 2010, after a restoration costing a total of £3 million, £650,000 on the car alone.[6][8][9]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Southend Pier Railway". www.nycsubway.org. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Southend Cliff Railway". The Heritage Trail. Archived from the original on 7 June 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 Southend Museums Service (2010). Cliff Lift History (leaflet)|format= requires |url= (help). Southend-on-Sea: Southend Museums Service. |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  4. ↑ "Southend Lift". Funiculars.net. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
  5. ↑ Toms, Adam. "The Cliff Lift". www.southend.gov.uk. Retrieved 2017-05-12.
  6. 1 2 "Historic cliff lift reopens following refurbishment". BBC. 2010-05-25. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
  7. ↑ "Southend Cliff Railway - www.simplonpc.co.uk". www.simplonpc.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-05-12.
  8. ↑ "Cliff Lift". Southend-on-Sea Borough Council. 2009-02-02. Archived from the original on 7 October 2007. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  9. ↑ Percival, Geoff (2008-05-13). "Cliffs Lift to remain closed another year". Echo. Newsquest Media Group. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
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