Lookout Mountain Incline Railway
Lookout Mountain Incline Railway | |
A view down the 1-mile (1.6 km) length of the railway from the top of Lookout Mountain | |
| Location | 3917 St. Elmo Avenue, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37409 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 35°0′28″N 85°20′8″W / 35.00778°N 85.33556°W |
| Built | November 16, 1895 |
| Architect | Josephus "Jo" Conn Guild Sr. |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001774 |
| Added to NRHP | April 26, 1973 |
The Lookout Mountain Incline Railway is a 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge inclined plane funicular railway leading to the top of Lookout Mountain from the historic St. Elmo neighborhood of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Passengers are transported from St. Elmo's Station at the base, to Point Park at the mountain summit, which overlooks the city and the Tennessee River. It is just a short drive to three of Chattanooga's main tourist attractions, Ruby Falls, Cavern Castle, and Rock City. It obtained Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark status in 1991.
The railway is approximately one mile (1.6 km) in length (single-track except for a short two-track passing loop at the midway point, allowing operation of two cars at one time). It has a maximum grade of 72.7%, making it one of the world's steepest passenger railways.
The Incline Railway is a well-known Chattanooga landmark; the railway has been depicted in numerous regional and national publications, including being on TV, most prominently on Larry the Cable Guy's Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy in February 2011. The railway is one of the main tourist attractions in the Chattanooga area, totaling over 100,000 visits annually. The top station features an observation deck and a gift shop.