A listener inquired about Cincinnati's funiculars. The listener wondered if the funiculars could have been preserved as a tourist attraction. Cincinnati once had incline railways, also known as funiculars.
What we know
- The city's five inclines were originally designed to transport people and cargo from the basin to the growing suburbs.
- The inclines were eventually replaced by electric streetcars and personal vehicles, leading to their decline and closure.
- The last incline, which led to Mt. Adams, closed in 1948 due to the owners' refusal to pay for repairs and upkeep.
- Reference librarian Christopher Smith says there was an outcry when the Mt. Adams incline shut down because it was a well-loved and successful line.
Read the full story from WVXU.
