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Lynton & Lynmouth
Cliff Railway |
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General
Vue
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Lynmouth
is located at the sea level and Lynton on the top of the
hill.
In the XIXth century, the tourists arriving by boats from
Bristol had to climb this steep hill to reach Lynton.
For years the best way was to use donkeys!
In 1887 a project was launched to link the two cities
by a funicular railway. The Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff
Railway company was created and the incline was officialy
opened on April 19th, 1890.
Since this day it is still the same company which is operating
with the same equipment and technology. Only the upper
part of the cars was reshaped.
The Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway is a water counterbalanced
funicular. The water is taken from the West Lyn river
and brought to the Lynton top station by a one mile pipe.
The Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway is listed Grade
II.
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My
opinion
By Michel Azéma |
The
6th April 2001 I visited for the first time Lynton & Lynmouth
Cliff Railway. My goal was to visit one of the most famous
funiculars of Great Britain.
I was expecting to discover a very classical water powered
incline. But in fact I was completely surprised and fascinated.
The Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway is absolutely unique!
It uses a "subtractive" water ballast method unlike
other water powered funiculars which use an "additional"
method.
It is a water powered funicular, of course, but it is also
"water braked" !!!... The braking system is absolutely
unique!
May be the first funicular with tension cable system!
Another special feature, it is a 100% water powered system,
that means that no water is pumped from the bottom to the
top. The pumping of the water is used in most of the water
powered funiculars.
The Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway is a real "petit
bijou", very well maintained with love by the company
and its team. |
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Location
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Lynton
and Lynmouth are located in England, in the Devon County on
the south bank of the Bristol Channel.
Lynton is located on the top of the cliff and Lynmouth is
located at the see level, just below Lynton, where the East
and West Lyn rivers merge.
The 15th August 1952 an heavy rainfall caused a flood disaster
in the two rivers. 34 people died. |
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Click
to enlarge
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Lynmouth,
West and East Lyn river have merged.
This part of the town was destroyed on 15th August 1952. |
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Lynmouth,
the harbour.
This part of the town was also destroyed on 15th August 1952. |
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Lynton. |
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recommends
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Southcliffe
Hotel
34 Lee Road, Lynton
June & Adrian Kamp
Tél 44 (0)1598 753328 |
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