This collection is a bit different from what we normally feature as not only is it an "Around the World in Trams" special but we also feature a funicular railway. In the UK several funiculars still operate and indeed some of these are even known as tramways but more often than not are called Cliff Railways. These photos show a similar line in Dubuque, Iowa - a line which has a fascinating history as Edward M. Koehler Jr. explains more below.
What became known as the Fourth Street Elevator was built during 1882 by J.K. Graves, a Dubuque banker who wanted to go home for lunch on a daily basis, the horse and wagon route up the bluffs took too long to accomplish a round trip within what was then the accepted lunch break, especially as Mr Graves wanted to get in a half hour nap! The original one car cable railway was granted a franchise on June 5, 1882 and was operated for the first time on 25th July 1882. The family gardener had the additional duties of hoist operator assigned to him. On 19th July 1884 the fire in the hoist house boiler spread to the building and destroyed it. Mr. Graves rebuilt the ‘elevator’ and at the request of his neighbors, opened it up to the public at a 5˘ fare during 1884. The ‘Fourth Street Elevator’ suffered another destructive fire during 1893. Unfortunately for the community, Mr Graves was suffering from the effects of a recession and did not have the funds to rebuild it. Ten individuals from the community at the top of the bluff pooled their resources and formed the Fenelon Place Elevator Company during 1893; acquiring the franchise from Mr Graves. A streetcar traction motor was acquired from an exhibit at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago that same year; from now on electricity would be used to run the ‘Elevator’. During its 1893 rebuilding the line was rebuilt as a semi-double track funicular line. Despite being the third incarnation of this facility, it is on the same site as the 1882 single car cable line. By 1912 ownership of the line was in the hands of a single individual, C.B. Trewin who had lived next door to the station at the top of the incline since 1897. During the Trewin ownership period, in 1916, the summit station was expanded to its current size. A fire damaged the summit station building during 1962, the cost of repairs raising the fare to 10˘! During 1977 both cars were rebuilt and a new traction motor was installed in the hoist house. The Fenelon Place Elevator has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The upper station of the Fenelon Place Elevator Company is located at 512 Fenelon Place in Dubuque; the lower station is at the southwest end of West Fourth Street. It is now seasonally operated from 1st April to 30th November. The hours are from 0800 to 2200.
