funicular railway

American  

noun

1. a short, very steep railway having two parallel sets of tracks, upon each of which runs a car or train raised or lowered by means of a cable that simultaneously lowers or raises the other car or train in such a way that the two are approximately counterbalanced.

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Etymology

Origin of funicular railway

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

funicular railway

Most regular guests arrive by the lengthy winding mountain road, or by catamaran from Lucerne followed by a spectacular funicular railway, 929 metres long and rising 434 metres.

From Barron's ● Jun. 21, 2026

The iconic funicular railway has announced that fares will increase from $1.00 to $1.50 starting June 1 to keep pace with the rising cost of insurance, maintenance and labor.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 16, 2025

Ride the 131-year-old funicular railway from the Lower Terminus to Victoria Peak, a mountaintop on Hong Kong Island.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 19, 2019

As this is Switzerland, there is a funicular railway to take you to the top and a restaurant on the summit.

From The Guardian ● Sep. 2, 2019

The lady means the stock of the funicular railway on the Jungfrau.

From Pandora's Box A Tragedy in Three Acts by Wedekind, Frank