Fourth Street Elevator

The Fourth Street Elevator in Dubuque, IA is said to be the shortest and steepest railroad in the world. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The”funicular” as it is called is 296 feet long, with a vertical elevation of 189 feet. (That is steep.) The two cars start at opposite ends, passing each other at the mid-point of the elevator.The two cars counterbalance each other, drawing motive power from an engine in the station house at the top of the hill. The original one was built in 1892. It has been rebuilt after three fires. This one was renovated in l977. The Mississippi River is just a few blocks away.