Bridgnorth Cliff Railway
Aug 8th, 2011 | By The Editor | Category: Bridgnorth Attractions
6A Castle Terrace Bridgnorth WV16 4AH
tel :: 01746 762052
web :: Bridgnorth Cliff Railway Website
The Bridgnorth Cliff Railway or Castle Hill Railway is a funicular cliff railway in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England.
The railway links the High Town and Low Town areas of Bridgnorth. The track length is 201 ft (61.2 metres), with a gradient of 1 in 1.8 and a rise of 111 ft (33.8 metres) at an angle of 33 degrees. It is one of the steepest railways in the country, and at least one source (the information panel outside the top station) claims it is both the steepest and shortest.Following a public meeting in 1890 to discuss an alternative method of communication between the two parts of Bridgnorth to the 200 steps between High Town and Low Town, a proposal to build a Patent Cliff Railway was subsequently put to the town council and construction started on 2 November 1891.
The railway was opened on 7 July 1892 by Mayor William Burton. A public holiday was proclaimed to celebrate the occasion.
Originally the railway was powered by a simple system using water and gravity. Water was pumped into a 2000 imperial gallon (9000 litre) tank beneath the top car until its weight, a maximum of 11.5 long tons (11.7 metric tonnes ), overcame that of the lower car. When the car reached the bottom station the tank was emptied and pumped up to a 30,000 imperial gallon (136,000 litre) tank on the top of the upper station.
Between 1943 and 1944 the system was rebuilt to use electricity, with an official re-opening on 9 May 1944 by Mayor T.C. Pembro — who had taken office only 2 hours previously.
In 1955 the original heavy wooden cars were replaced by the ‘up-to-date’ stronger and lighter (5.4 long tons, 5.5 metric tonnes) aluminium monocoque ones still in use today. Each car can carry up to 18 passengers.
The rails were replaced in about 1972 with the bullhead design formerly used on mainline railways. The track gauge is 3 ft 6 in (1067 mm).
Source: Wikipedia
Bridgnorth Cliff Railway sold to family firm
Monday 22nd August 2011
The Bridgnorth Cliff Railway has been sold to a family of Suffolk-based property developers, it was revealed today.
Local operators Allan and Jean Reynolds put the Bridgnorth Castle Hill Railway Company, which includes the historic cliff railway, up for sale in February.
Mrs Reynolds said the railway had been sold to the Tipping family, and gave the new owners her full backing.
She said: “We are delighted to announce the company has been sold to another family, the Tippings.
“We have a great deal of confidence in the new owners. Our plan is now to retire, but I’m sure we’ll find something to keep us busy.”
Jonathan Bengough, spokesman for agents Knight Frank, said the railway was sold for between £700,000 and £800,000.
He said: “The railway went on to the market in February and attracted a tremendous amount of interest from all four corners of the UK.
“We are very happy it’s a family interest who have purchased the company. They will treasure it as much as the Reynolds have done for 15 years.
“The Tipping family are established property investors with real estate interests in different parts of the country.
“Eileen Tipping and one of her sons, Malvern Tipping, became the new directors of the cliff railway on Friday’s completion of the purchase.
“Her other son, Jason Tipping, has been appointed company secretary. The family has pledged to keep the Bridgnorth Cliff Railway as a going concern and in the same format as previously run by the Reynolds.”
Eileen Tipping said: “This is a very exciting opportunity for our family. We have had long associations with Hong Kong and see this purchase as a chance to own our own mini version of Hong Kong’s famous Peak Tram.
Malvern Tipping added: “Not only is the cliff railway an extremely important part of our historic transport heritage, but it is also a vital link between the two parts of the town and a major tourist attraction.”