Wellington Cable Car, Funicular railway in Wellington, New Zealand
The Wellington Cable Car is a funicular railway in Wellington, New Zealand, linking the waterfront business quarter to Kelburn on the hillside. The red cars run through three tunnels and over three viaducts along a track just over 600 meters long.
The railway opened in 1902 and originally ran on steam power with timber cars. It was rebuilt in the 1970s as an electric funicular with modern rolling stock.
The Cable Car Museum displays original grip cars and mechanical equipment, presenting the technical evolution of Wellington's transportation through educational exhibits.
The lower terminal sits on Lambton Quay near the central business district, while the upper terminal brings passengers directly to the Botanic Garden and viewpoint. The ride takes just a few minutes and the system runs daily.
A small museum at the top station displays the original grip mechanisms and wheels that once pulled the cars through the tunnels. Some parts date back to the steam era and can be examined up close.
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