Changes in Slope Gradient, Mt. Beacon Incline Railway
Current Status: Inoperable
Design: Single track, balanced car, upper power station funicular with pronounced curve along
its route.
Designer: Otis Elevator Co., Yonkers, NY (now a division of UTC, CT)
Construction: Mohawk Construction Co., Mohawk,
NY (primary sub-contractor)
Construction Cost: $165,000 ($4,061,255 in 2007 dollars)
Current Ownership: Scenic
Hudson Land Trust
Vertical elevation: 1,540 ft (470 meters) above sea level
Average Gradient: 64+%
Maximum Gradient: 74% (for
approximately 800 feet of run)
Ascent/descent time: 4 1/2 minutes
Maximum Speed: 500 ft per minute
Emergency Breaking
Speed: 700 ft per minute
Power: Two 75-hp electric motors, 500 rpm, 500 volts DC, later converted to AC
Track and rail
bed: standard cut and fill
Manufacturer: Ramapo Iron Works (frogs, switches and idlers)
Length: 2,200 feet
Gauge: 3 feet (narrow gauge)
Configuration: 2-4-2 (single trackway with “Brown patent turn-out”)
Lay of Track: Primarily ground, plus 225 ft trestle on upper course, avg. height = 10 ft
Bents: 18 (trestle)
and 5 (approach to power station) with masonry supports
Ballast: stone along entire length
Idlers: Every 36
feet, 12” diameter on straight run, 15” on curved sections of track
Rails: 32 lbs per yard
Cable:
Manufacturer: (?)
John A. Roebling's Sons Co., Trenton, N. J.
Type: 1 3/8 inch steel wire rope, Lang-Lay pattern
Weight: 7,000
lbs.
Strength: 62 tons (124,000 lbs)
Cars:
Manufacturer: Ramapo Iron Works, Hillburn,
NY
Design: Open cars with canvas side curtains for inclement weather, wood body over
channel iron, 9 ea. transverse
bench seats between 10 bulkheads. Foot platforms and
benches were raked at an angle for passenger comfort on
the steepest gradient.
Length: 33 feet
Width: 7.5 feet
Weight: 6.5 tons
ea. (13,000 lbs)
Wheels: 24" diameter, 2 double-flanged (outer) wheels, 2 flat (inner) wheels, 8"wide
Wheelbase: 20 feet
Passenger Capacity: 54 passengers, 1 conductor per car
Carrying Capacity: 10,000
lbs
Color scheme: Red (?) or yellow exterior with natural wood interior. Over the years,
the cars were also painted off-white and orange.
Electricity: Cars were illuminated with incandescent lamps and had downward facing headlights mounted at the roof, both front and back. The
electric lighting plant was likely furnished by Westinghouse, Church, Kerr & Co., New York City.
*Sources for
technical data include: 1904 Annual Report of the NY State Board of Railroad Commissioners; 1908 Annual Report of the NY State Board
Public Service Commission; and the 1903 professional trade publication, The Elevator Constructor.
