Saltburn Cliff Lift

Last updated

Saltburn Cliff Lift
Saltburn Cliff Lift and Pier.jpg
View from Upper Station
Cliff Railway, Saltburn-by-the-Sea. - geograph.org.uk - 1475707.jpg
Lower Station
Overview
Locale Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire, England
Transit type Funicular railway
Number of stations2
Operation
Began operation28 June 1884
Operator(s) Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council
Technical
System length207 feet (63 m)
Track gauge Until 1921: 3 ft 9 in (1,143 mm)
From 1922: 4 ft 2+1⁄2 in (1,283 mm) [1]

The Saltburn Cliff Lift is a funicular railway in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Redcar and Cleveland in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. It provides access to Saltburn Pier and the seafront from the town. The cliff lift is the oldest operating water-balance cliff funicular in the United Kingdom. [2] [3]

Contents

The Lift, constructed between 1883 and 1884, replaced an 1870 vertical cliff hoist. It has a height of 120 feet (37 m) and a track length of 207 feet (63 m), resulting in a 71 per cent incline. A pair of 12-person cars, each fitted with a 240-imperial-gallon (1,100 L; 290 US gal) water tank, run on parallel tracks; by removing or adding the water to their tanks, movement is achieved, regulated by a brakeman at the top.

The original cars have been replaced with aluminium counterparts and the top station restored, but little of the underlying mechanism has been changed since it was installed. Owned since the Second World War by the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland and its predecessors, the lift remains in regular use between March and October each year. It is one of Saltburn's most popular tourist attractions. [4] Reportedly, the service was being used by an estimated 150,000 passengers per year by the twenty-first century. [5]

Cliff hoist 1870–1883

On 17 August 1861, the Stockton and Darlington Railway arrived in Saltburn from Redcar. Its passenger services prompted considerable growth in the numbers of day trippers and holiday travellers. [6] The boom in tourism stimulated local businesses to capitalise on the new demand, resulting in various new ventures and projects, including Saltburn Pier, which was completed during 1869. Access to the pier from the town via the steep cliff top was relatively difficult and there was a demand for the provision of a better means of reaching it. [1]

The Saltburn Pier Company contracted John Anderson, who had designed the pier, to engineer a solution. He designed the wooden cliff hoist. [1] The hoist, in a tapering lattice timber tower, was moved using water power. A balance tank attached to the wooden lift cage was filled or emptied, For stability, ropes were run inside the tower between the cliff top and beach level. [1]

On 1 July 1870, the cliff hoist was opened, roughly 14 months after the pier. [1] Passengers approached the hoist top via a narrow walkway supported on timber trestles jutting from the cliff face, boarded the cage and descended 120 feet (37 m). Movement was achieved by adding water to its counterbalance tank. To achieve movement in the other direction, water was drained from the tank. [2]

Cliff lift 1884–present

Background

Following the sale of Saltburn Pier Company to the Middlesbrough Estate in August 1883, the new owners commissioned an inspection of the Cliff Hoist by independent engineers. The inspection led to the structure being condemned because of rotten timbers. [6] The lift had developed a tendency to stop halfway demonstrating its unreliability. [1] It was demolished in late 1883. [7]

The owners commissioned Sir Richard Tangye's company, who had built the earlier Scarborough funiculars, two vertically-inclined water-powered funicular railways, to build a replacement. [1] Tangye appointed the engineer George Croydon Marks as the head of the lift department and he took charge of the design and installation at Saltburn. [8] Marks designed and constructed the funicular with a height of 120 feet (37 m) and a track length of 207 feet (63 m), resulting in a 71 per cent incline. [2]

Elements of the Saltburn Cliff Lift were sourced from multiple companies. Most of the machinery was provided from Tangye, the cars were fabricated by the Birmingham-based rolling stock manufacturer Midland Railway Carriage and Wagon Company, and the gas-powered water pump was produced by Manchester-based engineering firm Crossley Brothers. [1]

Design and operational theory

A car at the top station waiting to descend, 2009. Note the presence of the brakeman to the left of the car Waiting to descend - geograph.org.uk - 1579587.jpg
A car at the top station waiting to descend, 2009. Note the presence of the brakeman to the left of the car

As built, the funicular had a pair of 12-person cars, each of which was equipped with a 240-imperial-gallon (1,100 L) water tank. They ran on parallel funicular tracks. Double steel wire ropes were attached to both cars, and the car's movement was controlled by a brakeman at the upper station via an iron winding wheel with double grooves for the running cables and a flange for braking. [1]

The car at the top station has its water tank filled until its mass exceeds the mass of the car at the bottom. Then the car can travel down the incline, counterbalanced by the mass of the other car, which travels to the top; movement is regulated by the brakeman, who controls the speed of travel. When the car reaches the bottom, its water is released, reducing the mass of the lower car, and pumped back to the top. Water is sourced from a nearby spring and stored in a pair of reservoirs, one, capable of storing up to 136,380 litres, is near the lower station, and the other, up to 84,100 litres, is at the cliff top. [1]

Operations

Saltburn Cliff Lift first opened on Saturday 28 June 1884, but there followed a period of inconsistent operation. The launch of the Cliff Lift may have contributed to the pier company extending the pier. [2]

The top in 1979 Saltburn funicular railway in 1972 - geograph.org.uk - 260796.jpg
The top in 1979

The original cars, which seated 12 passengers, had stained-glass windows but when the Cliff Lift was refurbished during 1955, the replacement car bodies had plain glass. [1] The aluminium cars introduced during 1979 were modelled on the original design. The stained-glass windows were reinstated in 1991. [2] The wooden bodies of the passenger cars were refurbished and "Victorianised" during 2011 by Stanegate Restorations of Haltwhistle. [9]

The tramway was purchased in 1939 by the Saltburn and Marske-by-the-Sea Urban District Council, who replaced the car bodies in 1955, [10] and it is still owned by the local authority (currently the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council). [11] Marks' design for the cliff lift was so good that, that beyond routine maintenance and the occasional refurbishment, little of the mechanism has been changed since its installation during 1884. [7] During winter 1921-2, the track gauge was changed from 3' 9" to 4' 2 1/2". [1] In 1924, an AC electrically-operated water pump was installed to replace the 1913 DC generator and pump arrangement, which had earlier replaced the coal gas-fuelled four-cylinder Crossley-built internal combustion engine-driven water pump. [2]

The stained-glass windows were reinstated in 1991 Cliff Lift Windows.jpg
The stained-glass windows were reinstated in 1991

Between 1997 and 1998, the cliff lift was refitted to comply with modern safety standards. [1] During 1998, the main braking wheel was replaced for the first time by a hydraulic braking system to complement the original band braking/driving system. [2] From 19 September 2010 to 11 April 2011, the funicular underwent restoration, reportedly costing around £30,000. [12] In spring 2014, the top station was refurbished and restored it to its original design. [13] [ citation needed ] During late 2017 and early 2018, the cliff lift was closed for a £500,000 restoration programme following an in-service breakdown; mechanical elements were replaced including all sleepers which were changed to steel to prolong the life along with repairs to the existing sleeper concrete supports, rails, cast iron items which were re-cast at a local foundry from the original components, emergency Scotch Timber braking system along with electric control systems and some lighting. [14] [ better source needed ] [5] During its refits and restoration, an emphasis has been placed on retaining original parts; where replacement items have been necessary, they have usually been created in the style of their forebears. [15] [16]

The two cars in the process of moving between the base and top stations Going up (right) and coming down (left) - geograph.org.uk - 1579590.jpg
The two cars in the process of moving between the base and top stations

The cliff lift closed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [17] Despite all Covid restrictions being fully eased across England on 19 July 2021, Redcar and Cleveland Council decided not to reopen the cliff lift for the 2021 season, stating that they decided to keep it closed due to Covid safety fears, instead deciding to use the time to give the cliff lift an overhaul, which meant that tourists would only see the tramcars in action during the maintenance tests. [18] Although initially planned to reopen for Easter 2022, the cliff lift reopening was delayed due to an issue with the safety system found during routine maintenance tests. The lift reopened on 2 June 2022, in time for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday Weekend. [19] [20]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Funicular</span> Form of cable railway

A funicular is a type of cable railway system that connects points along a railway track laid on a steep slope. The system is characterized by two counterbalanced carriages permanently attached to opposite ends of a haulage cable, which is looped over a pulley at the upper end of the track. The result of such a configuration is that the two carriages move synchronously: as one ascends, the other descends at an equal speed. This feature distinguishes funiculars from inclined elevators, which have a single car that is hauled uphill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redcar</span> Town in North Yorkshire, England

Redcar is a seaside town on the Yorkshire Coast in the Redcar and Cleveland unitary authority in the county of North Yorkshire, England. It is located 7 miles (11 km) east of Middlesbrough.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tees Valley</span> Mayoral combined authority area in North East England

The Tees Valley is a combined authority area in North East England, around the lower River Tees. The area is not a geographical valley; the local term for the valley is Teesdale. The combined authority covers five council areas: Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aberystwyth Cliff Railway</span>

The Aberystwyth Cliff Railway opened on 1 August 1896. It is a 778 feet (237 m) long funicular railway in Aberystwyth and is the second longest funicular railway in the British Isles, after the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway. Since November 1987, the Aberystwyth Cliff Railway has been a Grade II listed structure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saltburn-by-the-Sea</span> Town in North Yorkshire, England

Saltburn-by-the-Sea, commonly referred to as Saltburn, is a seaside town in Redcar and Cleveland, North Yorkshire, England, around 26 miles (42 km) south-east of Hartlepool and southeast of Redcar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Tangye</span>

Sir Richard Trevithick Tangye was a British manufacturer of engines and other heavy equipment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marske-by-the-Sea</span> Village in North Yorkshire, England

Marske-by-the-Sea is a village in the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. It is located on the coast, between the seaside resorts of Redcar and Saltburn-by-the-Sea, although it is not itself a seaside resort. Marske is in the civil parish of Saltburn, Marske and New Marske and comprises the wards of Longbeck and St Germains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clifton Rocks Railway</span> Former (1893–1934) funicular railway in Bristol, England

The Clifton Rocks Railway was an underground funicular railway in Bristol, England, linking Clifton at the top to Hotwells and Bristol Harbour at the bottom of the Avon Gorge in a tunnel cut through the limestone cliffs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway</span> Water powered funicular in England

The Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway is a water-powered funicular joining the twin towns of Lynton and Lynmouth on the rugged coast of North Devon in southwest England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Babbacombe Cliff Railway</span> Funicular railway in Torquay, Devon, England

Babbacombe Cliff Railway, also known as the Babbacombe Cliff Lift, is a funicular railway in the town of Torquay in the English county of Devon. It links Babbacombe Downs with Oddicombe Beach. The line formerly ran every day between 09:30 and 17:30, with a closure period in winter for maintenance. A bell is rung 30 and 15 minutes before closing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Hill Cliff Railway</span> Funicular railway in Hastings

East Hill Cliff Railway, or East Hill Lift, is a funicular railway located in the English seaside town of Hastings. It provides access to Hastings Country Park via the East Hill, which overlooks the Old Town and Rock-a-Nore, an area to the east of Hastings. The line provides views over The Stade, home to the largest beach-launched fishing fleet in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scarborough funiculars</span> Cliff railways

The British town of Scarborough has had a total of five cliff railways, or funiculars, two of which are presently operational. The town is home to the first funicular railway in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montmartre Funicular</span> Funicular railway serving the Montmartre neighbourhood of Paris, France

The Montmartre Funicular is an inclined transport system serving the Montmartre neighbourhood of Paris, France, in the 18th arrondissement. Operated by the RATP, the Paris transport authority, the system opened in 1900; it was entirely rebuilt in 1935 and again in 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southend Cliff Railway</span> Lift running from the clifftop to the beach in Southend

The Southend Cliff Railway, or Southend Cliff Lift, is an inclined lift in the English city of Southend-on-Sea, constructed in 1912. The lift operated for the first time on Bank Holiday Monday, in August of that year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saltburn Pier</span> Pier in North Yorkshire, England

Saltburn Pier is a pier located in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Redcar and Cleveland and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. It is the last pier remaining in Yorkshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leas Lift</span>

The Leas Lift is a grade II* listed funicular railway that carries passengers between the seafront and the promenade in Folkestone, Kent. Originally installed in 1885, it is one of the oldest water lifts in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swansea Constitution Hill Incline Tramway</span>

The Swansea Constitution Hill Incline Tramway operated a cable funicular tramway service on Constitution Hill in Swansea between 1898 and 1901.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Tramway Company, Scarborough</span>

The Central Tramway Company is an electric-powered funicular railway located in the holiday resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. The company has the distinction of being the oldest surviving Tramway Company in the UK, as the original corporation still operates the funicular today. Built in just 6 months between January and August 1881, the Tramway opened on Monday 1 August becoming the 3rd such cliff railway to operate in the borough.

A Waterballast railway is a funicular or aerial tramway without a prime mover that uses gravity as its motive power. A synonym for this is water weight cable car.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Saltburn Funicular Railway". engineering-timelines.com. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Saltburn Cliff Lift". Saltburn-by-the-Sea. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
  3. ↑ "Saltburn Cliff Lift". This is Redcar & Cleveland. R&CC. Archived from the original on 14 April 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  4. ↑ "Saltburn's Victorian town celebrates its 150th birthday." BBC News, 19 August 2011.
  5. 1 2 Brown, Mike. "133-year-old Saltburn cliff lift to close for £400k refurb after breaking down three times in a year." Teesside Live, 26 September 2017.
  6. 1 2 Delplanque, Paul (4 January 2010). "Saltburn Cliff Lift...Then and Now". Tees Gazette. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
  7. 1 2 "Saltburn Cliff Lift". BBC Tees. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
  8. ↑ Cooper, David. "A Brief History and Explanation of Technology Babbacombe Cliff Railway". Friends of the Babbacombe Cliff Railway. Archived from the original on 2 October 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  9. ↑ "Saltburn cliff lift carriage refit complete". BBC News. BBC. 22 April 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  10. ↑ Turner, Keith (2002). Cliff railways of the British Isles. Usk: Oakwood. p. 94. ISBN   0-85361-594-2.
  11. ↑ Love, Laura (26 June 2014). "Iconic Saltburn Cliff Lift set to celebrate its 130th birthday". Gazette Live. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  12. ↑ "Saltburn cliff lift carriage refit complete." BBC News, 10 April 2011.
  13. ↑ Morgan, Mike. "Anger as Saltburn’s historic cliff lift ticket kiosk faces demolition." Teesside Live, 8 December 2012.
  14. ↑ Site Manager Rapid Consulting Engineers, main contractors for tramway restoration 2017 - 2018
  15. ↑ Robson, Dave. "Original 1884 Saltburn Cliff Lift parts found as overhaul stays on track for summer reopening." Teesside Live, 12 April 2018.
  16. ↑ "Saltburn cliff tramway 'likely' to remain closed for summer." BBC News, 19 May 2018.
  17. ↑ Metcalfe, Alex (18 March 2020). "Cliff lift, libraries & youth clubs closed in Redcar and Cleveland". TeessideLive. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  18. ↑ "Saltburn's famous cliff lift to stay shut for rest of year due to coronavirus safety fears" TeessideLive, 14 July 2021.
  19. ↑ "Saltburn cliff tramway still closed two years on - but council reassures it'll be ready for Jubilee weekend." TeessideLive, 6 May 2022.
  20. ↑ "Saltburn's funicular tramway reopens after two years". BBC News. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.

54°35′10.46″N0°58′14.61″W / 54.5862389°N 0.9707250°W / 54.5862389; -0.9707250

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.