There have been a lot of comments about what is actually the shortest or steepest railroad or elevator. Fenelon's claim is the "world's shortest and steepest scenic railway". Obviously a lot of you disagree :) I think it's interesting to learn about what a railroad is versus an elevator versus a scenic railway, etc. Nevertheless it's an interesting place to visit! I appreciate all the comments!

@midwestghosttown

6 ай бұрын

When I was a kid - my parents took me on the elevator - all I remember was thinking to myself "I sure hope that cable doesn't break!" Pretty cool history with Dubuque, especially with the lead industry and the shot tower. Thanks for the video!

It says the Dubuque was founded in 1833. However, Julian Dubuque really founded the city in the late 1700s.

Had relatives in Dubuque that we visited every summer. This was the coolest thing there for us kids.

@TravelwithaWiseguy

Ай бұрын

I bet it was fun!

I lived in Dubuque for several years and have been on that elevator many times.

There are rails like this all over Switzerland. People who live on the side of a mountain even have their own ways of getting home. Cable cars and cog railways

They used to have a train like this at the Royal Gorge in Colorado. It took you down into the gorge from the top.

wow, thats interesting

I have never heard of this before, and I have been to Iowa many times.

Unique! 😊

I didn't feel railroaded into watching this one. in fact I found it quite up lifting. That was rather unique.

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

😂😂😂

@jljordan1

8 ай бұрын

lolololololol

Fun fun! And that view!! Interesting history!

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

Agreed!!

It costs less than a penny a second! That's one of my favorite places in the world! My kids enjoyed it so much when they were little. Thank you for sharing it with us again.

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

Definitely a unique experience! It was fun and a great view at the top!

Love all your videos especially with all information and history you provide. Thank you

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

So nice of you! Thanks!!

When you showed the Freedom Rock in Hamburg, that gave me an idea for a suggestion. A series about the Iowa Freedom Rocks would be very interesting.

@TravelwithaWiseguy

7 ай бұрын

Would be fun!

So cool

I thought the Duquesne Incline in Pittsburgh was pretty steep. This one looks interesting.

Wow Man! I'm glad I didn't have to walk up that steep grade. Don't think I could do it Mate!😁😆 Thumbs up 👍

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

Haha thanks! Very interesting invention!

Very Cool Thank You for sharing!!! At the beginning I thought it was going to be the one in Pittsuburg on Mt. Washington, which I have ridden. Very very similar.

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

I’d like to see those someday too!

This is now on my bucket list if I ever get to Iowa. There’s a couple of this type of incline railroad out in Pittsburgh that I’d like to go see. Great video John!

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

Thanks! Definitely worth checking out - very cool little stop!

Your a brave one lol years back when I lived in Colorado I rode the tramway on monarch pass no rails just cables it scared the living crap out of me lol I keep my feet on the ground now. It was a cool video though. Thanks for sharing

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

I can see how it could kind of freak people out!

Interesting little dude.

wow- this was so interesting, thank you for sharing the History of it too

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you!

I always enjoy your videos, however, this one hits close to home. I grew up in Cassville Wisconsin approximately 30 miles to the north, up river. Dubuque was the big city when I was growing up in the late 50's and 60's.

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

Nice! Pretty interesting area - hope I can come back again and explore more!

I'd love to ride that! Thanks for sharing, stay safe and GOD bless

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

It was fun! Great little attraction 😊

What a great tourist attraction for the city! Looks fun. Thanks for sharing.

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

Unique that’s for sure!

Cool❤

Very interesting, I've never been there. 😊

if you enjoyed this, try to the one in Chattanooga if you get a chance

@kentondickerson

Ай бұрын

72% grade.

You're cool! There's two in Pittsburgh, neither one as steep but both travel further up the slope. There's one at Horseshoe Curve in Altoona, PA which is shorter than the Iowa version. Plus there's a large one in Johnstown, PA which can take small cars/motorcycles up the slope. Cheers

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

Haha I’m not that cool 😎 😜 but thanks

@jljordan1

8 ай бұрын

I think there’s a live camera for horseshoe curve here on KZread

@robertadams6606

Ай бұрын

@@jljordan1 The problem with that 1 is the State Of Pa. has not had a Safety Inspection for a few years but there is a stairway(many ) steps to the top.

Wife is from Iowa and although we’ve been to the city, she’s never heard of this railroad elevator. 👍

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

It’s an interesting thing to do! Recommended 😊

Hi john thanks for the ride along not even enough time to catch a nap 😂. Chheers mate🇦🇺

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

Haha definitely not enough time for a nap unless you are narcoleptic!

There’s a similar train ride out of the Marvel cave at Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO. Uses a similar two car pully system, on a steep slope. It’s interesting trying to get out, because it’s slanted in the cave, but flat at the top.

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

It’s a fascinating idea - I love the ingenuity!

@stevewoods8116

8 ай бұрын

I was thinking about that one too! Have ridden it @ a dozen times.

You should try The Mount Washington Cog Railway

About the same as Angel's Flight in downtown LA.

Wonderful Video!!!! F+L, Corey

@TravelwithaWiseguy

Ай бұрын

Thanks so much!

Nice ride 😊

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

Yes it was!

There is one of these in Pittsburg Pa, , it is very steep , I rode on it as a teenager.

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

Interesting as others have mentioned ones like this in several places. I wonder which one was first?

@lindastepp9842

8 ай бұрын

@@TravelwithaWiseguy that is a good wonder question !

there's a pretty steep train that goes up mount washington in New Hamphsire

Steep (up to 41 degrees) but not the steepest funicular; that's in Stoosbahn (in the canton of Schwyz, Switzerland) at 47.7 degrees. The steepest inclined lift railway is at Scenic World in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia, at up to 52 degrees (now a tourist attraction, built originally for hauling coal and shale up about 1000 feet).

@flamingfrancis

8 ай бұрын

Yes, correct, the Scenic Railway at Katoomba in the World Heritage listed Blue Mountains is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the steepest in the world. A cable car also operates over the beautiful adjacent valley.

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

My guess is their claim as “shortest and steepest” is a combo of both but not individually each thing? And the definition of railroad vs elevator has been interesting to learn about.

Have heard about this , but never had a xhance to go check it out. The Mississippi River bluff is high and steep in many areas of Iowa, but not so bad in others. There are several old highways that run ar the base of the bluff in areas of Iowa. And they offer beautiful scenery on both sides. Then you have the small and larger river towns along the way, many have kept some of that old archetecture alive, and is a joy to view. If you teavel those old river roads, be sure to stop and watch a towboat lock through on the river, the best is at Keokuk where there is a thirty feet or better difference between pools elevation. There is a bunch of Iowa history along that old muddy river. As always, thank you for an interesting video.

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

Thanks! I didn’t get to explore too much of the area but what I saw looked interesting! Hopefully I can come back again someday!

@ronfullerton3162

8 ай бұрын

@@TravelwithaWiseguy I wish we all could experience everywhere on our earth in our lifetime. But alas, it isn't possible. That is why your videos are so great. It gives all the rest of us to see what is out there through your eyes and cameras.l Keep up the good work!

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

😊

@jljordan1

8 ай бұрын

When I lived in Omaha, we had the Missouri River bluffs along that border that provided a unique scenery. Being from Wichita, KS, the terrain is flat here and it was beautiful to see for me at least. I was also surprised to learn there are skiing areas in Iowa!

@ronfullerton3162

8 ай бұрын

@@jljordan1 I liked living in Iowa because the last of the land constantly changes as you drive along. All the neat river bluffs, and their is some flat land, with rolling hills that can be small or big and very changeable. I know many people would side with the song "I-80 across Iowa" by Heywood Banks. But I am a native Iowan that grew up on a farm in little Louisa County along the Mississippi River.

Will not argue the point of steepest.I do think the one at Horse-shoe-curve maybe shorter.

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

In the comments here a lot of discussion about the actual shortest or steepest 😂

So that must be like the highest peak in Iowa... Right?(lol). Cool rig. Its a lot like the log elevators in old time Californiastan logging operations.

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

Hahaha! I looked it up 😂 the highest elevation in Dubuque is 1122’ and the highest in Iowa is 1670’ - it’s close! 😂😂

I think these are more commonly known as inclines, inclined railways, or funiculars. I've ridden them at Niagara Falls, Los Angeles, Chattanooga, 2 in Pittsburgh. There used to be 5 in Cincinnati.

I have been to Dubuque but never did that. What we did was explored the caves in the area including Spook Cave. By the way, I thought you weren't going to the NE part of the state

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

It’s worth trying if you’re ever there and only a couple dollars! I mentioned I wouldn’t be able to visit the SE and NW parts of the state (at least I thought I did 🤷🏼‍♂️)

@travis303

8 ай бұрын

It's possible i misread@@TravelwithaWiseguy

@travis303

8 ай бұрын

NE is beautiful. I hope you got to see Effigy Mounds National Monument. Also some unique towns in the area. McGregor was interesting and worth a visit, I think, plus it's a teeny tiny town in your wheelhouse I think@@TravelwithaWiseguy

@centauri61032

Ай бұрын

Spook Cave. That brings back memories. A crazy place...

Hi! I watched your video, and I'm truly impressed by your dedication to creating such great content. I believe professional video editing could take your content to the next level. Best of luck with your future content!

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

Can’t afford that yet 😊

5 min...oh I thought the guess was for round trip. Well I was close at around 4:43 round trip

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

Good guess!!

@chilipeppersalsa7596

8 ай бұрын

@@TravelwithaWiseguybeing a good guesser is how I made it thru college...lol

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

😂😂

That’s interesting, how did you find it?

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

It was suggested by a viewer 😊

20 min

Is this like the tram at Royal Gorge?

I have seen one like that (pretty close), but it was in Japan. Serious question, did it feel solid/trustworthy, just wondering. I did not like the one in Japan. I have said too much, be good, be safe !

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

Yes it felt very safe! I really enjoyed the uniqueness of it!

It is a Funicular!!!

I wonder why so many fires 🤔

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

Good question. Although fire was often a problem in the late 1800’s in many places. Maybe it was the use of a hemp rope and the friction?

@centauri61032

Ай бұрын

Early versions were steam powered. Boilers weren't as safe back then. I believe one was also a lightning strike.

Couldn't just build a set of stairs??

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

Haha in the end it made for a good business decision 😊

No to the worlds steepest etc Plenty of these in Europe

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

I think the “shortest and steepest” is a technicality of what is a railroad vs an elevator. I’m not an expert so I just put what their website said 😂

@MervynL

8 ай бұрын

🤣@@TravelwithaWiseguy

Clickbait, not a railroad.

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

You’ll have to argue with them about it: www.fenelonplaceelevator.com/

@K1OIK

8 ай бұрын

@@TravelwithaWiseguy You are the one that copied a false statement. Virtually all your posts are in and around Kansas.

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

Lol 😂 in terms of false statements I have 67 Kansas videos out of 242 overall so “virtually all your posts are in and around Kansas” is a false statement. Ok, so if what I posted is a false statement, can you provide me with a rebuttal with facts? Just saying something isn’t true doesn’t make you correct. You may in fact be correct, but I’m guessing there is some kind of technicality about what a railroad is so that Fenelon would post that on their public website and use it to promote it. If you Google “shortest and steepest railroad in the world” this one comes up. Maybe it’s a combo of the two and not both if that makes sense.

@K1OIK

8 ай бұрын

@@TravelwithaWiseguy 27.69% of your videos are in Kansas. But I did say, "in and around." so I would consider a bordering state to fit virtually all. So, am I still wrong?

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

@@K1OIK Ha! It depends on what your definition of "in and around" is. I have lots of videos from California, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Ohio, Texas. If the entire USA is in and around Kansas then you would be correct :)

Cool -- I don't my wfe would agree to ride in that little car though. What I remember most about Dubuque is the beautiful bridge that crosses the Mississippi River.

@TravelwithaWiseguy

8 ай бұрын

It’s definitely a unique experience. But not too scary 😊