Called an engineering marvel and America’s most amazing mile, this funicular railway was opened in 1895 and rose up the steepest part of Lookout Mountain. Built by John Crass this technical marvel boasts an incline of 72.7 percent at one point, making it the steepest passenger incline in the world. The only incline with a steeper grade was in Australia and was used for coal and shale-oil mining operations, not passenger transport.
Originally the cars were made of wood and powered by huge coal-burning steam engines. Electric power was used after 1911, and it now uses two 100 horsepower motors.
The location where your coordinates take you is such that few people really know about. In fact, I bet that those who have never completed this virtual before have NEVER been to this location.....even in passing! The first thing I must say is that this cache cannot be given justice by "taking a ride".....you must drive in your automobile to the exact spot where the coordinates take you.
Here are the requirements for logging this cache:
To validate your visit upon arriving at this area, please complete the following tasks:
- Give me a description of the man-made structure at the provided coordinates (the answer is NOT the rail bridge)
- What is the clearance measurement under the nearby rail bridge? You can take a tape measure to do this, or you can just read it directly from the nearby sign
- Without compromising the answers of the previous questions....please take a picture of you with the famous attraction passing in the background. I am not going to require that you wait around until it reveals itself overhead, but that would be really cool. If you are running short on time, or if the famous attraction is closed, you can instead take a picture of you with the rail bridge in the background. Please post the picture on your online 'found it' log.
Please do not post the answers for the first and second requirement in your online 'found it' log.....please go to my geocaching profile and click on the send message link and send me the answers there.
To avoid confusion, I must state that you do not have to stay in your automobile upon arriving.....you just have to drive to the coordinates in your automobile, then you can get out and walk around.
Enjoy this cache....and if anyone has any questions about anything geocaching related, feel free to send me a message.