46°48′45″N 71°12′14″W / 46.812545°N 71.203959°W
| Old Quebec Funicular | |
|---|---|
 View from the funicular, looking down on Rue Sous-le-Fort (straight ahead) and Rue du Petit-Champlain to the right | |
| Overview | |
| Status | In use |
| Locale | Quebec City, Quebec |
| Service | |
| Type | Funicular |
| History | |
| Opened | 1879 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 0.064 km (0.040 mi) |
| Number of tracks | Double track |
| Highest elevation | 59 m (194 ft) |
| Maximum incline | 100% |
The Old Quebec Funicular (French: Funiculaire du Vieux-Québec) was a funicular railway, later converted as an inclined elevator, in the Old Quebec neighbourhood of Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. It links the Haute-Ville (Upper Town) at Dufferin Terrace to the Basse-Ville (Lower Town) at Rue du Petit-Champlain. The Basse-Ville includes such sites as the colonial-era Notre Dame des Victoires church, the historic Petit Champlain district, the port, and the Musée de la civilisation (Museum of Civilization). Climbing at a 45-degree angle, the railway covers a total distance of 64 metres (210 ft).[1]
The funicular opened on November 17, 1879, and it originally used the water ballast system of propulsion. The line was converted to electrical operation in 1907. On July 2, 1945, a major fire destroyed the structure, necessitating a rebuild that was completed in 1946. Since then, major renovations have taken place in 1978 and 1998. In 2004, it celebrated 125 years of operating.[2]
In October 1996, Briton Helen Tombs was killed when the cable snapped and the emergency brake failed to stop the cabin before it crashed into the lower station.[3][4] As a result of this fatal crash, the funicular was closed and entirely revamped with modern technology. It reopened in 1998, technically as an inclined elevator, since both cabins are independent.[5][6]
The funicular has the following technical parameters:[7]
