{"id":1182,"date":"2018-08-31T14:46:16","date_gmt":"2018-08-31T13:46:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/redcarcleveland.co.uk\/enjoy\/?page_id=1182"},"modified":"2026-08-13T16:43:48","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T15:43:48","slug":"saltburn-cliff-tramway-works","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/redcarcleveland.co.uk\/enjoy\/saltburn-cliff-tramway-works\/","title":{"rendered":"How It Works"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

How the Saltburn Cliff Tramway Works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever wondered how the Saltburn Cliff Tramway operates?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s find out!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Saltburn Cliff Tramway opened to the public on 28 June 1884, replacing an earlier vertical hoist. Today, it remains one of the oldest water-balanced funicular railways still operating in Britain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tramway uses a simple but clever system of counterbalanced water tanks. Each carriage is fitted with a 1,650-litre tank and runs on parallel tracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before a journey begins, passengers board the carriages at both top and bottom stations. Once all doors and gates are securely closed, a bell is rung between both stations, signalling that the carriages are ready to move. All doors and gates are operated with a safety interlocking system. If the system, detects that any of the doors or gates have opened or are not secure fastened the carriages will stop.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The driver in the top station positions a water chute (left or right depending which tram is in the top station) and opens the water valve, allowing water to fill the tram water tank. At the same time, the driver releases the band brake. As water fills the top tram, its weight increases and when it exceeds the weight of the tram in the bottom station, the trams will begin to move. At this point, the driver reapplies the band brake, whilst continuing to add water for a further 10 seconds, this ensures that the top tram has sufficient weight for gravity to pull the tram downhill, while simultaneously pulling the lower carriage uphill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The driver controls the speed of the trams with the band brake as they move up and down the track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the tram travelling down reaches the bottom station, a plunger automatically realises the water from the tank into the lower water storage tank. Water is pumped back up to the top tank several times a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The process then repeats for the next journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saltburn Cliff Tramway Facts & Figures<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Height of Lift: 120 feet<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gradient 1 in 1.40 (71%)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Length of Track: 207 feet<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Track Gauge: 4\u20192.5\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Capacity of Carriage: 12 persons<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Motive Power Water balance<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Electric pump installed 1924<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Capacity of water tanks on each carriage 1650 litres<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Capacity of water storage tanks; beneath top station 18,500 gallons and 30,000 gallons beneath the lower station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Journey time Approximately 55 seconds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you know\u2026<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The original sheave wheel installed in 1884 was replaced in 1998. Rather than being discarded, it forms part of the flower bed outside the top station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The water used to operate the trams is rainwater that flows down the bank collected using an automatically activated sump pump that transfers the water into the lower station water tank.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How the Saltburn Cliff Tramway Works Have you ever wondered how the Saltburn Cliff Tramway operates? Let’s find out! The Saltburn Cliff Tramway opened to the public on 28 June 1884, replacing an earlier vertical hoist. 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