Lacking an onboard motor or engine means vehicles are incredibly light compared to traditional transit technologies which results in increased energy savings.
This energy savings is compounded further, in the case of inclined cable systems, because the weight of vehicles descending counter-balance the ascending vehicles. Systems such as this only require enough energy to move the difference between the weight of the ascending and descending passengers because gravity itself provides most of the propulsion.
Several historical systems, in fact, required so little energy, they were powered by water or steam. The Duquense Incline in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for example, ran from 1877 till the early 30’s on steam power.
Steam-Powered For Over 50 Years
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