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!

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

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

wow, thats interesting

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

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.

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.

Unique! 😊

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

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

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

So cool

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.

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

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

Fun fun! And that view!! Interesting history!

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

Interesting little dude.

Very interesting, I've never been there. 😊

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!

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

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 👍

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

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

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

Cool❤

hello i vome from Dubuque thx for coming

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.

Nice ride 😊

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

Wonderful Video!!!! F+L, Corey

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

You should try The Mount Washington Cog Railway

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.

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).

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

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

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.

Total ride time is a little more than 4 minutes. I have ridden this many times.

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.

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

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!

That’s interesting, how did you find it?

Is this like the tram at Royal Gorge?

20 min

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 !

I wonder why so many fires 🤔

It is a Funicular!!!

Couldn't just build a set of stairs??

No to the worlds steepest etc Plenty of these in Europe

Clickbait, not a railroad.

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.