MOUNT BEACON INCLINE RAILWAY. Matteawan, New York, USA. Vintage postcard

MOUNT BEACON INCLINE RAILWAY
Matteawan, N. Y.
Climbing up Mt. Beacon.

Vintage postcard published by R. T. Van Tine, Fishkill Landing, N.Y., 28883.

The Mount Beacon Incline Railway was a narrow gauge incline railway up Beacon Mountain, New York, opened in 1902. It was a popular local tourist attraction. It operated for much of the 20th century, providing sweeping views of the Hudson River Valley. The railway would take them up to the 1,540-foot (469 m) northern summit via an average gradient of 65% (33°) and a maximum gradient of 74% (36.5°). In 1978 the railway ceased operations. In 1982 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. A fire attributed to vandalism the next year completely destroyed the trackway and consumed the lower station, following which the only remaining structure at the top, the powerhouse, was razed. A non-profit, the Mount Beacon Incline Railway Restoration Society, worked from 1996-2022 to restore the attraction, but disbanded without accomplishing its mission.

Traveler's collection.