The End

For Sale

The Company requested and received approval from the City to adjust the agreement allowing seasonal closures from November 1 to April 1. The first winter closure occurred between 1910 and 1911, and the second between 1911 and 1912. Before opening in March, 1912 the City declared the hoist unsafe. Rather than pay to remedy the defects, the company chose to sell the operation.

The Donald Ross Incline Railway Company encouraged the City to take up the operation, as they felt it still provided an important service to Edmonton’s citizens, however the City declined. Likely influenced by the City disapproval of the safety and condition of the railway machinery and increasing competition with the soon-to-open High Level Bridge, no one came forward with an interest in purchasing the railway.

The Site Today

After the railway was closed the track was pulled up. For many years its location could be seen as a scar on the hill, until the Chateau Lacombe was built in the mid-1960s.

Rossdale the site of the old Incline Railway can be seen on the left hand side of this hand-tinted photograph from 1948. Notice that the staircase was still in use at this time. [EA-160-1586]

This photo of the Edmonton skyline in 1965 shows the Chateau Lacombe parking structure under construction, directly on top of the former site of the Incline Railway. [ET-17-55]

This photo shows the Edmonton skyline in Spring of 2015. 

What Goes Around Comes Around

On June 23, 2015, City Council approved the Mechanized River Valley Access project to ensure that the river valley will be more accessible to people of all ages and abilities. This project will see a new funicular railway built one block east of the original Edmonton Incline Railway. After more than 100 years Edmontonians will once again be able to ride an incline railway!

A 2015 design drawing of the new Edmonton funicular.