Lookout Mountain Incline Railway

The Incline Railway, located on the foot of Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, TN, opened on November 16, 1895. Just 1.5 hrs. from Blue Ridge, GA, The Incline Railway is the perfect day trip for those looking to explore the area further. Originally, the cars were made of wood and powered by huge coal-burning steam engines. Electric power was used after 1911, and it now uses two 100-horsepower motors. Today, the Incline Railway still attracts people from around the world. The Incline Railway has two stations available, one at the top of Lookout Mountain and the other at the foot of the Mountain. As the Incline Railway climbs historic Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga's surrounding mountains and valleys come alive. The trolley-style railcars carry you cloud high, and the breathtaking 72.7% grade of the track near the top gives the Incline Railway the unique distinction of being the steepest passenger railway in the world.

The ride on the Incline takes about 10 minutes in each direction, with Incline trains leaving every 20 minutes. On a clear day, you can see the Great Smoky Mountains over 100 miles away! In addition to the ride, there is an observation deck, food service, and a gift shop available in addition to other activities, so it is best to plan for at least an hour for the whole experience. The Incline Railway travels a little under ten mph.