Southam in Hamilton, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Incline Railway

Photographed By Tim Boyd, May 18, 2023

1. The Incline Railway Marker

Inscription.
Known locally as "the mountain", the Niagara escarpment is Hamilton's most prominent geographic feature. While providing a scenic panorama of the city, it was also a significant impediment to travel. To address this situation a group of local businessmen formed the Hamilton & Barton Incline Railway Company. Known simply as 'the incline' the service featured double tracks 700 feet in length on a grade of 3 percent. Stationary engines drew the cars to the top using steel cables. As one car went up, the other went down, acting as a counterweight and easing the strain on the engines.

Opening on June 11, 1892, it was heavily used by residents and tourists. The 75 second trip provided a convenient link between the city and mountain for both pedestrian and horse-drawn traffic. The fare for the railway cost two cents for adults and one penny for school children.

Improved mountain access roads and the increase of motorized traffic caused a decline of customers. The line ceased operation on December 26, 1931. Several attempts to revive the line proved unsuccessful, resulting in the tracks being dismantled in 1942.

Erected by City of Hamilton.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Man-Made Features • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1892.

Location.

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43° 14.649′ N, 79° 52.52′ W. Marker is in Hamilton, Ontario. It is in Southam. Marker is on Clairmont Access, 0.1 kilometers north of Inverness Avenue West, on the right when traveling south. The marker is in Southam Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hamilton ON L9C L9C, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Mountain View Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); “Claremont Lodge” and “Auchmar”, 1855 (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); Brock Stepped Here (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); The Niagara Escarpment (approx. 0.8 kilometers away); The Honourable Isaac Buchanan and Auchmar/Isaac Buchanan the Builder (approx. 0.8 kilometers away); Friend of the Greenbelt- The Honourable William Grenville Davis (approx. 0.8 kilometers away); Central Presbyterian Church (approx. 0.8 kilometers away); Sandyford Place (approx. 0.9 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hamilton.

Also see . . . Trainweb.org - The Hamilton and Barton Incline Railway (James Street Incline).

The first inclined railway in Hamilton was the Hamilton and Barton Incline Railway (HBIR), connecting the City of Hamilton at a point next to the top of James Street south with the township of Barton at Caledonia Rd (now Upper James St). The HBIR was originally referred to by Hamiltonians as simply
Photographed By Tim Boyd, May 18, 2023

2. The Incline Railway Marker
'The Incline.' When the Mount Hamilton Incline Railway was opened in 1895, the HBIR's common name was changed to 'The James Street Incline.'

(Submitted on June 13, 2023, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

The Incline Railway Marker detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim Boyd, May 28, 2023

3. The Incline Railway Marker detail

Postcard of the H&B Incline Railway ca1920s. image. Click for full size.

4. Postcard of the H&B Incline Railway ca1920s.

Looking up to the Mountain View Hotel

Credits. This page was last revised on June 13, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 13, 2023, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 129 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 13, 2023, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.