East End Incline Railway

East End Incline Railway. . Given the ease with which Hamiltonians regularly travel up and down the face of the escarpment, it may be difficult to imagine a time when 'the Mountain' was not so readily accessible., The East End Incline Railway, at Wentworth Street, (1900-1936) and the Hamilton and Barton Incline Railway at James Street (1892 - 1931) answered the need for quick, convenient and safe transportation between communities below and above the escarpment. At Wentworth, the ninety second ride was a popular and practical alternative to indirect, unreliable, and at times dangerous roads or a climb of over 500 steps. Descending rides cost 2 cents. Ascending passengers paid 25 cents for 8 trips, and a child's fare was one cent, up or down. The platform construction of the cars also allowed horse drawn vehicles, automobiles, trucks and livestock to be ferried according to a posted fare schedule., Operating in all seasons, the inclines carried Mountain residents to jobs, stores, and schools in the lower city. The East End Incline, which made an estimated 20,000,000 trips in 41 years, was an exciting excursion to Mountain Park (opened 1909) or Summers Theatre (1902 - 1914), an "open-air theatre situated at its summit., The incline was badly damaged by a rock slide in 1913, but was rebuilt the following year. Operations continued üntil August, 1936. Improved mountain access roads and an increasing availability of other means of transportation reduced the need for the incline railways. Attempts made by Mountain residents to restore its operations were unsuccessful. After 13 years of disuse, the incline railway was demolished in 1949.