Tiny English market town is home to one of UK's steepest funicular railways
GOING UP Tiny English market town is home to one of UK's steepest funicular railways
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BRIDGNORTH Cliff Railway is one of the few funicular railways left in the UK.
The Shropshire railway has been transporting people from Low Town to High Town since 1892 with a steep gradient of 33 degrees.
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Bridgnorth is home to one of the steepest funicular railways in the country
Credit: Alamy
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The railway transports people between the High and Low Town
Credit: Alamy
The market town in Shropshire is split into two parts thanks to the River Severn.
The Bridgnorth Railway has been giving people an option not to take the 200 steps up to the top of the town for over 100 years.
The funicular railway works by cables pulling two counterbalanced carriages up and down a steep slope.
The carriages are permanently attached to opposite ends of the cable. Originally water-powered, the system is now electrically operated.
The railway operates on two parallel tracks; it's 111 feet high with a 33.5 degree incline and is 201 feet long.
It remains a popular attraction and a mode of transport for locals and visitors.
One person wrote on Tripadvisor: "Great views from car as you slowly climb the cliff. The car is original and has lovely wood panels.
"It's definitely not the only way to get to high town, but it's definitely the most relaxing."
Another said: "I have never heard of a cliff rail much less been on one so it was fun and interesting to see how it works. The bonus is it saves walking the hill."
Tickets to use the railway cost £2.50 for a return, and single tickets are not available. Children under 6 ride for free.
Underrated towns you need to visit
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The River Severn separates Bridgnorth in two
Credit: Alamy
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Tickets for the railway cost £2.50 for a return journey
Credit: Alamy
Bridgnorth has ruins from a castle first built in 1101.
Any visitors to the castle will note that it is leaning - which was a result of damage during the English Civil War.
The town has a market that's open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The market includes a Charter Market with 23 pitches and also a Sunday Handmade Market where art and vintage items are sold.
Bridgnorth is also known for serving very tasty scotch eggs.
At The White Lion pub in town, the scotch eggs are known for being enormous with one visitor saying it was the "best ever".
As for other funicular railways, the steepest in the UK is in East Hill Cliff Railway in Hastings, East Sussex with a 38 per cent incline.
Others around the country include the Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway and the Cairngorm Mountain Railway.
Plus, the UK train line that was bizarrely named among top places to visit in world this year - and our experts' favourite places on the route.
And the English wine train that goes through the 'Garden of England' with free booze and onboard canapes.
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