Penang funicular, Malaysia

two of the original cars at a crossing loop

The Penang Hill Railway is a metre gauge, 2.32 km long funicular railway up Penang Hill from Air Itam, near George Town on the island of Penang in Malaysia, built between 1906 and 1923. It climbs 686 metres of altitude change and the maximium gradient is 51%. New cars were provided in 1977. Until last year it was in two sections requiring passengers to change over half way up but now that has been eliminated.  Today the air-conditioned Swiss-made cars (pic below) are capable of ferrying up to 100 passengers at once, and run every half hour from 6.30am to 9 pm daily.