Mount Lowe Scenic Railway

Mount Lowe Scenic Railway was considered an engineering wonder and southern California's most popular tourist attraction during its heyday, carrying a total of 3.1 million visitors. The brainchild of Thaddeus Sobieski Lowe, it was one of the most ambitious railways of its era. Designed and built with engineer David J. MacPherson, it earned the title of "the eighth wonder of the world" according to promotional literature of the day. The mountaintop railway complex included a breathtaking vertical railway trip up Mount Echo and a trolley ride ending at the Alpine Tavern on Mount Lowe. Hotels, a zoo, dance hall, tennis courts, grand pavillion, miniature golf, an observatory, and its own power plant were attractions along the way.

California · United States