Heights of Abraham Cable Car

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox aerial lift line

|name = Heights of Abraham Cable Car

|image = File:Cable cars at the Heights Of Abraham (geograph 4636943).jpg

|caption =

|character = Gondola lift

|lift_type = MGFP

|system =

|status = Operational

|location = Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom

|start = Matlock Bath

|end = Heights of Abraham

|no_stations = 2

|routes =

|ridership =

|open = Spring 1984

|close =

|owner =

|operator =

|manufactured_by = Poma

|carrier_cap =

|line_length = {{convert|1,864|ft|abbr=on}}

|vertical = {{convert|554|ft|abbr=on}}

|tracklength =

|notrack =

|el =

|speed =

|elevation =

|map =

}}

The Heights of Abraham Cable Car is a gondola lift in the English county of Derbyshire. About 1/3 of a mile long ({{convert|1864|ft}}), it links the spa town of Matlock Bath with the Heights of Abraham, a tourist attraction {{convert|554|ft}} above. The line was built by Poma and opened in spring of 1984.{{Cite web|url=https://www.derbyshirelife.co.uk/people/andrew-pugh-of-heights-of-abraham-matlock-derbyshire-1-1644295|title=Andrew Pugh of Heights of Abraham, Matlock, Derbyshire|date=26 April 2011}} The cable cars were upgraded in 2004, making them larger and more accessible, to 12 x six-seater cabins, which operate in four trains of three cabins each. An example of the smaller 1984 cabin can be seen displayed at the base station {{cite web |url=http://www.lift-world.info/en/lifts/10035/datas.htm |title=6-MGFP Heights of Abraham |work=lift-world.info |accessdate=9 August 2017 |archivedate=10 August 2017 |url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810093233/http://www.lift-world.info/en/lifts/10035/datas.htm}}{{cite web |title=Cable Car |url=http://www.heightsofabraham.com/see-and-do/the-cable-car |publisher=The Heights of Abraham |accessdate=9 August 2017 |archivedate=10 August 2017 |url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810093736/http://www.heightsofabraham.com/see-and-do/the-cable-car}}

The line is operated on the relatively unusual single cable pulsed aerial ropeway principle, whereby the cabins are permanently fixed to the cable. To allow passengers to board and alight, the cable is stopped as each train of cabins passes through the stations. As there are four trains but only two stations, this means cabins also stop mid-flight.{{cite web |title=Pulsed aerial ropeway |url=http://www.poma.net/en/solutions-2/products/pulsed-aerial-ropeway/ |publisher=Poma |accessdate=9 August 2017 |archivedate=10 August 2017 |url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810094034/http://www.poma.net/en/solutions-2/products/pulsed-aerial-ropeway/}}{{cite web |title=Heights of Abraham Cable Car in Matlock Bath, England |url=http://gondolaproject.com/category/installations/heights-of-abraham/ |publisher=The Gondola Project |accessdate=9 August 2017 |archivedate=10 August 2017 |url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810095206/http://gondolaproject.com/category/installations/heights-of-abraham/}}

The lower station of the cable car is located on the opposite bank of the River Derwent to the Heights of Abraham and the town of Matlock Bath, with the cabins crossing the river at the lower end of their journey. A footbridge provides access from the town to the lower station, which is also situated a short walk away from Matlock Bath railway station.{{cite web |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1000680 |title=Heights of Abraham, Matlock Bath |publisher=Historic England |accessdate=9 August 2017 |archivedate=10 August 2017 |url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810101026/https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1000680}}

File:Matlock Bath - Cable Car Terminus - geograph.org.uk - 823256.jpg|Inside the lower station of the cable car

File:Matlock Bath - Cable Car - geograph.org.uk - 823296.jpg|The lower station of the cable car from above

File:Matlock Bath - A6 and River Derwent view from Cable Car - geograph.org.uk - 823265.jpg|View of the River Derwent mid-flight

File:Heights of Abraham Cable Car, Top Station - geograph.org.uk - 1731186.jpg|The upper station of the cable car from above