To combine two recent topics of Venice railways and fake mountains, here's the L.A. Thompson Scenic Railway. It was located next to Venice Pier, and ran from 1910 to 1919. From
an article on www.westland.net:
"When the ride was first built, it had elaborate mountain scenery. A brakeman applied the brakes on the turns. In 1913 it was remodeled and the size of its dips were increased. The scenery was removed and a modern entrance facade on Ocean Front Walk was incorporated."
All postcards from eBay.
There's an article about Lamarcus Adna Thompson, "the father of the themed roller coaster" on
www.themeparkinsider.com. It includes a modern video of L.A. Thompson's 1912 Scenic Railway at Luna Park in Melbourne, Australia, which claims it's "the only roller-coaster operating from this period, and has the only brakeman-operated carriages in the World". Although most of the scenery was removed years ago, it gives an idea of what the ride in Venice would've been like.
Direct YouTube link:
TAKE A RIDE LIKE NO OTHER ... Scenic Railway, Luna Park, Melbourne Australia