What is a funicular railway?

In the news about the recent accident at a ski resort in Austria, the reporters called the cable car that carried the skiers up the mountain a "funicular railway." What is that and how does it work?

9 of Europe's Best Funicular Railways - Europe Up Close

Gelmer Funicular - Wikipedia

Funicular Stock Photos - 49,769 Images

Funicular Railway by Martin Bond/science Photo Library

9,637 Funicular Railway Stock Photos - Free & Royalty-Free Stock

Dresden Funicular Railway

World's steepest funicular railway starts chugging up Swiss

Fløibanen funicular - visitBergen.com

140 evacuated from mountain restaurant after funicular malfunction

The funicular railway - Pic du Jer

Incline Railroad or Funicular Railroad

Tanfield Railway Blog: Funicular Railways