The Pilatus Railway (German: Pilatusbahn, PB) is a mountain railway in Switzerland and the steepest rack railway in the world, with a maximum gradient of 48% and an average gradient of 35%. The line runs from Alpnachstad, on Lake Alpnach, to a terminus near the Esel summit of Pilatus at an elevation of 2,073 m (6,801 ft), which makes it the highest railway in the canton of Obwalden and the second highest in Central Switzerland after the Furka line. At Alpnachstad, the Pilatus Railway connects with steamers on Lake Lucerne and with trains on the Brünigbahn line of Zentralbahn.[1]
The first project to build the line was proposed in 1873,[2] suggesting a 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge and 25% maximal gradient. It was concluded that the project was not economically viable. Eduard Locher, an engineer with great practical experience, proposed an alternative project with the maximum grade increased to 48%, cutting the distance in half. Conventional systems at the time could not negotiate such gradients because the cogwheel that is pressed to the rack from above may, under higher gradients, jump out of engagement with the rack, eliminating the train's driving and braking power. Instead, Locher placed a horizontal double rack between the two rails with the rack teeth facing each side. This was engaged by two flanged cogwheels mounted on vertical shafts underneath the car.
This design eliminated the possibility of the cogwheels climbing out of the rack, and prevented the car from toppling over, even under severe crosswinds common in the area. The system was also capable of guiding the car without the need for flanges on the wheels. Indeed, the first cars on Pilatus had no flanges on running wheels, but they were later added to allow cars to be moved through tracks without rack rails during maintenance. Construction began in March 1886, and it took four hundred working days during the summer months of three years to accomplish the feat.[3] Six hundred laborers, mostly Italians were employed.[3] The line was opened on 4 June 1889, and was electrified in 1937,[3] using an overhead electric supply of 1,650 V DC. The line is still operated with the 1937 carriages. The first year the line counted 35,000 passengers, by 1901 a million had travelled on top of the Pilatus by rail.[3]
The government provided no subsidy for the construction of the line. Instead, Locher established his own company "Locher Systems" to build the railway. The railway was built entirely with private capital and has remained financially viable throughout its life.
The line is 4.6 km (2.86 mi) long, climbs a vertical distance of 1,629 m (5,344 ft), and is of 800 mm (2 ft 7+1⁄2 in) gauge. Because of the rack-system, there are no conventional points or switches on the line, only rotary switches (see photograph) and traversers. All rails are laid on solid rock, securing rails by high-strength iron ties attached to the rock, without using any ballast.
The line still uses original rack rails that are now over 100 years old. While they have worn down, it was discovered[by whom?] that this can be fixed by simply turning the rails over, providing a new wearing surface that would be sufficient for the next century as well. The cars' electric motors are used as generators to brake the car during descent, but this electricity is not reused — it is just[weasel words] dissipated as heat through resistance grids. Originally, the steam engines were used as compressors to provide dynamic braking, since the use of friction brakes alone is not practical on such steep slopes.
The line is operated seasonally: May to October. The cable car, which approaches from the other side, runs all year except for a short maintenance period.
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The Pilatus Railway German Pilatusbahn PB is a mountain railway in Switzerland and the steepest rack railway in the world with a maximum gradient of 48 and an average gradient of 35 The line runs from Alpnachstad on Lake Alpnach to a terminus near the Esel summit of Pilatus at an elevation of 2 073 m 6 801 ft which makes it the highest railway in the canton of Obwalden and the second highest in Central Switzerland after the Furka line At Alpnachstad the Pilatus Railway connects with steamers on Lake Lucerne and with trains on the Brunigbahn line of Zentralbahn 1 Pilatus RailwayA train on the final sectionOverviewNative namePilatusbahnStatusOperationalOwnerPilatus Bahnen AG de LocaleObwalden SwitzerlandTerminiAlpnachstadPilatus KulmStations5ServiceServices1HistoryOpened4 June 1889 Steam reopened 15 May 1937TechnicalLine length4 6 km 2 86 mi Rack systemLocherTrack gauge800 mm 2 ft 7 1 2 in Electrification1 650 V DC overhead lineOperating speed9 km h 5 6 mph downhill about 10 km h 6 2 mph uphill Highest elevation2 073 m 6 801 ft Maximum incline48 Route diagramLegendkm elevation M or length m 0 0 Alpnachstad PB 440 M1 3 Wolfort 890 MWolforttunnel 40 mSpycher tunnel I 47 mSpycher tunnel II 97 m2 3 Aemsigen 1 355 M3 3 Mattalp 1 600 MEselwand tunnel I 44 mEselwand tunnel II 50 mEselwand tunnel III 46 mEselwand tunnel IV 9 m4 8 Pilatus Kulm for Mount Pilatus 2 073 MAerial cable car Kriens Krienseregg FrakmunteggThis diagram viewtalkedit Contents 1 History 2 Gallery 3 Operation 4 See also 5 References 6 Sources 7 External linksHistory EditThe first project to build the line was proposed in 1873 2 suggesting a 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in standard gauge and 25 maximal gradient It was concluded that the project was not economically viable Eduard Locher an engineer with great practical experience proposed an alternative project with the maximum grade increased to 48 cutting the distance in half Conventional systems at the time could not negotiate such gradients because the cogwheel that is pressed to the rack from above may under higher gradients jump out of engagement with the rack eliminating the train s driving and braking power Instead Locher placed a horizontal double rack between the two rails with the rack teeth facing each side This was engaged by two flanged cogwheels mounted on vertical shafts underneath the car This design eliminated the possibility of the cogwheels climbing out of the rack and prevented the car from toppling over even under severe crosswinds common in the area The system was also capable of guiding the car without the need for flanges on the wheels Indeed the first cars on Pilatus had no flanges on running wheels but they were later added to allow cars to be moved through tracks without rack rails during maintenance Construction began in March 1886 and it took four hundred working days during the summer months of three years to accomplish the feat 3 Six hundred laborers mostly Italians were employed 3 The line was opened on 4 June 1889 and was electrified in 1937 3 using an overhead electric supply of 1 650 V DC The line is still operated with the 1937 carriages The first year the line counted 35 000 passengers by 1901 a million had travelled on top of the Pilatus by rail 3 The government provided no subsidy for the construction of the line Instead Locher established his own company Locher Systems to build the railway The railway was built entirely with private capital and has remained financially viable throughout its life The Pilatus Railway was named a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 2001 4 5 Gallery Edit Share of the Pilatus Railway Company issued 1 July 1888 founder s share The train ready to leave 4 June 1889 Pilatus Railway Time Table from 1905 Railcar in 1981 Railcar approaching the summit station A railcar at the summit station Alpnachstad station note the inclination of the platform behind the building The Locher system rack and pinion The tracks are laid without ballast A turnout consisting of a bridge that rotates about its lengthwise axle Pilatus Railway Sliding Switch Railcars at the midpoint switch Final railcar of a group approaches the midpoint The two row transfer table in Pilatus Railway one edge also serving as a passenger platformOperation EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed December 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message The line is 4 6 km 2 86 mi long climbs a vertical distance of 1 629 m 5 344 ft and is of 800 mm 2 ft 7 1 2 in gauge Because of the rack system there are no conventional points or switches on the line only rotary switches see photograph and traversers All rails are laid on solid rock securing rails by high strength iron ties attached to the rock without using any ballast The line still uses original rack rails that are now over 100 years old While they have worn down it was discovered by whom that this can be fixed by simply turning the rails over providing a new wearing surface that would be sufficient for the next century as well The cars electric motors are used as generators to brake the car during descent but this electricity is not reused it is just weasel words dissipated as heat through resistance grids Originally the steam engines were used as compressors to provide dynamic braking since the use of friction brakes alone is not practical on such steep slopes The line is operated seasonally May to October The cable car which approaches from the other side runs all year except for a short maintenance period See also EditList of mountain railways in Switzerland List of heritage railways and funiculars in Switzerland Rail transport in SwitzerlandReferences Edit A Wonderful Railway The Register Adelaide National Library of Australia 2 March 1920 p 5 Retrieved 13 February 2013 Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on 7 September 2006 Retrieved 20 July 2009 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link a b c d Waldis Alfred 2002 Es begann am Gotthard Lucerne Maihof Verlag pp 132 134 ISBN 3 95220335 1 Pilatusbahn 1882 Landmarks American Society of Mechanical Engineers Retrieved 18 January 2009 Pilatusbahn PDF Pilatusbahn brochure ASME Archived from the original PDF on 16 August 2009 Retrieved 18 January 2009 Sources EditBook Tramways and Light Railways of Switzerland and Austria ISBN 0 900433 96 5 by R J Buckley published by the Light Rail Transit Association 1984 External links Edit Media related to Pilatusbahn at Wikimedia Commons Pilatus Railway web site Scientific American 8 13 1904 The Mount Pilatus Railway Switzerland46 57 20 N 8 16 37 E 46 95556 N 8 27694 E 46 95556 8 27694 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pilatus Railway amp oldid 1152279370, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
