Pilatus Railway
| Pilatus railway | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Pilatus Railway track (note the absence of ballast)
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| Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Operational | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locale | Obwalden, Switzerland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stations | Alpnachstad – Pilatus Kulm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 4 June 1889 (Steam), reopened 15 May 1937 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line length | 4.6 km (2.86 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track gauge | 800 mm (2 ft 7 1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrification | 1550 V, DC overhead line |
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| Operating speed | 9 km/h downhill, about 10 km/h uphill. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest elevation | 2,073 m (6,801 ft) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum incline | 48 % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rack system | Locher | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Pilatus railway (German: Pilatusbahn, PB) is a mountain railway in Switzerland and is 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 Lucerne, to a terminus near the Esel summit of Mount Pilatus at an altitude of 2,073 m (6,801 ft), which makes it the highest railway in 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.
The first project to build the line was proposed in 1873, suggesting a 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) and 25% maximal gradient. However it was concluded that the project would not be economically viable.
Then Eduard Locher, an engineer with great practical experience, proposed an alternative project with the maximal grade raised to 48% to cut the route in half. Conventional systems at the time could not handle such gradients because the vertical cogwheel that is pressed to the rack from above may, under higher gradients, jump out of the engagement with the rack, eliminating the train's main 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 cogwheels carried on vertical shafts under the car.
This design eliminated the possibility of the cogwheels climbing out of the rack, and additionally prevented the car from toppling over, even under the severe cross winds 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. The line was opened using steam traction on 4 June 1889 and was electrified on 15 May 1937, using an overhead electric supply of 1550 V DC.
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Wikipedia