Fell mountain railway system

The Fell system was a third-rail system for railways that were too steep to be worked by adhesion on the running rails alone. It used a raised centre rail between the two running rails to provide extra traction and braking, or braking alone. Trains were propelled by wheels horizontally applied and retracted by springs onto the centre rail, controlled from the footplate, as well as by the normal running wheels. In practice, the running wheels could be allowed to run freely to reduce wear, but the centre brake shoes needed to be replaced frequently. For example: the locomotives' shoes were replaced after each journey on the Mont Cenis Pass Railway. Extra brake shoes were fitted to specially designed or adapted Fell locomotives and brake vans, and for traction the prototype locomotive had auxiliary cylinders powering the horizontal wheels.

List of Fell railways

The following railways have used the Fell system. Of these, the only one still in operation is the electrified Snaefell Mountain Railway on the Isle of Man, which occasionally uses the centre rail for braking only; the cars are all now equipped with rheostatic braking, which meets all normal braking needs. The only surviving Fell locomotive, New Zealand Railways H 199, is preserved at the Fell Locomotive Museum, Featherston, New Zealand, near the site of the Rimutaka Incline.

France / Italy

The Mont Cenis Pass Railway over the border to Italy was long and ran from 1868 until superseded by a tunnel under the pass in 1871. Some characteristics of the Mont Cenis Pass Railway include:
gauge – the gauge in English speaking world is sometimes quoted as 3 ft  in
Since there were breaks-of-gauge at each end of the Fell railway, it is not known if ordinary standard gauge rolling stock were needed.
Length of line .
Length of Fell section

Brazil

The Estrada de Ferro Cantagalo from Niterói to Nova Friburgo opened in 1873. Brazil's first mountain railway, of gauge, re-used some of the equipment from the Mont Cenis Pass Railway, and continued in operation until the 1960s. The Fell centre rail was used only for braking after 1884.

Isle of Man

The Snaefell Mountain Railway opened in 1895. It uses electric railcars, with a Fell rail for braking.

New Zealand

The Rewanui Incline on the West Coast of the South Island used a Fell rail for braking from its opening in 1914 to 1966. It closed in 1985.
The Rimutaka Incline on the Wairarapa Line near Featherston in the North Island opened in 1878 and closed in 1955. It was replaced by the Rimutaka tunnel. Unlike the other lines noted, it used the Fell system for propulsion as well as braking throughout its active life. The Fell Engine Museum in Featherston houses the sole preserved Fell locomotive (NZR H class). .
The Roa Incline on the West Coast of the South Island used a Fell rail for braking from its opening in 1909. It closed in 1960.
The Kaikorai Cable Car which ran from Dunedin to the Kaikorai Valley used an off-centre Fell rail for braking.
The Wellington Cable Car used a Fell rail for emergency braking from its opening in 1902 until 1978, when it was upgraded.
unknown gauges
Price's Bush Tramway near Akatarawa.
Charming Creek Tramway near Ngakawau.
Several bush tramways used Fell rails for braking.

Fell MW 1872.jpg|Fell system locomotive built 1876 by Manning Wardle for Estrada de Ferro Cantagalo

Snaefell Mountain Railway car no 4 on mountain.jpg|Fell system on the Snaefell Mountain Railway

Fell Engine Museum - 2002-03-20.jpg|Fell locomotive H199 preserved in the Fell Engine Museum, New Zealand

Fell rail engine - 2002-03-20.jpg|Underside of H199, showing details of the Fell railway system

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Notes

References

(this book has sections on the Fell mountain railway system, Mont Cenis Pass Railway and Cantagallo Railway).

External links

Fell Centre Rail (description of the working of the Fell system, with pictures)
A remarkable railway (1926 article)
The Fell Engine and the Rimutaka Incline (from the Masterton Library)
The Cantagallo Railway (page down to Nova Friburgo).