The Pilatus Railway (, 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.

History

The first project to build the line was proposed in 1873, suggesting a 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 complete. Six hundred laborers, mostly Italians, were employed.

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Pilatus-Bahn-Gesellschaft 1888.jpg|Share of the Pilatus Railway Company, issued 1. July 1888; founder's share

Mont Pilate train 1889.jpg|The train ready to leave, 4 June 1889

Grafischer Fahrplan Alpnach Stad - Pilatus Kulm 1905.jpg|Pilatus Railway Time Table from 1905

File:Trains_du_Pilate_(Suisse)_(4444425461).jpg|Railcar in 1981

File:Pilatus_Cogwheel_Railway.jpg|Railcar approaching the summit station

Pilatus1.jpg|A railcar at the summit station

Pilatusbahn Talstation.jpg|Alpnachstad station; note the inclination of the platform behind the building

Pilatus Rack.jpg|The Locher system rack and pinion

File:Pilatus railway track.jpg|The tracks are laid without ballast.

Pilatus2.jpg|A turnout consisting of a bridge that rotates about its lengthwise axle

Pilatus Railway Rotary Switch.jpg|Pilatus Railway Sliding Switch

File:Pilatusbahn_%C3%84msigen_upper_traverser_2021-08-15.jpg|Railcars at the midpoint switch

File:Railcars_at_midpoint_of_Pilatus_Railway.jpg|Final railcar of a group approaches the midpoint

File:Pilatus transfer table.jpg|The two row transfer table in Pilatus Railway, one edge also serving as a passenger platform

File:PB Bhe 2v2.jpg|Pilatus Bahn Bhe 2v2 railcars by Stadler Rail, introduced in 2022

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Operation

The line is long,<!--acceptable under WP:SELFSOURCE, I think--> climbs a vertical distance of , and is of 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. Despite being worn down, it was discovered that this can be fixed by simply turning the rails over, providing a new wearing surface that would be sufficient for some time. The cars' electric motors are used as generators to brake the car during descent, but this electricity is not reused&nbsp;— it is 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 very steep slopes.

The line is operated seasonally from May to October. The cable car, which approaches from the other side, runs all year except for a short maintenance period.

See also

  • List of mountain railways in Switzerland
  • List of heritage railways and funiculars in Switzerland
  • Rail transport in Switzerland

References

Sources

  • Book Tramways and Light Railways of Switzerland and Austria, , by R.J.Buckley, published by the Light Rail Transit Association, 1984.
  • Pilatus Railway web site
  • Scientific American 8/13/1904; The Mount Pilatus Railway, Switzerland