The Sassi–Superga tramway is a steep grade railway line in the city of Turin in northern Italy. Managed by Gruppo Torinese Trasporti, it connects the Turin suburb of Sassi to the Basilica of Superga at an altitude of . The lower station is situated at an altitude of a.s.l., the upper at . The cable was originally driven by a steam engine in the upper station, from 1922 on by an electric motor. During World War I passenger numbers dropped sharply, so that the line was temporarily shut down until 1919.

After an accident, in which one of the cables broke, but the emergency brake prevented further damage, the line was converted to a conventional electric rack railway using the Strub rack system. Work started on 24 October 1934, the line re-opened on 16 April 1935. Guides for the previous cables can still be found along the line. New motor cars were built by Officine Meccaniche della Stanga. Some of the old passenger cars remained in use, others were sold.

The gauge single-tracked line is long and overcomes a difference in height of with a mean gradient of 13.5% and a maximum gradient of 21%, the latter on the final section between Pian Gambino and Superga.

Three pure-rack motor cars are used. Each of them can move up to two unpowered cars. Every such trains can carry up to 220 passengers. The depot has no rack, nor third electrified rail, so that the rack engines and carriages are shunted by a small electric locomotive fed by overhead wires. The track connection to Turin's urban tramway network is used to transfer rolling stock to and from the workshop.

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Brogi, Giacomo (1822-1881) - n. 3756 - Torino - Collina di Superga 1.jpg|Sassi–Superga being operated by cable haulage

Tranvia Sassi-Superga 05.jpg | Pian Gambino stop

Tranvia Sassi-Superga 06.jpg | The line with third rail and rack

Tranvia Sassi-Superga 09.jpg | At Radoppio stop

Zahnradbahn Sassi-Superga D.2.JPG | Motor car

Zahnradbahn Sassi-Superga D.11.JPG | Passenger car

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  • Superga Rack Railway web page
  • Timetable

Bibliography

  • Proposal with notes

References