Cog railway
A cog railway, or rack railway, is a mountain train that climbs steep grades by meshing a toothed wheel with a rack rail laid between the tracks. It drives itself rather than being hauled by a cable. Several historic Swiss lines carry skiers from the valley to the slopes.
- 1Rack between the rails
- 2Train with a cogwheel
- 3Viaduct
- 4Summit station
At a glance
Typical range- Per carrier
- No published figure
- Line speed
- 2.5–7 m/s
- People per hour
- No published figure
- Grip
- No rope gripEnclosed · Skis on: No
- Wind tolerance
- No published figure
- Beginner-friendly
- Easy
How it works
A cogwheel under the locomotive engages the rack, so the train can climb and brake on grades no smooth wheel could hold.
Rack designs carry their inventors’ names: Riggenbach’s ladder rack, Abt’s staggered bars, Strub’s single bar and Locher’s horizontal teeth, used only on the Pilatus.
Speeds are modest, typically 2.5 to 7 m/s.
How to ride it
Board with skis
Find a seat
Ride
Get off
- Carry your skis aboard; use the racks.
- Find a seat or stand.
- Ride; trains stop at intermediate stations.
- Get off at the stop for your slopes.
Where you’ll find it
Scandinavia
None used for skiing.
The Alps
Swiss lines such as the Gornergrat above Zermatt, the Jungfraubahn and the Wengernalpbahn serve ski areas.
On PisteWindow
- Grindelwald-WengenSource: Jungfraubahn Holding AG,
- Saint-Gervais-les-Bains · 1 recordedSource: STRMTG (French cableway regulator),
- ZermattSource: Gornergrat Bahn,
Lift types are recorded for 74 of 247 destinations so far.
History and notable examples
The Pilatusbahn opened in 1889 with gradients up to 48 percent, the steepest of its kind.
The Gornergrat Bahn opened on 20 August 1898.
The Jungfraubahn reached the Jungfraujoch on 1 August 1912.
Compare with
Funicular
Pulled by a cable, two cars balancing.
100–400 people · 5–14 m/s
Aerial tramway
Hangs from ropes.
6–200 people · 10–12.5 m/s
| Attribute | Cog railway | Funicular | Aerial tramway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per carrier | No published figure | 100–400 people | 6–200 people |
| Line speed | 2.5–7 m/s | 5–14 m/s | 10–12.5 m/s |
| People per hour | No published figure | 1,000–8,000 people/hour | 500–2,000 people/hour |
| Grip | No rope grip | No rope grip | Fixed |
| Enclosure | Enclosed | Enclosed | Enclosed |
| Skis on | No | No | No |
| Wind tolerance | No published figure | No published figure | No published figure |
| Beginner-friendly | Easy | Easy | Easy |
Questions
What is the difference between a cog railway and a funicular?
A cog railway drives itself with a toothed wheel. A funicular is pulled by a cable.
Why not use an ordinary train?
Smooth wheels slip on steep grades; the cog cannot.
Does it run in wind?
Usually. It is a train on rails; snow and avalanche risk matter more.
Can I ride down with skis?
Yes, on most lines.
Names in other languages
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Cog railway (rack railway) |
| Deutsch | Zahnradbahn |
| Svenska | Kuggstångsbana |
| Français | Chemin de fer à crémaillère |
| Italiano | Ferrovia a cremagliera |
| Nederlands | Tandradbaan |
| Español | Tren cremallera |
| Dansk | Tandhjulsbane |
| Norsk bokmål | Tannhjulsbane |
Sources
- Gornergrat Bahn · History of the Gornergrat Bahn · Checked
- Jungfraubahnen · The Jungfrau Railway: a pioneering work · Checked
- Pilatus-Bahnen AG · The steepest cogwheel railway in the world · Checked
- Wikipedia (pointer only) · Rack railway · Checked