transport: Mont Cenis Pass Railway

The railway was 77 kilometres (48 miles) long, with a gauge of 1,100 mm (3 ft 7+5⁄16 in).

The Mont Cenis Pass Railway operated from 1868 to 1871 (with some interruptions) during the construction of the Fréjus Rail Tunnel through the Alps between Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne in southeast France and Susa, Piedmont, in northwest Italy. It was designed by John Barraclough Fell, and his three-rail design was used on some other mountain railways. The railway was 77 kilometres (48 miles) long, with a gauge of 1,100 mm (3 ft 7+5⁄16 in). The height at the summit was 2,283 metres (7,490 ft) and the maximum gradient was 9% (1 in 11). It was used to transport English mail to India as part of the 1,400-mile (2,300 km) All-Red Route. A British company was established in 1864 by a number of British contractors, engineers, and investors to obtain permission from the two governments to build the railway. These included Thomas Brassey, John Fell, James Brunlees, and Alexander Brogden. Having obtained permission, in 1866 they established the Mont Cenis Railway Company to build and run the railway. Although it would eventually be superseded by the tunnel, they believed that during its life, the cost of the pass railway would be repaid with a profit to them. The company used British engine-drivers and workmen. There were delays in establishing the railway, and it did not start until 15 June 1868. Additionally, the tunnel progressed faster than expected, as new tunnelling methods were deve…

Kategoria: transport

Rodzina: transport

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