The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-25 00:00:00

THE MONT CENIS LOCOMOTIVE,

A series of experiments has lately been concluded on the
steep inclines of the Cromfoid and High Peak Railway, the
object of which has been to prove the practicability of work-
ing locomotive engines and trains on a proposed railway
over the pass of the Mont Cenis. These trials have been
in the presence of the Chevalier Biglia, special commissioner
of the Italian Government, M. Desbriere, delegate of the
Victor Emmanuel Railway Company, and a considerable
number of English and foreign engineers of distinction.
The experimental line is 800 yen* and the inclined planes
on it 330 yards in length, on gradients of 1 in 12 and 1 in
13, and curves of 21 and 31 chains radius. The adhesion
required for ascencting,these steps gradients and ,for con-
trolling the descent of the train is obtained by the pressure
of horizontal wheels on a centre rail, these wheels being at-
tached to the engine, and worked by an additional pair of
cylinders. The experimental engine took up these inclines
loads of 24 to 30 tons, consisting of four laden waggons, at
a speed of seven to eight miles per hour, which rate of
travelling, taking into account the increased speed that
would be attained on the easier gradients of the road ,:would
be sufficient to mitre the passage of the mountain, a dis•.
tance of 48 miles, in four hours, by trains carrying 100 pas-
sengers each. The centre rail, besides affording the means
of ascending and of controlling the descent, serves as a guide
for passing round sharp curves, and also insures the safety
of the train, which could not getloff the line, in consequence
of the flags of the horizontal wheels, which underlap the
centre rail, whereby the train is securely held on the line.
The breaks applied to the three rails have perfect command
over the train, which is readily stopped on any part of the
inclines, and started again from that position without
difficulty by the combined power of the engines acting on
the vertical and herizontal wheels. The result of these
trials, which during the last four months have been
visited by many of the principal engineers of this and other
countries, is considered to have established the practica-
bility of working locomotive engines and trains over the
steep gradients of the existing route of the Mont Cenis. It
it is proposed to lay the rails on a portion of the public road,
protected where needful from avalanches and snow-drifts by
a covered way. By this means railway communication may
within two years be established between Italy and France,
as well as the north and west of Europe, and continue until
the opening of the Grand Tunnel of the Alps 111 years
hence, the time estimated by the Italian Minister of Public
Works for its completion. The railway over the Pass would
then have reimbursed to its proprietors its cost with in-
terest, have for 10 years been a great public advantage, and
have developed an important traffic ready to be transferred
on to the tunnel line as soon as that should be opened to
receive it. This project received the sanction of the Italian
Government in the spring of last year, subject to the pre°.
ticability being established of working steep gradients by
locomotive engines and the consent of the French Govern-
ment being also obtained. The former having now, it is
believed, been fully proved, it is to be hoped that the Em-
peror's Government will not withhold its sanction from a
work of so great public utility.

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