Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-09-23
I'd COLUMBUS, O.. MONDAY MORNING,
The Most Remarkable Triumph
of Engineering In the World
Inauguration of the Mont Gents
Summit h RaiIyvsy. e-@T lI..1 i -GFf

= AAC NAOSt 1henaEAAaDAO AFAAhMP pm
of Engineering In the World
Inauguration of the Mont Cenls
Summit hallway. a H sA"
-75t slFrom the London Times, Sept. 81 -tlis
The line of railway which has been in
the course of construction for the last
eighteen months over this pass, and which
follows in the main the great road of the
First Napoleon, was successfully traversed
on the 2lst ultimo, over its whole length of
tortyTeight miles, by locomotive engine.
A train, composed of an engine and two
carriages, LETT the st. Michael Station at $50
A. M. There were present the Duke of
Vallambrossa; Mr.. Fell, the inventor of
the system; Mr.. Brogden, director of the
his assistant, Mr.. Bell; Mr.. Blake, the
agent Of the company; Mr.. Alexander and
Mr. Barnes, locomotive engineers; Signor
Copello, chief engineer for the Modane
section of the tunnel; Captain Beaumont,
r. E.; Mr.. James Brogden, Mr.. Jopling,
Mr.. Morris, and Captain Tyler, r. E., on
the part of the British Government. ! lH-
I e Mr.. Fell's system, consists of the appliea-'
ton of a central lldouble-headed rail placed
,on its side in the middle of the way, and
elevated about fourteen inches above the
ordinary rails. There are four horizontal
driving wheels on the engine, under the
control of the engine driver, which can be
NY lut c0uLTdl rail-
SO as to, utilize the whole power of the en-
Igine, and so enable it to work up incredi-
BILE gradients without slipping. The car
riages,, also, have four horizontal wheels
underneath, which, with the central rail,
forms a complete safety guard. In addi-
tien to the ordinary breaks. there are
breaks upon the central rail. 1t would ap-
pear, therefore, impossible for the engine
or carriages to leave the rails where the
central one is laid. sa Z y tIt .--.-- .s "
| The morning was admirably adapted for
the trip, the sun shining with great brill
fancy upon the Alpine peaks and the nu-
merous glaciers which are visible in the
different parts of the route. After leaving
the deep valley in which st. Michael is sit
uated, the line passes by gradient of one
in thirty to the Pont de la Denise, where an
iron bridge spans the river Areq near the
site of that which was carried away, by the
foundations of last year. AS the little train
passed the village of Fourneau, the
workmen OF the Grand Tunnel of the
Alps turned out en- naosse, and, as at all
other parts of the route, they were observ-
ed STOPPING down and even endangering
their lives for the purpose of inspecting
the unusual mechanism of the engine for
working on the central rail. The first very
steep gradient of one in twelve was seen
in passing Modane, and, foreshortened to
the view, appeared on the approach as if
upOSSlDl0 W Du6 GQ6 engine,
the second constructed on this system, has
already proved equal to the task on the ex-
perimental line and, clutching the central
rail between its horizontal wheels, it glided
quickly up, under a pressure of steam not
more than eighty pounds to the square inch,
without apparent effort. The progress was
purposely slow, because no engine or car
riage had previously passed over the line,
and also to give opportunity for eXamin-
ing the works. The damages to the road
on which the line was chiefly laid were
found to be substantially repaired by the
French Government. The magnificent
scenery around, and the waterfall near
Fort Sessaillon, were much admired, as the
sharp curves afforded different views while
passing on the edges of the deep ravines
The train entered Lanslebourg station un-
der triumphal arch, having accomplished
twenty-four miles of distance and attained
an elevation of 2.100 feet above st. Michael.
From this point the zigzags of ascent
commence, and the. gradients over-a dis
tance of four miles were for the most part
one in twelve. Looking down from the
train from near the summit, as if from a
balloon four OF the ZigZags were visible at
the same instant, to depth of two thou
sand feet. The power of the engine was
satisfactorily tested in this ascent, and the
spmmitSwas reached under salvos of artil-
lery from an improvised battery, and amid
the cheers of the French and Italians who
had gathered to welcome the English on
the frontier. The engine again came to a
stand under triumphal arch, at an eleva
tion of 600 feet above the sea. Flags of
the three nations, and a silk flag especially
presented by Signor Ginaoli to Mr.. Fell,
waved over sumptuous breakfast, also
provided by that gentleman. The hospice,
the lake and the plateau of the summit,
surrounded by snow-clad peaks and gla-
ciers, rising to an elevation of from 10000
feet to- 1900 feet, were passed, and the
portion of the descent commenced from
the Grand $Croix. The railway here fol-
lows the old Napoleon road, which was
abandoned long since for diligence traffic
on account of the dangers from avalanche.
Masonry covered ways of extraordinary
strength had here been specially provided
for the railway. W p 81
The descent to Susa was a series of the
sharpest curves and steepest gradients, on
which the central rail had been continu
ously laid. The Valley of the Dora, with
Susa and the Convent, of San Michel, and
even the Superga above Turin, visible for
thirty miles in the distance, presented a
magnificent panorama, as the train wound
through a clear atmosphere round the
mountain side. The confidence OF the par
ty on trip which would under ordinary
circumstances have been so dangerous, was
manifested by their crowding around all
parts of the engine, from which, under a
feeling of the security afforded by the GEN.
tral rail, they thoroughly enjoyed the ever
changing scenes as they passed round the
edges of the various precipices. Susa was
entered amid the acclamation of multi
tudes ofspectators, and the party adjourned
to dine at the Hotel de France.
Thus was completed journey unex-
ampled in its character, alike as respects
the steepness of gradients, the elevation OF
the summit level, and the difficulty with
which the curves and precipices were over
come. - ~ AZ