Engineering Wonders of the World
Volume III

TWO REMARKABLE ALPINE MOUNTAIN RAILWAYS. 303 mountain itself during the winter months, to test, with the greatest possible severity, the capabilities of such a railway. a sufficient width for the vehicular traffic. The valley was so narrow that the stream. Concessions granted for the Line. zigzag known A trial line, 1| miles long, was therefore con- structed on the as Les Echelles, above Lanslebourg (see 6,000 feet above sea-level. The steepest gradient was 1 in 12 ; the sharpest curve had a radius MAP SHOWING THE COURSE OF THE FELL MOUNTAIN RAILWAY FROM ST. MICHEL TO SUSA. of only 2 chains, or 44 yards. The experiments, carried out during the summer as well as the winter, were so successful that in November of the same year (1865) the French Govern- ment granted the concession from St. Miche. to the Italian frontier. The Italian concession was obtained in the month following. The work of construction began in the spring of 1866. Leaving St. Michel, the line followed the valley of the Arc, utilizing the public road as far as possible, while allowing when swollen by rain or snow-water, some- times carried away the track. From the al- most perpendicular mountain-sides loose rock would occasionally be detached by the action of frost or water, Construction and crash down, bringing with it tons of débris. As a protection against such destructive forces, screen-walls of masonry were built against the mountain-side. the MONT CENIS ROAD AT LES ECHELLES, ON THE FRENCH SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN. The Fell Railway followed this road for most of the distance. At Modane the line deviated incline higher Engineering „ , Difficulties. or the from the road, as the valley widened, and ascended by a steep to a reach river. Thence to Lanslebourg, the little frontier town which was made the headquarters for the upper section of the line, no great engineering difficul- ties presented themselves. But beyond Lanslebourg had to be surmounted the great Eclielle, which, with its numerous twists and turns, made it difficult to lay out the line. The road was narrow, and the authorities re- quired the rails to be placed on the outer or precipice side for the greater safety of the