Engineering Wonders of the World
Volume III

TWO REMARKABLE ALPINE MOUNTAIN RAILWAYS. 309 ductor runs overhead on the arch of the tunnel, and is conveyed to a locomotive by four trolley arms, two per The Traek phase. Each locomotive has and the Locomotives. tw0 150 horse-power motors. Whether ascending or de- scending the speed is limited by automatic brakes to 5| miles an hour—not merely to course of the journey. Soon after leaving Scheidegg the train enters a short tunnel, during the transit of which the electric lights are turned on Eiger= automatically. From the upper ^letscher , r .. . , , Station. end of this tunnel to the Eiger- gletscher station the open sky is overhead, and a splendid scene delights the eyes of the EIGERGLETSCHER STATION. THE SNOW-CAPPED JUNGFRAU IN THE BACKGROUND. avoid accidents, but because a too rapid change of elevation might affect seriously the health of the passengers. Were the main current to fail, these brakes would not become inopera- tive, because current for working the brakes is generated by the weight of the locomotive itself. As a further precaution powerful hand- brakes are fitted. The carriages are provided with large glass windows, which permit the full enjoyment of all views that present themselves in the traveller. At Eigergletscher station there is a comfortable restaurant with sheltered balconies on three sides. Around this building have sprung up a village of workmen’s houses, engine-houses, and workshops, which form the base of operations for the winter work. In autumn all the winter’s stores and materials are collected at the Eigergletscher, as the Wengeralp Railway trains cease to run at the end of October, owing to the heavy falls of snow which at times bury even the posts