Riggenbach rack system

E759056

The Riggenbach rack system is an early and widely used rack railway technology that employs a ladder-like central rail to enable trains to climb steep gradients safely.

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Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf rack railway system
railway technology
advantage robust operation in harsh mountain environments
simple construction
allowsMaximumGradient up to about 25% depending on design
appliedIn Niesenbahn NERFINISHED
Rigi Railway NERFINISHED
various European mountain railways
countryOfOrigin Switzerland
disadvantage less smooth running at higher speeds
more wear on rack and pinion compared to some later systems
distinguishedFrom Abt rack system NERFINISHED
Locher rack system NERFINISHED
Marsh rack system NERFINISHED
Strub rack system NERFINISHED
fieldOfUse rail transport engineering
firstCommercialUse Vitznau–Rigi Railway NERFINISHED
firstCommercialUseDate 1871
gearEngagement external pinion engaging external rack
hasComponent locomotive pinion gear
rack bar sections mounted between running rails
hasDesignCharacteristic rack teeth formed by transverse bars rather than milled teeth
hasPart ladder-like central rack rail
historicalSignificance one of the earliest practical rack railway systems
widely adopted in 19th-century mountain railways
inception 1860s
1863
inventor Niklaus Riggenbach NERFINISHED
material steel
movementMechanism adhesion plus rack-and-pinion drive
namedAfter Niklaus Riggenbach NERFINISHED
notableFeature allows mixed adhesion and rack working on the same line
continuous ladder rack made of short bar sections
operatingSpeed low to moderate speeds suitable for steep gradients
rackMounting rack fixed to sleepers between running rails
railProfile ladder-type rack with transverse bars
railwayTechnologyType rack-and-pinion railway drive
safetyFeature prevents uncontrolled train rollback on steep gradients
safetySystem rack braking using pinion and rack engagement
typicalUse cog railways
tourist mountain railways
usedFor climbing steep railway gradients
mountain railways
usedInTopography alpine regions
steep mountain slopes
usedWith electric rack locomotives
rack railcars
steam rack locomotives

Referenced by (4)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Corcovado Rack Railway rackSystem Riggenbach rack system
Bayerische Zugspitzbahn rackSystemType Riggenbach rack system
Rorschach–Heiden rack railway rackSystemType Riggenbach rack system
Strub system distinguishedFrom Riggenbach rack system