SHOWDEN RAILWAY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 671, 23 May 1914, Page 3

SHOWDEN RAILWAY.

FOUR MILES AN HOUR. The most remarkable of the curious English railways is that which makes its way up Snowden seven times daily. It runs from the foot of the mountain to ths top, covering in all a distance of sonic four miles. It is said not to pay the promoters, or at least not to bring them fortunes. This is partly accounted for by the fact that on the very first official journey \vhicli was made on this railway, there was au accident, which caused distrust in the line. Yet it has been running safely since. It consists or oii2 eng'ine and one carriage, similar indeed to those which n:ay be se:n on most of the mountains in Switzerland, and it works cn the same principle as the Swiss lailways. It has what are known as double pinions working on a rack in the centre of the roadway, that is, of course, besides the ordinary wheels.

In crder to procure the safety of tli2 passengers, so far as is humanly possible, the engine is always placed at the lower end. This is ever the case whether the train is going up the mountain or descending. The train's carriage is not coupled to the locomotive ; otherwise the former precaution would be rendered of no a - ail. Thus if the engine happened to leave the lines, the carriage would not of necessity foilow it. The speed is. not exhilarating, to put it nrJildly. Four miles an hour ! As was said before, the journey is performed seven times a day by three trains, that is, of course,: during the season. Nor is the fare remarkably ihe.ip. The amount charged for a retain ticket is five sbitttngs. Still for people who are either lazy, or who are unable to make the ascent themselves, it is worth paying five shillings to see the view from the to.) of Snowdon.-- 1 ' Weekly Telegraph."