A RAILWAY UP VESUVIUS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 140, 12 June 1880, Page 4

A RAILWAY UP VESUVIUS.

(Post ) Tbose terrible engineers, from whom nothing is sacred, have at last complfted a railway to the summit of Mount Vesuvine. While lovers of tbe picturesque may-object to seeing these ingenious and irrepressible .gentlemen disfiguring the lovely natural scenery on the eastern side of the Bay of Naples by iron rails, unhandsome locomotives, hideous embankments, and uglinfies personified in the form of iftUWay stations and goods sheds, still we must admit that tba work is not without its counter-balancing advantages. Instead of laboriously climbiner for two hottra up the Bt3«p aides of ihj awt-inspiring, yet exqii (itely baautiful mountain which rises so mcjestically oat of the plain of Campania, the tourist now steps into the train, and in ten minutes finds himself on a level spot on th.*) west side of tbe mountain, within half-an-hout'd walk of the famous observatory on Mount Contarino, whence Sigdor Palmieri issues hia periodical bulletins respecting tbe health of the oapricious

monster over whom be keeps such zealous watcb. As may be imagined, tbe incline by whicb an elevation 1 of about 3000 feet is scaled in ten minutes roust be exceedingly steep. The perils of tbe Rimutaka pale into insignificance by the side of this terrifio ascent. The steepest grade of the former is 1 in 15, while the Mount Vesuvius incline is in some places equal to lin 1 ! It commences in fact at 40 degrees, increasing to 63 degrees, acd continuing at 50 degrees to the summit. Of course even Fell engines are of no use for such a prodigious climb as this. Consequently the American " double-iron rope system " is used. There are two lines of rails, each provided with a .carriage divided into two compartments snd copable of holding six persons. Tbe motive power is supplied by a stationary traction engine, aid tha carriages are so arranged that the empty carriage coming down helps to pull the full carriage which is comi* g up at the sama time. To obtuin the necessary supplies of water, large rese voir-3 are erected, which in tbe winter will be filled with t'-e snow whicb falls on the mountain, nnd this will quickly be converted into liquid by tbe heat of tbe great natural furnace below. Above tbe entrance to the summit station an enchanting view is to be obtained, not only of the Gulf of Naples, but also of those of Baie and Gaeta, on tbe other side of the Peninsula, while away to tbe nortb stretches the fertile plain of Cusertß, hemmed in by the lordly Apenione?. Every caro has been taken lo reduce the perils of the ascent to a minimum, and a very substantial wall has beon erected to pioltcl the line against possible flows of lava. Still, we fear the feelings cf the tourist on being whisked up thia venturesome ascent must very much resemble thoso of the old lady who was being taken up the Righi railway. " Wtiat," she anxiously enquired, "would be theresu t if tbis rope gave. way ? " *• Then," replied the guide, "you would be protected by this chain which is provided as a safeguard in the event of the topa breaking." " But, suppose the chain were to bref.k," still persisted the timorous old lady, " where should we go to?" "That, madam,' replied the guide, with a philosophic shrug, "depends upon how you have been brought up!"