BALLOONS USED TO PULL CARS UP A MOUNTAIN.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 8, Issue 28, 5 April 1907, Page 2

BALLOONS USED TO PULL CARS UP A MOUNTAIN.

AUSTRIAN INVENTOR MAKES SUCCESSFUL TRIAL OF HIS NEWRAILWAY. That the balloon railway will supersede the funicular system for the ascent of mountains is the claim of Herr Balderauer, who has been successfully experimenting with a novel invention in the mountains near Salzburg. Briefly the idea is to tether a balloon with a sliding cable to a single rail running up the side of the mountain. The ascent is natural, and for the descent the balloon is ballasted by a reservoir of water filled at the highest station. The car of the balloon seats ten persons. The engineer can regulate the speed by manipulating the wire cable which passes through the door of the car and grips the rail. Herr Balderauer claims that his balloon railway is cheap, safe and speedy. The sensation of being whirled up thousands of feet in a few seconds with perfect smoothness is delightful and exhilarating. Another advantage is that the aerial railway can asGend precipitous heights by the shortest route, while an ordinary furnicular railway would have to make circuitous detours and to thread tunnels.