What is the steepest cog railway in the world?
the Pilatus
The world’s steepest cogwheel railway goes up the Pilatus The steepest cogwheel railway in the world, with a gradient of 48% and a length of 4’618 metres, links Alpnachstad with Pilatus Kulm at an altitude of 2’132 m.
Why is Mount Pilatus famous?
Since 1889 from Alpnach and up the Pilatus Commissioned in 1889, a gradient of up to 48 percent, about 30 minutes travel time: that is the steepest cogwheel railway in the world in figures. Meter by meter it scales the way from Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm, passing alpine meadows and striking rock formations.
Where is Mount Pilatus Switzerland?

Lucerne
Pilatus, also often referred to as Mount Pilatus, is a mountain massif overlooking Lucerne in Central Switzerland. It is composed of several peaks, of which the highest (2,128.5 m (6,983 ft)) is named Tomlishorn.
Where is the cog railway in Switzerland?
The Pilatus Railway (German: Pilatusbahn, PB) is a mountain railway in Switzerland and is the steepest rack railway in the world, with a maximum gradient of 48% and an average gradient of 35%….
Pilatus Railway | |
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Status | Operational |
Owner | Pilatus-Bahnen AG |
Locale | Obwalden, Switzerland |
Termini | Alpnachstad Pilatus Kulm |
How many cog railways are there in the world?
The new trains come from Stadler Bussnang, a Switzerland-based manufacturer. Since there are less than 50 cog railways in the entire world, Stadler is the only company capable of filling such an order.
How did Mount Pilatus get its name?

As per a popular story, Pilatus, standing tall at 2132 m south west of Lucerne, was named after the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate whose dead body was discarded into a lake on top and it therefore is apparently haunted.
How long was the cog railway closed?
The railway was closed between October 29, 2017 and May 20, 2021, for a complete refurbishment that saw the replacement of the track infrastructure, the rebuild of older railcars and the purchase of three new trainsets….Pikes Peak Cog Railway.
Overview | |
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Length | 8.9 mi (14.3 km) |
Highest elevation | 14,115 ft (4,302 m) |
Other | |
Website | cograilway.com |
Who owns the Cog Railway?
MOUNT WASHINGTON, N.H. — The $14 million project comes several years after Cog Railway owner Wayne Presby scrapped plans to build a 35-room hotel with a restaurant following fierce opposition from environmentalists.