Germany's Interesting Mountain Railway.

Italy, Switzerland and South Germany abound in mountain railways of one type or another, varying from the ordinary adhesion line to quaint cable systems that carry heavy passenger cars slung high above ground level to the very summit of the rugged Alps. One of the world's most interesting mountain railways has this year been opened in South Germany. This is the Bavarian Zugspitze Railway, connecting the holiday resort of Garmisch-Parten-kirchen with the summit of the Zugspitze Mountain. Operated on the rack and pinion principle, this novel railway enables the tourist to reach in comfort and ease the summit of Germany's highest mountain peak, carrying the traveller to a height of some 8,600 feet in about 108 minutes. Enormous engineering difficulties have been overcome in the construction of the Bavarian Zugspitze Railway, which at one point has a rising gradient of one in four. Four double-axled electric friction locomotives, and eight electric rack locomotives are employed for train haulage. The rack locomotives are equipped with four distinct sets of brakes, and all the machines secure power from an overhead conductor.