Russ Segner

Note – The Eastside Get Together is on the 2nd Thursday in March (instead of the usual 3rd).

This month John Morrison will present The Mt. Pilatus Railway (Pilatusbahn) which operates from a Luzern suburb to an altitude of 6,778 feet on Mt. Pilatus. It climbs a continuous grade of up to 48% and is the steepest rack (cogwheel) railway in the world. All the other railways with grades above approximately 25% use a cable and are called funiculars.

The Pilatusbahn uses a unique Locher rack, together with some very interesting switches. It was built in 1886 and most of the original infrastructure is still in use. It operated under steam until 1937 when it was converted to electric traction. John’s presentation was a result of his second visit to Switzerland last September. He will also be prepared to discuss any of the other mountain railways he has visited on his trips.

John models in G (1:22). He has an extensive outdoor layout in Kirkland where he runs and displays many of the fine locomotives he has built from scratch.

Be sure to be at the Redmond Library at 6:30 p.m. this Thursday, March 10! Directions and additional info can be found on the Clinics Page.