Fell mountain railway system

[a] The first test application was alongside the Cromford and High Peak Railway's cable-hauled incline at Whaley Bridge in Derbyshire, England, in 1863 and 1864.

The prototype locomotive had separate pairs of cylinders for the horizontal and vertical drive wheels (but this arrangement was simplified in subsequent versions).

These wheels were forced into contact with the central rail by a horizontal screw thread, controlled by a hand wheel on the footplate, that forced helical springs inwards to press on the vertically aligned journals.

As a result, the Mont Cenis Pass Railway was built by a British company as a temporary connection between France and Italy whilst the tunnel under the Alpine pass was being built; shortening the transit time for mail from Britain and France to Italy and beyond.

For the internal combustion version the horizontal guide wheels would be coated with carborundum for improved grip.