View source for Fell mountain railway system

{{redirect|Fell system|the Fell diesel locomotive|British Rail 10100}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
The '''Fell system''' was a third-rail system for [[steep grade railway|railways]] that were too steep to be [[Rail adhesion|worked by adhesion]] on the running rails alone. It used a raised centre rail between the two running rails to provide extra traction and braking, or braking alone. Trains were propelled by wheels horizontally applied and retracted by springs onto the centre rail, controlled from the footplate, as well as by the normal running wheels.<ref name=LF>{{cite book |last1=Figuier |first1=Louis |author1-link=Louis Figuier |title=La Locomotive et Les Chemins de Fer |url=https://fr.wikisource.org/w/index.php?title=Les_Merveilles_de_la_science/Locomotive_et_chemins_de_fer&oldid=6227219 |pages=373–375 |language=fr |date=1867|publisher=Furne, Jouvet et Cie }}</ref> In practice, the running wheels could be allowed to run freely to reduce wear, but the centre brake shoes needed to be replaced frequently. For example: the locomotives' shoes were replaced after each journey on the [[Mont Cenis Pass Railway]].<ref name=ew>{{cite book |last1=Whymper |first1=Edward |author1-link=Edward Whymper |title=Scrambles Amongst the Alps in the Years 1860-69 |date=1871 |publisher=[[John Murray (publishing house)|John Murray]] |location=London |page=53}}</ref> Extra brake shoes were fitted to specially designed or adapted Fell locomotives and brake vans, and for traction the prototype locomotive had auxiliary cylinders powering the horizontal wheels.<ref name=LF/> The Fell system was developed in the 1860s and was soon superseded by various types of [[rack railway]] for new lines, but some Fell systems remained in use into the 1960s. The [[Snaefell Mountain Railway]] still uses the Fell system for (emergency) braking, but not for traction.
[[File:Fell locomotive 1863.png|thumb| Fell's prototype locomotive of 1863. The upper cylinders drove the horizontal wheels.]]
[[File:Fig. 23b - Berglocomotive für den Mont-Cenis construiert von J. Fell, erbaut von Guin & Comp.jpg|thumb|"Cutaway" of [[Mont Cenis Pass Railway]] locomotive. One pair of cylinders operated both horizontal and vertical driving wheels.]]
[[File:Horizontal drive wheels Fell locomotive.png|thumb|Diagram showing horizontal drive wheels of Cenis Pass locomotive. [[Volute spring]]s (marked "b") were moved in or out by [[screw thread]] "g" operated from the cab by [[worm drive]] "c". The horizontal drive wheels "a" moved on slides "f" against the rail.]]

== History ==
The Fell system was designed, developed and patented by British engineer [[John Barraclough Fell]].{{efn|[[Charles Blacker Vignoles]] and [[John Ericsson]] patented a similar system in 1830, but Fell may not have known of it.<ref name=VP/>}} 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). The outer pair of cylinders (11¾ inches diameter, stroke 18 inches) drove the vertical driving wheels in  the usual way. An inner pair of cylinders (11 inches diameter, stroke 10 inches) drove the horizontal wheels. 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 [[Plain bearing#Design|journals]].<ref name=VP>{{cite journal |last1=Pendred |first1=Vaughan |title=The Adhesion of Locomotive Engines and Certain Expedients for Increasing or Supplementing That Function |journal=[[The Engineer (UK magazine)|The Engineer]] |date=17 November 1865 |page=317 |volume=XX|url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Engineer/A600AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=locomotive+tractive+effort+on+bends&pg=PA316&printsec=frontcover}}</ref><ref name=LF/>

These tests attracted the attention of the French Government, which conducted its own tests on the slopes of [[Mont Cenis]] in 1865. 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.

In 1913 Fell's son George Noble Fell published variations of his father's apparatus using either electric traction or "gaseous fuel". For electric traction the centre rail would also act as the current conductor rail; the horizontal drive wheels would adhere by magnetism, and the brakes would be applied by [[electromagnet]]s. For the internal combustion version the horizontal guide wheels would be coated with [[carborundum]] for improved  grip.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Day |first1=John R. |last2=Wilson |first2=Brian G. |title=Unusual Railways |date=1957 |publisher=[[Frederick Muller Ltd]] |location=London |page=43|oclc=2899105}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Fell |first1=George Noble |last2=Tindall |first2=John Henry |title=Improvements in Engines for Traction on Centre Rail Railways and in Means for Working same |url=https://patents.google.com/patent/GB191325917A/en |language=en |date=12 November 1914}}</ref>

== List of Fell railways ==
{{inc-transport|date=August 2008}}
The following railways have used the Fell system. Of these, the only one still in operation is the electrified [[Snaefell Mountain Railway]] on the [[Isle of Man]], which occasionally uses the centre rail for braking only; the cars are all now equipped with [[Dynamic braking|rheostatic braking]], which meets all normal braking needs. The only surviving Fell locomotive, [[New Zealand Railways Department|New Zealand Railways]] [[NZR H class|H 199]], is preserved at the [[Fell Locomotive Museum]], [[Featherston, New Zealand]], near the site of the [[Rimutaka Incline]].

=== France / Italy ===
*The Mont Cenis Pass Railway over the border to Italy was {{convert|77|km|mi|abbr=on}} long and ran from 1868 until superseded by a tunnel under the pass in 1871. Some characteristics of the Mont Cenis Pass Railway include:
** {{RailGauge|1100mm}} gauge – the gauge in English speaking world is sometimes quoted as 3&nbsp;ft {{frac|7|3|8}}&nbsp;in<ref name=ew/>
** Steepest [[Grade (slope)|gradient]] 1 in 12 (8.3%)
** Gradient where Fell grip system was deemed to be needed 1 in 25 (4.0%)
** Climb {{convert|3000|ft|m|0}}
** Centre rail {{convert|8|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} above running rails and about {{convert|14|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} above [[Railroad tie|sleeper]].
** [[Minimum railway curve radius|Sharpest curve]] {{convert|130|ft|m|0}} <ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41390413 |title=THE LATEST METHODS OF RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION IN ENGLAND. |newspaper=[[South Australian Register]] |location=Adelaide |date=9 July 1869 |accessdate=1 January 2013 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
** Since there were [[break of gauge|breaks-of-gauge]] at each end of the Fell railway, it is not known if ordinary [[standard gauge]] rolling stock were needed.
** Length of line {{convert|48|mi}}.
** Length of Fell section {{convert|9|mi}}

=== Brazil ===
*The [[Estrada de Ferro Cantagalo]] from Niterói to Nova Friburgo opened in 1873. Brazil's first mountain railway, of {{RailGauge|1100mm}} gauge, re-used some of the equipment from the Mont Cenis Pass Railway, and continued in operation until the 1960s. The Fell centre rail was used only for braking after 1884.

=== Isle of Man ===
* The [[Snaefell Mountain Railway]] opened in 1895.  It uses [[electricity|electric]] [[railcar]]s, with a Fell rail for braking.

=== New Zealand ===
* {{Railgauge|1067mm}}
** The [[Rewanui Branch|Rewanui Incline]] on the West Coast of the South Island used a Fell rail for braking from its opening in 1914 to 1966. It closed in 1985.
** The [[Rimutaka Incline]] on the [[Wairarapa Line]] near [[Featherston, New Zealand|Featherston]] in the North Island opened in 1878 and closed in 1955.  It was replaced by the [[Rimutaka Tunnel|Rimutaka tunnel]]. Unlike the other lines noted, it used the Fell system for propulsion as well as braking throughout its active life. The [[Fell Engine Museum]] in Featherston houses the sole preserved Fell locomotive ([[NZR H class]]).  .
** The [[Blackball Branch|Roa Incline]] on the West Coast of the South Island used a Fell rail for braking from its opening in 1909. It closed in 1960.
** The [[Kaikorai Cable Car]] which ran from [[Dunedin]] to the [[Kaikorai Valley]] used an off-centre Fell rail for braking.
* {{Railgauge|1000mm}}
** The [[Wellington Cable Car]] used a Fell rail for emergency braking from its opening in 1902 until 1978, when it was upgraded.
* unknown gauges
**[[Price's Bush Tramway]] near [[Akatarawa]].
**[[Charming Creek Tramway]] near [[Ngakawau]].
** Several bush tramways used Fell rails for braking.
<gallery>
Fell MW 1872.jpg|Fell system locomotive built 1876 by [[Manning Wardle]] for [[Estrada de Ferro Cantagalo]]
Snaefell Mountain Railway car no 4 on mountain.jpg|Fell system on the [[Snaefell Mountain Railway]]
Fell Engine Museum - 2002-03-20.jpg|Fell locomotive H199 preserved in the [[Fell Engine Museum]], New Zealand
Fell rail engine - 2002-03-20.jpg|Underside of H199, showing details of the Fell railway system
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Rack railway]]
* [[Hanscotte centre-rail system]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}
* {{cite book| author= Cameron, W. N.| year=1976| title= A Line of Railway: The Railway Conquest of the Rimutakas | edition=1st| publisher=[[New Zealand Railway & Locomotive Society]]| isbn=0-908573-00-6 }} (this book has sections on the Fell mountain railway system, [[Mont Cenis Pass Railway]] and [[Cantagallo Railway]]). 
* {{cite book| author=Goodwyn, M.| year=1993| title=Manx Electric| edition=1st| publisher=[[Platform 5]]| isbn=978-1-872524-52-8 }}
* {{cite book| author=Hendry, R.| year=1993| title=Rails in the Isle of Man: A Colour Celebration| publisher=Midland Publishing Limited| isbn=1-85780-009-5 }}
* {{cite book| author=Ransom, P. J. G.| year=1999| title=The Mont Cenis Fell Railway| publisher=[[Twelveheads Press]]| isbn=0-906294-41-X }}
* {{cite journal| journal=[[The Railway Magazine]]|date=February 2007| title=Chinese rail for Snaefell railway| issue=1270| volume=153| page=58| issn=0033-8923 }}
== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040606170507/http://www.rimutaka-incline-railway.org.nz/history/fell-centre-rail.html Fell Centre Rail (description of the working of the Fell system, with pictures)]
* [https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Gov01_02Rail-t1-body-d2-d1.html A remarkable railway (1926 article)] 
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070421233257/http://www.library.mstn.govt.nz/history/fell.html The Fell Engine and the Rimutaka Incline (from the Masterton Library)]
* [http://www.tramz.com/br/tto/6RJ2.html The Cantagallo Railway] (page down to Nova Friburgo).

[[Category:Rail technologies]]
[[Category:Mountain railways]]
[[Category:1863 introductions]]