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A NEW MOUNTAIN RAILWAY IN.…

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A NEW MOUNTAIN RAILWAY IN THE HARTZ. The new Hartz Railway between Blankenburg an- Taune, planned by a French engineer, Abt, is a com- bination of the ordinary adhesion with the tooth rail- Way, and any carriage or truck made to run on an ordinary railway can run equally well on this new line. In order to understand this it will therefore be well, before describing the line itself, to briefly explain this new system, which, with the opening of the new Hartz Railway, has for the first time been tried practically, and which, since its efficiency has been proved, will very likely create a new era in mountain railways generally. The tooth rail, which lies exactly between the two ordinary rails, which are of average gauge, consists of a threefold toothed chain, into which the two separate cog wheels of the engine exactly fit, so that, when in action, six teeth of the chain are always clasped by the cog wheels of the engine. This chain protrudes 70 millimetres beyond the level of the surface of the rails, and is only laid in such places where an otherwise insurmountable declivity or ac- clivity occurs. In all the other parts of the line the ordinary rails suffice. The transition from adhesion to tooth railway is effected by the ends of the cogged chain being made elastic, by lying on springs, so that when the engine reaches them the connection takes place automatically, and the mutual action of the toothed chain and cog wheels is so finely adjusted that not the slightest grating or bumping is noticed i 1 the train. The engines used on this railway are of a double construction, having four steam tenders, two for the ordinary wheels, and two for the cog wheels. The boilers on the Hartz railway are of the usual construction, the gradients to be overcome not exceeding 1 16.6 metres. In ascending the engine pushes the train from behind, and in descend- ing it is placed before the train. The newly-opened line is full of natural charms, the scenery opened up by it being of the most varying character. The total length from Blankenburg to Taune is 28 kilometres, 7.5 of which are toothed railway in 10 detachments, and throughout ite entirety iron sleepers replace wooden ones, which in modern railway build- ing are going more and more out of use. On leaving Blankenburg, with the engine in the rear, the first three kilometrss are ordinary adhesion railway, which running in a wide curve affords re- peated changeable views of Blankenburg, the castle, the Regenstein, the Devil's Wall, Ziegenkopf, Heim- burg, the blast furnace near Blankenburg, &c. Then comes a long stretch of toothed railway, with gra- dients of 16: 16'5 metres, up to Hiittenrode, the views afforded here consisting of occasional charming peeps between gaps in the forests through which the train passes, at Blankenburg receding from beneath, with the Regenstein, the Hoppelberg, and the Magde- burg Plain in the background, and the Ziegenkopf in the foreground, coming gradually more and more on a level with the train. A tunnel (Bielstein Tunnel), 480 metres long, is then passed, and in Hiittenrode the train stands 247 metres above the starting point. From Hiittenrode the line falls, with gradients of 1:40 and 1:16.6 meters, towards Riibeland, and the engine is now placed at the head of the train. From the plateau of Hiittenrode we get the first glance of the Brock en group. Just before reaching Riibeland is a short tunnel named after Princa Bismarck, tho last blasting having been completed during the night of March 31 and April 1, 1885, the anniversary of his 70th birthday. Riibeland is a village beautifully situated on the Bode, between high pine clad rocks in a gorge of that river, and known to tourists from the two caves, Bielsoole and Baumannshole. It also has an iron foundry, as well as extensive powder and wood vinegar works. The Rilbeland railwav station is provided with an excellent restaurant and verandah. From Riibeland the railway first of all runs on stone revetements alongside the Bode through the village, and from the iron foundry again ascends with slight gradients to Elbingerode. Between Riibeland and Elbingerode the landscape is totally different from that between Blankenburg and Riibeland, consisting of almost barren limestone rocks. At a short distance from Elbingerode the railway again descends into the Bode valley. Before doing so, however, it affords a nearer view of the Brocken group, with the Hobne- klippen in the foreground. At the station Roth- shiitte, from the village of this name, charmingly situated at the confluence of the warm and cold Bode, omnibuses are ready to take passengers direct to the Brocken (fare for in or outside place, two marks- two shillings). The railway from Rothshutte to Taune is without tooth rail. The new railway, which of course has been made to further the industry of the Upper Hartz, also affords the tourist convenient opportunities of getting quickly and pleasantly into the very centre of this district. For instance, the trip to the Hohneklippen, hitherto almost impracticable without a guide, is now easily accessible. From Rothshiitte to the Forester's House (Forst Haus), 1 hour, thence in 1 hours to 2 the Leistenklippe (magnificent view from the summit), thence return to Elbingerode. Signposts indicate the direction. Blankenburg, the residence of the Prince Regent, with its picturesque surroundings, readily accessible by railway from Halberstadt, affording comfortable and less dear living than many Hartz towns, and being the starting station of the new railway, will afford tourists desirous of seeing the country quickly and cheaply the very best means of doing so.

FISH. CULTURE. -

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