Toothed rack electric locomotive (similar to class E 69), Sonnblick-Bahn

■ Can be operated with and without rack-and-pinion track
■ Thanks to its tremendous climbing ability on rack-and-pinion tracks, the locomotive can overcome extraordinary height differences (up to 35%) even in the smallest of spaces
■ The very high transmission ratio also makes it ideal for shunting operations on normal tracks
■ FLEISCHMANN PROFI plug-in coupling for rack-and-pinion railway operation for replacement is included

With their unique combination of mountain landscape and bold routing featuring numerous bridges and tunnels, rack-and-pinion railways are particularly fascinating.The movement of the train is achieved through the engagement of a toothed wheel in a toothed rack positioned in the centre of the track, as the usual friction generated between wheels and rails is insufficient for the steep inclines.In rack-and-pinion railway of the so-called mixed system, where friction sections alternate with toothed rack sections depending on the gradient ratios, the tractive force is exerted by one and the same machine. A particularly large number of private rack-and-pinion railways are found in the Alps, and these attract tourists from all over the world.