Cog railway Tanvald-Harrachov

Cog railway Tanvald-Harrachov is a standard gauge cog railway in Europe. It connects the municipalities Tanvald, Kořenov and Harrachov in the Czech Republic.

The railway was built in 1902 with the intention to connect the lines Liberec-Jablonec-Tanvald and Jelenia Góra-Kořenov (Zackenbahn), that is to connect Austro-Hungarian Empire with Prussia. After the Second World War Silesia was acquired by Poland and the cross-border traffic was abolished. Following an exchange of border territories between Czechoslovakia and Poland, the Bohemian part was extended to Harrachov, that became a new terminal station. Except on a one-day celebration on the 100th anniversary in 2002, cross border traffic was never restored. Plans to upgrade the line to a cross-border tram line to Jelenia Góra or to extend the line further to the centre of Harrachov were rejected.

In winter, the morning trains are packed with cross country skiers who take advantage of the gained elevation difference and continue from Kořenov to either Jablonec or Liberec via Jizerka or cross the border to make a trip to Orle. In summer, bike transport is gaining popularity. As both the express trains from Prague and Dresden terminate in Tanvald, the former plans to abolish the line were dropped.

Technical parameters

* Rack system: two-set Abt rack system, laid in two sections, 4744 m
* Maximum gradient: 58 ‰ (Czech rail record)
* Elevation difference: 235 m on 7 km

External links

* [http://www.zubacka.cz Cog railway Tanvald - Korenov - Harrachov] (Czech only)
* [http://www.albico.cz/zubacka/contents.htm Website about the cog railway] (Czech, English)
* [http://info.fuw.edu.pl/~michalj/kolej/izery/ Map depicting the territory exchange between Czechoslovakia and Poland]