Mont Cenis Pass Railway

The Mont Cenis Pass Railway operated from 1868 to 1871 (with some interruptions) during the construction of the Fréjus Rail Tunnel through the Alps between Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne, southeast France and Susa, Piedmont, northwest Italy. It was designed by John Barraclough Fell and his three-rail design was used on some other mountain railways. The railway was 77 kilometres (48 miles) long, with a gauge of 1,100 mm (3 ft 7+5⁄16 in). The height at the summit was 2,283 metres (7,490 ft) and the maximum gradient was 9 per cent (1 in 11).^[1] It was used to transport English mail to India as part of the 1,400-mile (2,300 km) All Red Route.^[2]

A British company was established in 1864 by a number of British contractors, engineers and investors to obtain permission from the two governments to build the railway. These included: Thomas Brassey, Fell, James Brunlees and Alexander Brogden. Having obtained permission, in 1866 they established the Mont Cenis Railway Company to build and run the railway. Although it would eventually be superseded by the tunnel, they believed that during its life, the cost of the pass railway would be repaid with a profit to them. The company used British engine-drivers and workmen.^[3]

In the event there were delays in establishing the railway and it did not start until 15 June 1868. Additionally the tunnel progressed faster than expected as new tunnelling methods were developed and the tunnel was opened on 16 October 1871, resulting in the pass railway being active for a shorter time than expected and leaving the proprietors with a considerable loss. However, the technology proved itself and was used on a number of other mountain railways.

Until this railway was built, rail passengers had to cross the Alps by horse-drawn Stage coach in summer or sledge in winter.^[2]

The Pass Railway is sometimes called the Mont Cenis Summit Railway so as to distinguish it from the Tunnel Railway.^[4]