With its unique combination of mountain world and bold route guidance, with numerous bridges and tunnels, cogwheel railways radiate a very special fascination The movement of the train is caused by the intervention of a gear wheel in a rack lying in the middle of the track, because for the strong inclinations the usual friction between the wheel and the rail is no longer sufficient. In the case of gear paths of the so-called mixed system, where friction distances with rack sections alternate depending on the gradient ratios, the tractive force is exercised by the same machine. In the Alps, there are many private gear railways, which are very popular with tourists from all over the world.This text is machine translated.