-=> Quoting Ml:nicolae Ceausescu@dss to Wurlitzer <=-
 ML>A "cog" railway consists of a locomotive that is driven by a large gear, or
 ML>cog.  The cog runs along a geared rail running down the middle of the track.
 MC> Oh yes, I have read about those. The Mount Lowe Railway in SoCal was a
 MC> cog RR. I just never knew it was called such. :> The Mt. Lowe Railway
 MC> was so steep that the cars were built tapered like stairs. I don't
 MC> know if that is the norm for cog RRs, but it was awesome to look at.
I have heard of that one.  I don't know if it is a cog railway or not.  But if
it has "stairstep" cars, like you described, then it very well may be a cable
railway.
Cog railways generally won't run on grades in excess of 50%, due to the
tremendous stress on the running gear.  Usually, in cases like that, a rail-
road will opt to use a cable railway, which can ascend extremely steep
inclines.
One example of this is the (now closed) Mount Manitou Incline.  It was a cable
railway, although very short (about 3/4 mile), running from Manitou Springs
to the top of Mount Manitou, about 9000 feet.  But when it was running, it was
the steepest incline in the world, with a grade of 96%!
I hope I'm not boring you with train talk.  But you might be able to tell that
I am a train buff!  ;>
Wurly.
... It's nothing that a Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster can't fix...
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