Tanvald Cog Railway

The line from Tanvald up to Korenov was opened in 1902 to connect Bohemia with the Prussian network across the mountains, and the climb out of the Kamenice valley is too steep for a locomotive to grip - up to about fifty-eight per thousand - so a rack was laid on the steepest section using the Abt system, with a toothed rail between the running rails and cogwheels on the locomotive. It is the only rack railway in the Czech Republic. The steam rack locomotives worked until the 1960s and one survives; today the section is run by adhesion diesel units on the regular service, with heritage rack operation on advertised dates using the preserved locomotive. The line continues through a long tunnel to Harrachov. The Kamenice valley, the viaducts and the mountain setting are the reason to ride it either way.

What you actually see

• The only rack railway here - Abt system laid in 1902 on the steepest section.
• A gradient of about 58 per thousand - too steep for ordinary adhesion working.
• A preserved rack locomotive - run on advertised heritage dates.
• The Kamenice valley - viaducts and mountain scenery on the climb.

When to go

May to September. Half a day.

Honest expectations

Ordinary services are modern diesel units without the rack in use - the historic operation runs only on advertised dates and sells out. The timetable is sparse. Check which service you are booking.

Nearby

Harrachov is up the line; the Jizera Mountains are north.