Italy : handbook for travellers. First part, Northern Italy and Corsica / by K. Baedeker.

  • Karl Baedeker
Date:
1870
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Italy : handbook for travellers. First part, Northern Italy and Corsica / by K. Baedeker. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    73/494 (page 31)
    to Turin. ST. MICHEL. Grenoble is connected with the Paris and Marseilles line by means of three different railways, which reach it at Lyons (p. 6), St. Rambert(p. 11) and Valence (p. 12) respectively. From Grenoble to Marseilles by railway in 13 hrs.] — The line now turns to the 1. Next stat. Montmelian, where a good description of wine is produced. The ancient castle, of which scanty fragments now alone exist, was long the bulwark of Savoy against France. It was once defended by Goffredo Benso, an ancestor of Cavour (d. 1861), during 13 months against the army of Louis XIII. In 1705 it was destroyed by Louis XIV. Next stations St. Pierre d'Albigny and Chamousset. Picturesque view (to the 1.) of the broad valley of the Jsere, enclosed by beautifully formed moun- tains on both sides. At the influx of the Arc into the Isere the line quits the valley of the latter and ascends the valley of the Arc, which is at first of considerable width. Beyond stat. Aiguebelle, which is grandly situated , the valley contracts. The Arc is now crossed. The valley expands; scenery picturesque. The district near stat. Epierre is rendered unhealthy by the marshy nature of the soil, and cretinism is here prevalent. Stat. La Charnbre. Beyond St. Jean de Maurienne (Hotel de I'Europe), chief place in the valley, the line crosses to the r., near St. Julien again to the 1. bank of the Arc. The valley contracts, and the scenery assumes a bleak aspect. Several tunnels, then St. Michel (Hotel de la Paste; *Rail. Restaurant), where the railway at present terminates. Travellers are conveyed hence (unless prevented by unusually lieavy falls of snow) across Mt. Cenis by FeWs Mountain Railway, opened in 1868, the trains of which correspond with those of the French and Italian lines (Ital. or Rom. time 47 min. in advance of that of Paris). Tin's Chemin d e Fer flu Mont-Cenis, constructed by Mr. Fell, an American enjdneer, in less than two years, at a comparatively trifling cost, is a most novel and interesting undertaking. The line generally follows the direction of the high road. Where the incline is great, or the curve Riiddcn, between the ordinary rails is placed a third broad rail, against which liorizontal wheels under the locomotive and carriages work. The friction is thus no greatly increased that the train is enabled to ascend even steeper inclines than the ordinary, ponderous diligence, whilst the same contrivance entirely removes the danger of sudden turns. The incline is at some points I : 1'2i|2 (Seminering and Brenner railwavs 1 : 40 only). Each carnage, moreover, is provided with two brakes, one ior the ordinary, the other lor the hori/,<,ntal wheels, the united action of which is capable, of slopping the vehicle effectually even on the steepest inclines. Each train usually consists of 4-5 carriages, in which about GO passengers can be conveyed. Bryond La Praz, where the locomotives are supplied with water, the new railway will quit the valley of the Arc, near the village of Fourneau, and enter the long tunnel (8i/„ M. in length, estimated ccst 38 million francs) to the S.E., pene-