the former cogwheel railway Blankenburg–Rübeland–Tanne, Germany

The Rübeland station

The Tanne station

The 30.3 km Harz-Zahnradbahn connecting Blankenburg–Rübeland–Tanne (Harz) was built over 1885-1886 and was originally operated with "rack and pinion" cogwheel locomotives because of considerable differences in altitude, although in parts adhesion only was enough. The cogwheel system was that developed by the Swiss engineer Roman Abt.

In 1920 the powerful steam locomotives of the "Tierklasse" (literally "animal class") were placed on this route and combined with reduced gradients through alterations in trajectory in places, the Zahnrad operation was able to be dispensed with.  Today this line is known as the Rübelandbahn and has been electrically operated since 1965. website

a train approaches the Rübeland station in 2008