Since 1889 from Alpnach and up the Pilatus Commissioned in 1889, a gradient of up to 48 percent, about 30 minutes travel time: that is the steepest cogwheel railway in the world in figures.

The title for the steepest railway in the world belongs to the Stoos Funicular in Switzerland, which opened in late 2017. This incredible feat of engineering features a maximum gradient of 110% (approximately 47.7 degrees). To prevent passengers from tumbling out of their seats at such an extreme angle, the train uses innovative "barrel-shaped" cabins that rotate automatically to remain perfectly level regardless of the incline. In terms of traditional "adhesion" railways (trains that run on standard tracks without cables or cogs), the Pöstlingbergbahn in Linz, Austria, and the Cass Scenic Railroad in the U.S. are among the steepest. For "cog" or "rack" railways, the Pilatus Railway, also in Switzerland, remains the world leader with a maximum gradient of 48%. These systems use a toothed rail to "grip" the track, allowing them to scale mountainsides that would be impossible for a standard locomotive. Whether using cables or cogs, these climbs offer some of the most dramatic and gravity-defying views in the world of transportation.