3-052-798 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Opening of the railway to the top of Mount Vesuvius, 1880. 'Reservoirs; Restaurant; Station...An extraordinary novelty in railway construction is the line to the top of Vesuvius, which bids fair to draw thither many visitors and tourists, including men of science, hitherto kept back by the difficulties in the ascent of the burning mountain...An enterprising gentleman conceived the idea of carrying a railway directly up the face of this steep ascent. "La Società Anonima Ferrovia Funicolare del Vesuvio," as the company is called, which may be translated into "The Vesuvian Wire-Rope Railway Company," has executed a singular work of engineering skill under tremendous difficulties...The ascent can be made in eight to ten minutes, where before it required from one to two hours. To obtain the necessary supply of water, large covered cisterns have been constructed, which in winter will be filled with the snow that often falls heavily on Vesuvius. This snow will be quickly melted by the internal heat, and, besides the water thus obtained, the frequent rainfall will also be conducted into the cisterns. An elegant cafe-restaurant, capable of accommodating a hundred persons, will be attached to the station'. From "Illustrated London News", 1880.