Vitznau-Rigi Railway Opens

On July 8, 1864, the Vitznau-Rigi Railway opened as the world's first operational mountain cog railway, engineered by Niklaus Riggenbach. The line climbed from Lake Lucerne to the summit of Rigi using a Riggenbach rack system to conquer 48% grades. This innovation transformed alpine tourism by enabling reliable passenger service to scenic heights previously accessible only by foot or mule. The railway's success directly influenced the development of other European mountain lines and demonstrated the viability of adhesion and rack combinations for challenging terrain.