Furka's railway, being a high mountain railway, uses the rack and pinion system used and patented by the Swiss engineer Dr. Roman Abt. The tracks are composed of a rack and pinion. Comprising a circular gear, the pinion, engaging a linear gear, the rack, which operates to translate rotational motion into linear motion, provides all the traction needed to climb the steepest inclines. On descent, the rack and pinion system also acts as a brake, thus resulting in high safety. The Swiss rail system, in addition to being very safe, is extremely efficient and environmentally sensitive and is probably the most advanced in the world. This panorama was photographed beside the Furka Pass road above Gletsch.