"The locomotives are coal fired and operate at approximately 150 pounds per square inch. The steam is directed to two pairs of driving cylinders that are connected to the drive axle which turns a pinion gear. The brake drum is also located on this shaft. The pinion gear turns an axle shaft on which is keyed the spur gear, cog gear, and ratchet gear. The ratio of the pinion gear to the spur gear is 5 1/3 to 1. The pawl is engaged on the trip up and prevents any backward movement should the locomotive suffer a failure of some part. The clinking metallic sound that is heard on the trip up is the pawl bouncing on the ratchet gear, a reassuring sound! The coaches also have a pawl and ratchet. There are two axles on the coaches onto which a cog gear, ratchet gear and a brake drum are keyed. The wheels on the locomotives provide support and guide it on the rails. The wheels simply turn on an axle and are not driven. All driving is accomplished by the cog gear meshing with the rack. The locomotive proceeds up the mountain tooth by tooth."