Carl Roman Abt ( 16 July 1850 - 1 May 1933, Lucerne) was a Swiss mechanical engineer who invented the Abt rack system for rack railways. July 16 is the 197th day (198th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 168 days remaining. ... 1850 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... 1933 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Location within Switzerland View of the city from Lake Lucerne Another view across Lake Lucerne The Lion Monument Lucerne (German: Luzern) is a city in Central Switzerland with a population of 60,274 (December 31, 2003), capital of the Canton of Lucerne. ... Mechanical engineering is the application of physical principles to the creation of useful devices, objects and machines. ... The rack rail on a cog railway. ...