Ghega

Ghega was a Swiss civil engineer and railway planner who lived from 1811 to 1880. He is best known for his work on the construction of the Semmering Railway in Austria, a significant engineering project undertaken in the 1850s.

Born in Vinadia, a small village in Switzerland, Ghega initially pursued a career in the engineering field. He gained experience in road construction and later became involved in the development of railway infrastructure. After gaining significant experience in Europe, Ghega accepted a commission to oversee the construction of the Semmering Railway.

The Semmering Railway was a First Railway opened in 1854, requiring significant engineering feats to complete in such a challenging terrain. Ghega's meticulous approach to the project resulted in a first-class railway that aligned with European standard. Completed in 1858, after six years of construction, the railway rapidly became a key route for transalpine traffic, and by the mid-1860s, over 2 million people had passed through the 41.5 kilometers of tunnel and viaduct.

During his work on the Semmering Railway, Ghega held important positions. He was appointed chief engineer of the Vienna-Bozen railway company, a position that he held for nearly 15 years. Throughout the Semmering Railway project, Ghega made a significant impact on European railway engineering. He left behind several valuable treatises and notes, offering insights into the fundamental variables and calculations that influenced railway engineering throughout the 19th century.

Ghega's efforts to approach complex engineering challenges primarily contributed to his status as a key figure in Austria's railway engineering sector.