From: BRANDT_JOBST/HP1900_01@HPLOMG.HPL.HP.COM
Newsgroups: rec.railroad
Subject: Re: Swiss Railroad Questions
Date: 19 Aug 92 17:43:20 GMT

Rob Eccles writes:

> I will be spending a week in Switzerland in September.  What are some
> interesting railroads to see or ride?

Well now that you mention it there are a few Swiss specialties that
rate high on the "must" list as I see it.  Depending on your
specialty, the order of importance may change, however...

o Pilatus 800mm gauge Locher horizontal opposed cogwheel drive.
  Steepest cog in the world at 48% with spectacular view over
  Lucern.  Take the SBB Brunig line from Lucern to Alpnachstadt.

o Brienzer Rothorn Bahn (BRB) 800mm gauge steam cog line with
  spectacular scenery.  Runs original steam Abt cog equipment.  Can
  be reached by SBB Brunig meter gauge adhesion/cog (Riggenbach)
  rail line from Lucern or Interlaken to Brienz.

o The Postauto trip from Meiringen (where Meringue was invented) to
  Rosenlaui and Grindelwald over the Grosse Scheidegg pass is a
  spectacular introduction to the Eiger Moench Jungfrau Massif.  In
  the shadow of the Wetterhorn this scene framed in rugged glaciers
  is a fitting start to the train up the Jungfrau.  This trip goes
  right past the Reichenbach waterfall where Holmes and Moriarty
  fought to the death as they both went over the falls.  The
  Sherlock Holmes bar is in Meiringen adorned by the old sleuth's
  visage.

o Jungfraujoch Bahn with meter gauge Strub cog up through the Eiger
  to the Jungfrau overlook.  Unique 99% in tunnel cog rail.  Must be
  seen to be believed.  You cannot miss this one if you ever get
  near it.  Berner Oberland Bahn (BOB) meter gauge adhesion /
  Riggenbach cog from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald,
  then by Wenger Alp Bahn (WAB) 800mm gauge Abt cog to Kleine
  Scheidegg and then the Jungfrau Bahn.

o Berner Oberland Bahn (BOB) to Schynige Platte from Wilderswil
  (about 4 km out of Interlaken on the BOB mainline.  This 800mm
  gauge line uses Riggenbach rack and has no adhesion drive.
  From the Schynige Platte a panorama of both Wetterhorn, Eiger,
  Moench, Jungfrau and many others to the south fill the view but
  also the valley to the north with the Thunersee, Interlaken,
  Brienzersee and the mountains to the north.

o Furka Oberalp (FO) meter gauge Abt cog with steam operation over
  the Furka Pass on the old line from Realp.  This is a resurrected
  mountain line that was bypassed through a tunnel.  Original steam
  from 50 years ago has been recovered from the jungles of Vietnam
  to run over the top.  Not a revenue railroad but an interesting
  extension to the rest of the FO that runs from Brig to Disentis
  where it connects to the RhB while it makes connections to the SBB
  mainline at Brig and at the Gotthard tunnel via the
  Schollenenbahn.

o Viznau Rigi standard gauge Riggenbach rack from Viznau on the lake
  to the top of the Rigi gives a grand panorama.  Take the lake
  steamer (real steam) to Viznau from Lucern.  Return from the top
  of the mountain by way of the ARB Arth-Rigibahn to Goldau on the
  other side of the mountain.

o The Rhaetische Bahn (RhB) Bernina Express from Chur to Italy over
  the Albula and Bernina Pass route.  Meter gauge non-cog but 7%
  grades.  One of the most photographed lines in Switzerland.  Get
  to Chur either by mainline or from the FO through Disentis.

o Martigny-Chatelard-Chamonix meter gauge Strub cog line from
  Martigny to Chamonix.  This 1000 VDC line runs third rail through
  the countryside with no protection.  Its climb out of the Rhone
  valley leads to an unbelievable ride on the edge of the "grand
  canyon" in a manner that defies description.  Mont Blanc is a
  fitting terminus for such a ride.

Of course the whole Gotthard line from Lucern to Locarno and then
by the FART (Ferovia e Autolinea Regionale Ticinese) meter gauge
Centovalli line to Domodossola and back to Brig through the Simplon
is a worthy adventure.  From Brig you could take the Brig Visp
Zermatt (BVZ) meter gauge cog to Zermatt or the FO to the Furka Pass
or the Bern Lotchberg Simplon (BLS) mainline back to Interlaken.
While you were going south, instead of going straight to Locarno you
could go to Lugano and take the balanced funicular from the station
to the marvelous downtown for a tour of the shops.  While you're
there you ought to go to Capolago and ride the Monte Generoso 800mm
cog that looks over Lugano and Como and has a panorama hard to beat.
Or even better go to Chiasso and Como that has an enchanting
waterfront and endless shops with worldwide appeal.  An ancient city
with lots of charm.

All this Swiss stuff is nearly free on a Swissrail pass except for
the super cog lines that only give a small discount.  This pass is
good on the meter gauge lines, all postal busses and city
transportation.  Get a second class one for one week or less.  They
can always be extended if need be, at any train station.  The Eurail
pass is not good on any mountain lines.  The Swissrail is worth it.

Ride train!

jobst_brandt@hplabs.hp.com
Newsgroups: rec.railroad,ba.transportation,talk.politics.misc,talk.environment