Page 121 - DIVA_MY WORKS 1918-2022

International International

Approaching a circular viaduct in Bernina Express

Rhaetian Railway Landwasser Viaduct Albula section from RhB train

UNESCO World Heritage Site of Switzerland, its glory and ensured the connection with the Albula “The gradient is seven per cent in
national pride Railway and hence with the Engadine. The real
main line through the Grisons is the Albula places: the steepest a train can cope
line connecting Chur-Thusis-Filisur-Albula- with under normal traction.
By Evelina Rioukhina and Ryan Kennedy St. Moritz. In 1896 the line reached Thusis, the

Albula line opened in 1903 and it reached St. Another oddity – is the power supply:
Not many countries have such a sophisticated Little Red Train – History Moritz in the famous Engadine in 1904, thus as this is one of the few trains that
railway system as Switzerland. Indeed, the The Rhaetian Railway (abbreviated RhB), and making a journey from Chur to St Moritz in
Swiss Railways are a national pride and namely the Albula and Bernina lines which less than 2 hours instead of the once 14 (!) works on direct current.”
glory. There are beautiful and very technical stretch from Thusis to Tirano, are extraordinary hours in an uncomfortable stagecoach. The
railways all over the world, high-speed or examples of technological innovation, section St Moritz-Tirano (Bernina section)
mountain tracks, but only two of them are showing man’s mastery of the Alpine was completed in 1910.
included in the World UNESCO Heritage List landscape. The Rhaetian Railway became a most demanding in the world. On the 62
– one is in India , and the other one, is here, UNESCO World Heritage site in July 2008. The train that defied gravity – maximum kilometres between Thusis and St. Moritz,
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in our host county Switzerland. But while the More than a century ago, the Grisons had gradient an altitude difference of more than one
whole railway system deserves admiration counted on the construction of a transit line The Rhaetian Railway - especially its Albula kilometre had to be overcome, which
and much written about, it is one particular through the Splügen. A decision to build a and Bernina lines - is quite unique. It is the required the construction of 137 abridges
line that is totally outstanding and exceptional modern transportation system to provide highest altitude transalpine railway in Europe and 42 tunnels; an army of more than 5000
for its historical, engineering and spectacular access to its 150 valleys. Thus, a large narrow- and one of the steepest adhesion railways in workers was employed for five years. And
historical values. It is called the Rhaetian gauge system was laid out between 1889 and the world. In the Bernina section, starting in today, almost 130 years after it was built, this
Railway (RhB). 1913, as a replacement for the never realised Tirano, riding the narrow-gauge tracks, the miracle of technology continues to fascinate.
You cannot see those trains in Geneva, they standard gauge line through the eastern Alps. red train climbs without conventional rack- Designed by specialist engineers, the line
do not circulate here. To see and experience It was, however, a private citizen who took and-pinion assistance from 439 metres to the is an efficient and beautiful combination of
them, you need to travel at least 4 hours from the first step toward building a railway. The 2,253-metre-high Bernina Pass. The World- high-altitude railway technology and Alpine
Geneva to the real “heart” of Switzerland. Dutchman, Jan Willem Holsboer, was the famous Brusio circle viaduct in that part landscape. Two viaducts in this region deserve
Read our story below: owner of a hotel in Davos, and thought with enables the train to negotiate a large difference special attention – the world-renowned
good reason that a railway would bring a in altitude in a very short distance. The gradient and iconic Landwasser Viaduct (directly in
Three of the mountain rails of India, all narrow- considerably larger stream of tourists to the is seven per cent in places: the steepest a train the Albula Line), and lesses known, but not
gauge railways, namely, the Darjeeling Hima- famous high valley than the horse-drawn can cope with under normal traction. Another less important, Wiesen Viaduct. These two
layan Railway, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, and carriages and mail coaches. Consequently, oddity – is the power supply: as this is one of viaducts are world icons, as you certainly see
the Kalka–Shimla Railway, are collectively des- the Landquart-Davos Railway (LD) was the few trains that works on direct current. from the images. But it is not sufficient to look
ignated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under at these icons by passing them within seconds
the name “Mountain Railways of India”. The Nilgiri founded, and in 1889 its line was opened The Albula Line is considered to be the
Mountain Railway is also the only rack railway in as far as Klosters, reaching Davos in 1890. most technically demanding line of the while on board the train, they deserve a special
India. The Davos-Filisur section, opened in 1909, Rhaetian Railway, and likely one of the visit to see these engineering masterpieces of

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