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International

Approaching a circular viaduct in Bernina Express

Landwasser Viaduct Albula section from RhB train

ensured the connection with the Albula “The gradient is seven per cent in
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.
St. Moritz. In 1896 the line reached Thusis, the
Albula line opened in 1903 and it reached St. Another oddity – is the power supply:
Moritz in the famous Engadine in 1904, thus as this is one of the few trains that
making a journey from Chur to St Moritz in
less than 2 hours instead of the once 14 (!) works on direct current.”
hours in an uncomfortable stagecoach. The
section St Moritz-Tirano (Bernina section)
was completed in 1910.
most demanding in the world. On the 62
The train that defied gravity – maximum kilometres between Thusis and St. Moritz,
gradient an altitude difference of more than one
The Rhaetian Railway - especially its Albula kilometre had to be overcome, which
and Bernina lines - is quite unique. It is the required the construction of 137 abridges
highest altitude transalpine railway in Europe and 42 tunnels; an army of more than 5000
and one of the steepest adhesion railways in workers was employed for five years. And
the world. In the Bernina section, starting in today, almost 130 years after it was built, this
Tirano, riding the narrow-gauge tracks, the miracle of technology continues to fascinate.
red train climbs without conventional rack- Designed by specialist engineers, the line
and-pinion assistance from 439 metres to the is an efficient and beautiful combination of
2,253-metre-high Bernina Pass. The World- high-altitude railway technology and Alpine
famous Brusio circle viaduct in that part landscape. Two viaducts in this region deserve
enables the train to negotiate a large difference special attention – the world-renowned
in altitude in a very short distance. The gradient and iconic Landwasser Viaduct (directly in
is seven per cent in places: the steepest a train the Albula Line), and lesses known, but not
can cope with under normal traction. Another less important, Wiesen Viaduct. These two
oddity – is the power supply: as this is one of viaducts are world icons, as you certainly see
the few trains that works on direct current. from the images. But it is not sufficient to look
The Albula Line is considered to be the at these icons by passing them within seconds
most technically demanding line of the while on board the train, they deserve a special
Rhaetian Railway, and likely one of the visit to see these engineering masterpieces of

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