European Railroad Discussion > Swiss NarrowGauge Part one

i visited Filsur which is on the AlbulaBahn railway of the Rhaetian Railway in Swizterland

a very interesting collection of both old and new in Infrastructure and Rolling Stock

this is on the line from Chur too Samedan  and carries a good deal of freight as well as passenger  trains with a connecting line from Davos into Filisur

these  three scenes at Filisur of main line passenger trains

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Glacier express southbound arriving Filisur and the  connecting train from the branch line from Davos arriving  with a pull push arrangement

shortly after the GEX is seen climbing towards the spiral tunnels



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/19/20 01:03 by bakersfielddave.

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yard infrastructure at Filisur  ,  the overhead  wire continues into that loco shed but not sure what is inside if anything these days

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old ore type car preserved near the station car park

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one of the average  8 or so daily freight trains on the line  these carry fruit and ice creams for the local super markets

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one of two daily trains from Davos that uses vintage traction these finish in October  as they run during the summer months

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station long unattended now at Monstein a flag stop only sitiuated in a quiet pine forested valley not far from Filisur on the Davos branch line

to stop a train the intending passenger pushes a button and it sets a signal indication for the driver that intending passengers wish to entrain here

to stop the train a button inside the cars gives the driver an indication on the console

the derailer was most interesting

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fresh water at Monstein andf very cold

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great views along the line always something to see



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/19/20 01:19 by bakersfielddave.

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Looking forward to more in this so far excellent series. Switzerland is indeed a railfan's paradise....even the standard gauge. One tip. If you do the Glacier Express route, ride a series of local trains with older equipment and windows that open. The cars shown here are loved by the tourists and that's what you get. Lots of tour groups but no open windows. The seasonal steam over Furka Pass is also a must as is the steam powered rack railroad at Brienz. 

andersonb109 Wrote:
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> Looking forward to more in this so far excellent
> series. Switzerland is indeed a railfan's
> paradise....even the standard gauge. One tip. If
> you do the Glacier Express route, ride a series of
> local trains with older equipment and windows that
> open. The cars shown here are loved by the
> tourists and that's what you get. Lots of tour
> groups but no open windows.

In fact, there is one car of the modern type shown in photo 3 that most certainly has open windows, in a special compartment for photographers. In that photo, the car with such a compartment is at the south end of a six-car fixed-formation set, right behind the locomotive. Here are two views of such a car from 2018, which I've posted before on TO. These six-car sets are named Alvra. https://www.rhb.ch/en/company/projects-dossiers/the-articulated-alvra-trains

The older cars are being phased out, so in future the car I'm showing here is the one to aim for.

The seats in this compartment (five a side) flip up to create more standing space, and the windows are electrically operated with push buttons. The roof windows can be covered with shades, also operated with push buttons.



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 09/19/20 23:34 by railsmith.

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Great collection of photos, many thanks. I need a European fix!! chris uk.

andersonb109 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Looking forward to more in this so far excellent
> series. Switzerland is indeed a railfan's
> paradise....even the standard gauge. One tip. If
> you do the Glacier Express route, ride a series of
> local trains with older equipment and windows that
> open. The cars shown here are loved by the
> tourists and that's what you get. Lots of tour
> groups but no open windows. The seasonal steam
> over Furka Pass is also a must as is the steam
> powered rack railroad at Brienz. 

yes have done the older 1960s 1970s style cars  a door at each end and some even older just a single centre door ...they seem to have one or two on the head end  of the more modern stock

   occasionally a complete train of these will operate all the way from Chur to St Moritz usually one a day it seems to come from another rouute to the north and is used on the Albula line when needed  it operates push pull mode and has a brake van that is fitted with a pantograph but i have never seen it in use to the overhead



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/19/20 15:54 by bakersfielddave.

55002 Wrote:
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> Great collection of photos, many thanks. I need a
> European fix!! chris uk.

there seem to be less passengers on the trains but nearly everyone wears a face mask at present on board

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/19/20 17:36 by bakersfielddave.

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last picture shows one of thos trains comprised of the older coaches   seen southbound at dusk....



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/19/20 17:40 by bakersfielddave.

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Thanks for posting this nice series.

Budget and medical conditions will not allow me to return, as much as I wish.

Its wonderful railroading among great scenery.

RhB loco-hauled or pushed stock is going to decrease rapidly as new Capricorn EMUs are delivered, but RhB still sees the need for a limited number of new hauled coaches to suppliment the Alvara sets on the Chur - St. Moritz RE trains, to strengthen the Allegra EMU sets on the Berninabahn and for peak services on the Arosabahn. The problem they are having is trying to decide on how many short coaches for the Bernina versus the preferred longer coaches on the Stamnetz (main network). It would be nice if these coaches were to have opening windows like the "Sightseeing" coach on the Alvara sets.

    In other RhB news Ge 4/4 I number 602 which was involved in a derailment caused by a landslip in the Rhine Gorge has been repaired and returned to service. Also Ge 6/6 II 
number 701 entered Landquart shops on July 14th for what were to be relatively minor repairs but was decided to retire the locomotive and use it as a parts source to keep it sisters running. All Ge 6/6 II locomotives are to be retired next summer, though one will be kept in RhB's historic collection.