Katzhagen - Archive - August 2010
A trip across the Bernina pass
Sunday, July the 18th 2010, 08:14
The commuter train from Davos to Filisur. The locomotive Ge4/4 II Thusis 612 was a nice surprise - a 1:20 model is running in the garden at home.
We know this one quite well, too - B-coach type II
Retro-Tour
It was more than 30 years ago that I last took a ride on a RhB train - at least with a big one. Since I put my hands on the models only for ages, it was time for a visit in Graubuenden now.
Reservations for the seats via the Internet for the Bernina Express down to Tirano and back were no hurdle, but purchasing tickets seemed to be an obstacle too hard for the RhB's IT. Fortunately the station in Davos Platz has a ticket window open on Sundays, too.
I didn't know the line from Filisur over Bever, Pontresina and Poschiavo to Tirano yet - except from pictures one can find in the known related media.
In short: It was a breathtaking tour.
End of prose - here are the impressions:
It was more than 30 years ago that I last took a ride on a RhB train - at least with a big one. Since I put my hands on the models only for ages, it was time for a visit in Graubuenden now.
Reservations for the seats via the Internet for the Bernina Express down to Tirano and back were no hurdle, but purchasing tickets seemed to be an obstacle too hard for the RhB's IT. Fortunately the station in Davos Platz has a ticket window open on Sundays, too.
I didn't know the line from Filisur over Bever, Pontresina and Poschiavo to Tirano yet - except from pictures one can find in the known related media.
In short: It was a breathtaking tour.
End of prose - here are the impressions:
More cloudy than foggy. Mountain top in clouds between Davos and Filisur.
The free track was occupied a moment ago by a train which just left the station. Filisur definitely is a station for changing trains.
Not only trains are changing on this morning - the sun and the clouds fight for dominance.
The station with its well known bells which give notice of the next train's arrival and from which location it approaches. The platform looks like it has been renewed lately.
The Bernina Express with Stadler panorama coaches drawn by Ge 6/6 II 706 arrives at Filisur - coach no. 3 with the reserved seats is found quickly. The machine will be changed at Pontresina.
The sun seems to be stronger than the clouds - not far from Berguen.
Taking pictures on a running train and with specular window panes is an interesting excerise. Fortunately, this sort of windows allow for a generous vision range. In this place one can see one of the numerous bridges, which in some places seem to be glued to the slope.
Enough of space for personal commodity and the large windows, which here allow for a view on a further bridge, provide for a pleasant drive during the three hours it takes down to Italy.
Mountain tops covered in clouds and weather at its best near Pontresina.
Due to a change in the power supply system of the line to Tirano, the Ge6/6 II is changed for two ABe4/4 III in Pontresina.
On the way between Pontresina and the Bernina pass - mountains covered with snow.
The pass will be reached in a moment. Lago Bianco and the station Ospizio Bernina.
The known curve at Alp Gruem. The radius compares quite well to some model railway scenarios...
Water in two of its physical states - solid and liquid.
Nature...
Water is sort of omnipresent in the mountains. Either as small rivulets and brooks or as lakes and last but not least (even in summer) as snow. In quite a lot of places one can find waterfalls like shown on the left and a lake nearby.
One of the oldest water power stations of this area was build near this lake about 100 years ago. Modern regenarative energy hidden between the trees left of the lake.
The water's interesting colour which seems to be a shiny mix of white and green is caused by the sediments which the water washes out of the ground on its way downhill.
Before taking the trip over the Bernina I thought - based upon my skiing activities - that I knew what mountains do look like. Well, I now had to recognize that this was a noticeable aggravation !
... and technolgy
The Rhatian Railways are a wonderful example for organizing and maintaining smooth operations. Everything is clean and polished as well as in best technical shape. This provides for a good and secure feeling.
A bit disappointing was the fact that there was no dining car on the train during the long tour. But a real nuisance was that the service on the train only was able to offer two old little breads and an expired package of sausage.
This sort of service definitely carries some pontential for improvement...
Water is sort of omnipresent in the mountains. Either as small rivulets and brooks or as lakes and last but not least (even in summer) as snow. In quite a lot of places one can find waterfalls like shown on the left and a lake nearby.
One of the oldest water power stations of this area was build near this lake about 100 years ago. Modern regenarative energy hidden between the trees left of the lake.
The water's interesting colour which seems to be a shiny mix of white and green is caused by the sediments which the water washes out of the ground on its way downhill.
Before taking the trip over the Bernina I thought - based upon my skiing activities - that I knew what mountains do look like. Well, I now had to recognize that this was a noticeable aggravation !
... and technolgy
The Rhatian Railways are a wonderful example for organizing and maintaining smooth operations. Everything is clean and polished as well as in best technical shape. This provides for a good and secure feeling.
A bit disappointing was the fact that there was no dining car on the train during the long tour. But a real nuisance was that the service on the train only was able to offer two old little breads and an expired package of sausage.
Meadows, forrests, mountains - anything you want. Just like the prototype was made after the model...
Lack of space in almost all places, not just at Alp Gruem. Such passages like here before entering the Puschlav valley are quite common for the Bernina line.
A view into the Puschlav valley from a point above Poschiavo. Behind the lake the line goes down to Brusio and Tirano. This scenario makes clear what sort of differences in height the train has to overcome.
Poschiavo with its three church steeples. One clearly can notice the italian influence here.
The lake south of Poschiavo near Mira Lago station - the name seems to speak for itself...
The well known circular viaduct appears short after Brusio station. It allows for a drastical vertical drop inside a very limited area. Long trains cross their own end here...
... and the same from a different point of view. Practicality and beauty always seem to go together for the RhB.
After arriving at Tirano the rail cars are shunted around a bit so that they can pull another train northwards over the Bernina later.
More than plenty of cars for shunting games and for building new trains in the station of the italian town of Tirano. High noon at 35C.
Allegra ! The new RhB railcars made by Stadler were put in operations just a few months ago. They make a very good optical impression, both inside and outside. Furthermore they are a significant technical improvement and a simplification for operations in Pontresina since they can cope with both of the alternating and decent current power systems. A change of the locomotive is no longer necessary in Pontresina.
July 2010 | Archive "Current Affairs" | September 2010
