The Landwasser Viaduct

The Landwasser viaduct is probably the best known viaduct of the Rhätische Bahn, the Rhaetian railway. The viaduct is built across the Landwasser, a tribute to the Albula river, which itself is tribute to the Rhine. Built in 1901-1902 the 65 m high and 135 m long curved viaduct leads directly into the Landwasser tunnel (216 m long) in the rock on the opposite side.

In the vicinity of the viaduct, two vieuwpoints have been installed for the many railfans and train photographers that visit the area enabling them to have a perfect and secure outlook on the viaduct.

One vieuwpoint is situated on the Filisur-side of the landwasser at the end of a path some 30 minutes away from Filisur station. From this point the entrance of the tunnel is not visible.

The second vieuwpoint is situated on the other side of the Landwasser and can be reached from the village of Schmitten (after a 50 min downhill walk) or from the little car park along the Kantonstrasse between Alvaneu-Bad and Filisur (30 min uphill walk). The vieuwpoint is a well secured platform installed above the short Zalaint tunnel some 200 m from the viaduct, with a perfect vieuw on the viaduct and the Landwasser tunnel entrance.

A few hundred meters before the Zalaint tunnel the railway has already crossed the Schmittentobel viaduct, another impressive viaduct 137 m long and 35 m above the Schmitten gorge.

Ge 4/4 III 646 with the RE (Regio express) to St. Moritz, 05-06-2012.

Ge 4/4 I 603 with the Glacier Express from Davos to Zermatt, 05-06-2012.
This Glacier Express goes from Davos to Filisur, where the loco runs around and couples on the opposite side of the train. Then the trip continues to Chur where this train will be coupled with another Glacier Express from St. Moritz. Power for this double Glacier Express from Chur to Disentis is generally a Ge 4/4 III.

Ge 4/4 II 628 with goods train to Samedan, 05-06-2012.

Ge 6/6 II 702 with goods train from Samedan, 05-06-2012.



The pictures above were taken from the vieuwpoint above the Zalaint tunnel. For the following picture I stood on the opposite vieuwpoint, on the Filisur-side of the Landwasser.

Ge 6/6 II 704 with a goods train from Landquart to Samedan, on the viaduct, 25-11-2009.

Vieuw from the Regional Express Chur - Sankt Moritz. Engine is Ge 4/4 III 643.                    Filisur, 05-05-2008.

The 'Albula Erlebniszug'

On saturday 02-06, the new 'Albula Bahnmuseum' was opened at Bergün, the picturesque village on the Albula line. As part of the festivities the RhB had programmed a special train with a Ge 6/6 I and heritage carriages, that ran from Landquart to Bergün, and than further on to St. Moritz, and back. This train, the 'Albula Erlebniszug' or Albula travel-experience train, will run every Sunday of June, July and August over the Albula line (UNESCO World Heritage) to St. Moritz and back in the afternoon.

On Sunday 03-06, although the weather was not ideal,  I made some pictures of the train, between Tiefencastel and Filisur, and on its way back, on the Solis viaduct.

Ge 6/6 I 414, arriving at Tiefencastel, with the Albula travel-experience train...

...and rolling by through the service and freight station at Surava.

The train makes a stop at Filisur station. On the background the Glacier Express from Davos to Zermatt is waiting for departure.

The Albula travel-experience train on the Solis viaduct, on its way back from St. Moritz to Lanquart.

RhB - Ge 4/4 II 611 with regional from Davos Platz.
Filisur, 15-05-2012.

RhB - Ge 4/4 III 643 with RE (regional express) to Chur, between Preda and the Zuondra spiral tunnel, off Naz.
Bergün, 15-05-2012.
On the right of the track we see the 'Bahnlehrpfad Preda-Bergün', the didactive hiking path that goes from Preda to Bergün. 

RhB - Ge 4/4 III 646 with RE to Chur, same place as above.
Bergün, 15-05-2012 

RhB - Ge 4/4 III 641 with RE to Chur, off Naz.
Bergün, 18-05-2012.

RhB - Ge 4/4 II 618 with goods train from Samedan to Landquart, off Naz. On tow in second position is diesel worktrain engine Gmf 4/4 242.
Bergün, 18-05-2012.

RhB - Ge 6/6 II 707 with goods train to Samedan, between the Zuondra spiral tunnel and Preda.
In third position is a shunter Tm 2/2 in tow.
Bergün, 18-05-2012.

RhB - Ge 4/4 III 649 with the RE to Chur, off Naz.
Bergün, 18-05-2012.

RhB - ABe 8/12 with Bernina Express, Filisur, 14-05-2012.

RhB - Tm 2/2 93 light work engine, with gravel cars.
Filisur, 14-05-2012. 

RhB (Bernina line) - ABe 8/12 3506 with regional to Tirano (Italy) in the 'Panorama  Kurve' and rolling down the 7 % grade to Poschiavo.
Alp Grüm, 14-05-2012.

RhB (Bernina line) - ABe 4/4 III 52 with regional to Tirano, arriving at Alp Grüm, 14-05-2012. 

RhB (Bernina line) - Ge 2/2 161 shunter, a veteran built in 1911. 
Poschiavo, 14-05-2012.

RhB (Bernina line) - De 2/2 151 shunter, another veteran (built 1909) at work at Poschiavo station.
Poschiavo, 14-05-2012.

Some Railfanning in Appenzell

BDe 4/4 44, between Steinegg and Weissbad, on the Gossau-Appenzell-Wasserauen line.
Weissbad 10-05-2012.

BDe 4/4 44 in the terminal station at Wasserauen, 10-05-2012

Same Push-Pull combination, consisting of pilot car ABt 143, a B intermediate car and BDe 4/4 44, on the return to Appenzell and further on to Gossau.
Weissbad, 10-05-2012.

Be 4/8 33 of the former Trogener Bahn has just left the terminal station of Trogen and is on its way to Speicher and Sankt Gallen.
Trogen, 10-05-2012.

RhB (Rhätische Bahn) - Ge 4/4 III 650, with the Regional Express from St. Moritz, is rolling downgrade to Bergün/Bravuogn, seen in the background. Bergün, 09-05-2012. 

RhB - Ge 4/4 III 646 with the RE to St. Moritz, is climbing the 3,5 % grade between the God- and Platz-tunnel, with Piz Ela (3339 m) in the background. Bergün, 09-05-2012. 

same train as above. 

RhB - Ge 6/6 II 702 with freight train from Samedan, rolling downgrade between the Platz- and God-tunnel, above Bergün. Bergün, 09-05-2012. 

RhB - Tm 2/2 96, a light engine of the track building and maintenance service, is returning to Davos Platz in the late afternoon.
Between Glaris and Frauenkirch, Davos, 09-05-2012. 
The panel on the left pole indicates a stretch of track with a gradient of 25 per mil (2,5%), over a distance of 200m.

RhB - Crossing of the RE's to Chur and St. Moritz at Filisur Station.
On track 1 (left) the RE to Chur is leaving, while on track 2 Ge 4/4 III 643 with the RE to St. Moritz is ready for departure. On track 3 Ge 4/4 III 651 will leave in a few minutes with the regional to Davos Platz.
Filisur, 09-05-2012.

RhB (Rhätische Bahn) - Ge 4/4 III 652 with the RE from St.Moritz to Chur is crossing the bridge over the 'Kantonstrasse' between Surava and Alvaneu-Bad, Alvaneu, 07-05-2012.

RhB - Ge 4/4 I 603 with freight train from Samedan is rolling through the station at Filisur, 07-05-2011. This veteran of the fifties is still performing valuable service and is one of three engines (together with 605 and 610)remaining active with the RhB. A fourth engine (nr. 602) is on display in the 'Verkehrshaus der Schweiz (traffic & transport museum) in Lucerne. The other 6 engines of this series were scrapped last year.

RhB - Ge 4/4 III 641 with the RE from St. Moritz, arriving at Filisur station, 07-05-2012.

RhB - Ge 4/4 III 650 with RE to St. Moritz, Filisur, 07-05-2012.

RhB - Ge 4/4 III 643 with RE from St. Moritz to Chur, Filisur, 07-05-2012.

RhB - Ge 4/4 III 646 with RE to St. Moritz is arriving at Filisur station, 07-05-2012