Muttbach-Belvédère halting point
Encyclopedia
Muttbach-Belvédère Station is a metre gauge
railway passenger facility, at the western portal of the Furka Summit Tunnel
, in the Canton
of Valais
, Switzerland
.
In the Swiss German dialect
, the expression Haltestelle normally refers to a railway facility without point
s or switch
es, where scheduled trains are allowed to stop, depart or terminate. Muttbach-Belvédère is not strictly a facility of that kind, because it is actually a crossing loop, with a point or switch at each end. Nevertheless, the word Haltestelle is the expression most often used to describe it, perhaps because for such a rudimentary facility, Haltestelle seems more appropriate than Bahnhof.
Between 1926 and 1981, Muttbach-Belvédère formed part of the Furka Oberalp Bahn (FO). The portion of the FO on which it is located was then replaced by the Furka Base Tunnel in 1982. Since being reopened in 2000, Muttbach-Belvédère has been owned and operated by a heritage railway
, the Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway
(DFB).
and Realp
. It is in a spectacular and environmentally significant location, and was constructed on top of spoil that had been excavated from the Summit Tunnel.
The first part of its name, "Muttbach", is also the name of the adjacent stream that drains from the Mutt Glacier. "Belvédère", the rest of its name, refers to a well known hotel and lookout situated nearby, on the Furka Pass
high above the Rhone Glacier
. (Part of the James Bond
movie Goldfinger
was filmed between the Belvédère Hotel and the small curved part of the Pass above Realp
.)
Between 1926 and 1981, Muttbach-Belvédère was owned and operated by the FO, which connects Brig
in Valais
, via Andermatt
in Uri, with Göschenen
, Uri, and Disentis/Mustér
, Graubünden
. In 1982, the original portion of the FO between Oberwald
in Valais and Realp in Uri, including Muttbach-Belvédère, was replaced by an FO line passing through the then new Furka Base Tunnel. The superseded portion of the FO line was abandoned.
Since , the abandoned portion of the FO line has been progressively reopened from Realp, as a heritage railway
operated by the DFB. On , the DFB was extended from its then temporary terminus at Furka
to Gletsch
, via the Summit Tunnel and Muttbach-Belvédère, which was simultaneously reopened.
Immediately to the west of Muttbach-Belvédère, westbound trains operating on the DFB line begin an 11.8% descent towards Gletsch, with the assistance of an Abt rack rail system.
Metre gauge
Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland...
railway passenger facility, at the western portal of the Furka Summit Tunnel
Furka Summit Tunnel
The Furka Summit Tunnel is a long railway tunnel in southern Switzerland. It lies at an altitude of . The summit tunnel was completed in 1925, and first opened on 3 July 1926...
, in the Canton
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of Valais
Valais
The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
In the Swiss German dialect
Swiss German
Swiss German is any of the Alemannic dialects spoken in Switzerland and in some Alpine communities in Northern Italy. Occasionally, the Alemannic dialects spoken in other countries are grouped together with Swiss German as well, especially the dialects of Liechtenstein and Austrian Vorarlberg...
, the expression Haltestelle normally refers to a railway facility without point
Railroad switch
A railroad switch, turnout or [set of] points is a mechanical installation enabling railway trains to be guided from one track to another at a railway junction....
s or switch
Railroad switch
A railroad switch, turnout or [set of] points is a mechanical installation enabling railway trains to be guided from one track to another at a railway junction....
es, where scheduled trains are allowed to stop, depart or terminate. Muttbach-Belvédère is not strictly a facility of that kind, because it is actually a crossing loop, with a point or switch at each end. Nevertheless, the word Haltestelle is the expression most often used to describe it, perhaps because for such a rudimentary facility, Haltestelle seems more appropriate than Bahnhof.
Between 1926 and 1981, Muttbach-Belvédère formed part of the Furka Oberalp Bahn (FO). The portion of the FO on which it is located was then replaced by the Furka Base Tunnel in 1982. Since being reopened in 2000, Muttbach-Belvédère has been owned and operated by a heritage railway
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
, the Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway
Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway
The Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway is a company which operates a railway line between Realp and Oberwald...
(DFB).
History
Muttbach-Belvédère was opened in 1926, upon the opening of the portion of the FO between GletschGletsch railway station
Gletsch railway station is a metre gauge railway station serving the village of Gletsch, in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland.-History and operations:...
and Realp
Realp railway station
Realp railway station is a metre gauge station serving the municipality of Realp, in the Canton of Uri, Switzerland. The station is close to the eastern portal of the Furka Base Tunnel, on the Furka Oberalp Bahn , which connects Brig in Valais, via Andermatt in Uri, with Göschenen, Uri, and...
. It is in a spectacular and environmentally significant location, and was constructed on top of spoil that had been excavated from the Summit Tunnel.
The first part of its name, "Muttbach", is also the name of the adjacent stream that drains from the Mutt Glacier. "Belvédère", the rest of its name, refers to a well known hotel and lookout situated nearby, on the Furka Pass
Furka Pass
Furka Pass is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps connecting Gletsch, Valais with Realp, Uri. The Furka-Oberalp-Bahn line through the Furka Tunnel bypasses the pass...
high above the Rhone Glacier
Rhône Glacier
The Rhone Glacier, or sometimes Rhône Glacier is a glacier in the Swiss Alps and the source of the Rhone River and one of the primary contributors to Lake Geneva in the far eastern end of the Swiss canton of Valais...
. (Part of the James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
movie Goldfinger
Goldfinger (film)
Goldfinger is the third spy film in the James Bond series and the third to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Released in 1964, it is based on the novel of the same name by Ian Fleming. The film also stars Honor Blackman as Bond girl Pussy Galore and Gert Fröbe as the title...
was filmed between the Belvédère Hotel and the small curved part of the Pass above Realp
Realp
Realp is a municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland.-Geography:Realp has an area, , of . Of this area, 41.6% is used for agricultural purposes, while 2.3% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 0.6% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
.)
Between 1926 and 1981, Muttbach-Belvédère was owned and operated by the FO, which connects Brig
Brig railway station
Brig railway station is an important railway junction in the municipality of Brig-Glis , in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland...
in Valais
Valais
The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley...
, via Andermatt
Andermatt railway station
Andermatt railway station is an important railway junction on the metre gauge Furka Oberalp Bahn . It serves the municipality of Andermatt, in the Canton of Uri, Switzerland...
in Uri, with Göschenen
Göschenen railway station
Göschenen railway station, in the Canton of Uri, Switzerland, is an important railway junction on the Gotthardbahn railway line, at the northern end of the Gotthard Rail Tunnel....
, Uri, and Disentis/Mustér
Disentis/Mustér railway station
Disentis/Mustér is the eastern terminus of the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn line from Brig via Andermatt, and the western terminus of the Rhaetian Railway line from Landquart via Chur and Reichenau-Tamins....
, Graubünden
Graubünden
Graubünden or Grisons is the largest and easternmost canton of Switzerland. The canton shares borders with the cantons of Ticino, Uri, Glarus and St. Gallen and international borders with Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein...
. In 1982, the original portion of the FO between Oberwald
Oberwald railway station
Oberwald railway station is a metre gauge station serving the village of Oberwald, in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland. The station is close to the western portal of the Furka Base Tunnel, on the Furka Oberalp Bahn , which connects Brig in Valais, via the base tunnel and Andermatt in Uri, with...
in Valais and Realp in Uri, including Muttbach-Belvédère, was replaced by an FO line passing through the then new Furka Base Tunnel. The superseded portion of the FO line was abandoned.
Since , the abandoned portion of the FO line has been progressively reopened from Realp, as a heritage railway
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
operated by the DFB. On , the DFB was extended from its then temporary terminus at Furka
Furka railway station
Furka railway station is a metre gauge railway station at the eastern portal of the Furka Summit Tunnel, in the Canton of Uri, Switzerland. The station was opened in 1926...
to Gletsch
Gletsch railway station
Gletsch railway station is a metre gauge railway station serving the village of Gletsch, in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland.-History and operations:...
, via the Summit Tunnel and Muttbach-Belvédère, which was simultaneously reopened.
Immediately to the west of Muttbach-Belvédère, westbound trains operating on the DFB line begin an 11.8% descent towards Gletsch, with the assistance of an Abt rack rail system.
Rail services to Muttbach-Belvédère
See also
- Furka railway stationFurka railway stationFurka railway station is a metre gauge railway station at the eastern portal of the Furka Summit Tunnel, in the Canton of Uri, Switzerland. The station was opened in 1926...
- Gletsch railway stationGletsch railway stationGletsch railway station is a metre gauge railway station serving the village of Gletsch, in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland.-History and operations:...
- Furka Summit TunnelFurka Summit TunnelThe Furka Summit Tunnel is a long railway tunnel in southern Switzerland. It lies at an altitude of . The summit tunnel was completed in 1925, and first opened on 3 July 1926...
- Furka Base Tunnel
- Furka Oberalp Bahn
- Furka Cogwheel Steam RailwayFurka Cogwheel Steam RailwayThe Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway is a company which operates a railway line between Realp and Oberwald...
External links
- Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway
- Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (successor to the FO)
- Official timetable of Switzerland