Wengernalpbahn
Encyclopedia
Wengernalpbahn is a 19.091 km long, gauge
rack railway
line in Switzerland
, which runs from Lauterbrunnen
and Grindelwald
(two branches) to Kleine Scheidegg
, making it the world's longest continuous rack and pinion railway.
At Kleine Scheidegg passengers transfer to the Jungfraubahn
for the continuation of the journey to the highest railway station in Europe
at Jungfraujoch
.
s, the powered car still being positioned at the lower end of the train, and so train compositions do not usually cross Kleine Scheidegg
to travel directly from Lauterbrunnen
over to Grindelwald
. However, a triangular junction
specially built into the mountainside at Kleine Scheidegg
allows the train to be turned if necessary so that it can also be used on the other side of the col
. The newest of these trains reach 28 km/h on the steepest stretch.
At peak periods, additional trains can be put into operation at short intervals ahead of the scheduled train, allowing capacity to be optimised according to demand. This demands an extremely flexible organization procedure and enormous care and attention with regard to dispatching trains.
The busiest stretch of railway runs from Lauterbrunnen
to Wengen
as this is also used to transport goods to traffic-free Wengen
.
The railway operates two workshops at Lauterbrunnen
and Grindelwald Grund
.
s still in service, numbers 101 and 102 ( BDhe4/4, built by SLM/BBC ) date from 1947, No.102 being refurbished 1985. Of the other 14 cars of this class, No's. 104 and 106 - 118, built between 1954 and 1964, which still survive, ten have been refurbished (all except 104 / 7 / 9 / 10) since 2000. No.114 was refurbished along with 102 in 1985 but was returned to works in 2002 to be brought up to the newer specifications.
In 1970 a new class of railcar ( BDhe4/4 ) was introduced, numbered 119 to 124, built by a consortium of SIG
, SLM, SAAS and BBC. These were refurbished in 1998. Four further cars, class BDhe4/8, numbered 131 to 134, and built by SLM ( Works Nos. 5363 - 66 inclusive ) with electrical equipment by BBC, arrived in 1988 with the latest additions, a series of four "Panorama" cars of Class Bhe4/8, built by Stadler
arriving in 2004.
Driving trailer
The earliest coaches still listed to the company are three dating from 1893 and a single example from 1901. These have all been rebuilt twice, the final one in 1995 by the von Roll company. Later examples date from the period 1959 to 2003, some of the earlier of these have rebuilt. Building of the stock has been carried out by SIG, with electrical equipment by Brown Boveri / Asea Brown Boveri and later by Stadler with electrical equipment by Steck, (except No. 231 which was built by SLM
with electrical equipment by ABB
).
The line also operates with an extensive collection of goods stock, in the main used for services between Lauterbrunnen
and Wengen
.
Rail gauge
Track gauge or rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the heads of the two load bearing rails that make up a single railway line. Sixty percent of the world's railways use a standard gauge of . Wider gauges are called broad gauge; smaller gauges, narrow gauge. Break-of-gauge refers...
rack railway
Rack railway
A rack-and-pinion railway is a railway with a toothed rack rail, usually between the running rails. The trains are fitted with one or more cog wheels or pinions that mesh with this rack rail...
line in 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....
, which runs from Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.The municipality lies in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and comprises the villages Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Gimmelwald, Stechelberg and Isenfluh...
and Grindelwald
Grindelwald
Grindelwald is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. The village is located at above sea level in the Bernese Alps.-Winter sports:...
(two branches) to Kleine Scheidegg
Kleine Scheidegg
The Kleine Scheidegg is a high mountain pass below and between the Eiger and Lauberhorn peaks in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. It connects Grindelwald with Lauterbrunnen. The name means "minor watershed", even though it is actually higher than the neighbouring Grosse Scheidegg...
, making it the world's longest continuous rack and pinion railway.
At Kleine Scheidegg passengers transfer to the Jungfraubahn
Jungfraubahn
The Jungfraubahn is an gauge rack railway electrified at 3-phase 1,125 volts 50 Hertz, which runs 9 kilometres from Kleine Scheidegg to the highest railway station in Europe at Jungfraujoch...
for the continuation of the journey to the highest railway station in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
at Jungfraujoch
Jungfraujoch
The Jungfraujoch is a col or saddle between the Mönch and the Jungfrau in the Bernese Alps on the boundary between the cantons of Bern and Valais, inside the Jungfrau-Aletsch Protected Area....
.
Timeline
- 1875 First plans for the Berner Bahngesellschaft were drawn up but the high projected costs meant that the concession expired.
- 1890 Leo Heer-Bétrix gained a new 80 year concession to build and operate the railway. The Wengernalp Bahn was founded.
- 1891 Construction work started.
- 1892 The first steam locomotiveSteam locomotiveA steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
reaches WengenWengenWengen may refer to:*Wengen, a village and winter resort in Switzerland*La Val, a commune in South Tyrol, Italy with the German name "Wengen"*in Germany:**Wengen , a village in the municipality of Nennslingen in Mittelfranken...
on 18 April and Kleine ScheideggKleine ScheideggThe Kleine Scheidegg is a high mountain pass below and between the Eiger and Lauberhorn peaks in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. It connects Grindelwald with Lauterbrunnen. The name means "minor watershed", even though it is actually higher than the neighbouring Grosse Scheidegg...
on 10 August. - 1893 The first line from LauterbrunnenLauterbrunnenLauterbrunnen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.The municipality lies in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and comprises the villages Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Gimmelwald, Stechelberg and Isenfluh...
to GrindelwaldGrindelwaldGrindelwald is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. The village is located at above sea level in the Bernese Alps.-Winter sports:...
opened on 20 June as a summer only service. The racks are of the Riggenbach rack system, as modified by Arnold Pauli. Modern stock uses Strub rack system. - 1909 Originally operated by steam locomotives, electrification of the line from LauterbrunnenLauterbrunnenLauterbrunnen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.The municipality lies in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and comprises the villages Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Gimmelwald, Stechelberg and Isenfluh...
to Kleine ScheideggKleine ScheideggThe Kleine Scheidegg is a high mountain pass below and between the Eiger and Lauberhorn peaks in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. It connects Grindelwald with Lauterbrunnen. The name means "minor watershed", even though it is actually higher than the neighbouring Grosse Scheidegg...
was completed on 3 June using 1500 V DC, with electric locomotives positioned, for safety reasons, at the lower end of the trains. - 1910 Electrification of section between GrindelwaldGrindelwaldGrindelwald is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. The village is located at above sea level in the Bernese Alps.-Winter sports:...
and Kleine ScheideggKleine ScheideggThe Kleine Scheidegg is a high mountain pass below and between the Eiger and Lauberhorn peaks in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. It connects Grindelwald with Lauterbrunnen. The name means "minor watershed", even though it is actually higher than the neighbouring Grosse Scheidegg...
completed on 24 June. Opening of the longer but less steep LauterbrunnenLauterbrunnenLauterbrunnen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.The municipality lies in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and comprises the villages Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Gimmelwald, Stechelberg and Isenfluh...
to WengenWengenWengen may refer to:*Wengen, a village and winter resort in Switzerland*La Val, a commune in South Tyrol, Italy with the German name "Wengen"*in Germany:**Wengen , a village in the municipality of Nennslingen in Mittelfranken...
route on 7 July. - 1912 Steam operation ceased.
- 1913 Winter operations from LauterbrunnenLauterbrunnenLauterbrunnen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.The municipality lies in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and comprises the villages Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Gimmelwald, Stechelberg and Isenfluh...
to Kleine ScheideggKleine ScheideggThe Kleine Scheidegg is a high mountain pass below and between the Eiger and Lauberhorn peaks in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. It connects Grindelwald with Lauterbrunnen. The name means "minor watershed", even though it is actually higher than the neighbouring Grosse Scheidegg...
started. - 1925 Year round from LauterbrunnenLauterbrunnenLauterbrunnen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.The municipality lies in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and comprises the villages Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Gimmelwald, Stechelberg and Isenfluh...
to Kleine ScheideggKleine ScheideggThe Kleine Scheidegg is a high mountain pass below and between the Eiger and Lauberhorn peaks in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. It connects Grindelwald with Lauterbrunnen. The name means "minor watershed", even though it is actually higher than the neighbouring Grosse Scheidegg...
started. - 1934 Winter operations from GrindelwaldGrindelwaldGrindelwald is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. The village is located at above sea level in the Bernese Alps.-Winter sports:...
to Kleine ScheideggKleine ScheideggThe Kleine Scheidegg is a high mountain pass below and between the Eiger and Lauberhorn peaks in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. It connects Grindelwald with Lauterbrunnen. The name means "minor watershed", even though it is actually higher than the neighbouring Grosse Scheidegg...
started. - 1942 The headquarters of the railway moves from ZurichZürichZurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
to InterlakenInterlakenInterlaken is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the Canton of Bern in Switzerland, a well-known tourist destination in the Bernese Oberland.-History:...
. - 1947 The first 3 motorcoachesRailcarA railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
are purchased. - 1948 The turning triangle at Kleine ScheideggKleine ScheideggThe Kleine Scheidegg is a high mountain pass below and between the Eiger and Lauberhorn peaks in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. It connects Grindelwald with Lauterbrunnen. The name means "minor watershed", even though it is actually higher than the neighbouring Grosse Scheidegg...
is constructed. - 1960 Year round operations from GrindelwaldGrindelwaldGrindelwald is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. The village is located at above sea level in the Bernese Alps.-Winter sports:...
to Kleine ScheideggKleine ScheideggThe Kleine Scheidegg is a high mountain pass below and between the Eiger and Lauberhorn peaks in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. It connects Grindelwald with Lauterbrunnen. The name means "minor watershed", even though it is actually higher than the neighbouring Grosse Scheidegg...
started. - 1984 First class services were removed and since then the railway has only offered one class of service.
- 1990 An avalanche shelter is built on the Lauterbrunnen side of the operation.
- 1995 Wengen station is rebuilt to include a freight delivery terminal.
- 2005 Wengernalp station platforms were extended from 127 m to 181 m usable length. The station extension went into operation on 16 November. Total costs were around CHF 950,000.
- 2007 Plans are announced to decommission and dismantle the old line between LauterbrunnenLauterbrunnenLauterbrunnen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.The municipality lies in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and comprises the villages Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Gimmelwald, Stechelberg and Isenfluh...
and WengenWengenWengen may refer to:*Wengen, a village and winter resort in Switzerland*La Val, a commune in South Tyrol, Italy with the German name "Wengen"*in Germany:**Wengen , a village in the municipality of Nennslingen in Mittelfranken...
because of the steep gradient of 25% and the geological security risks. - 2009 The track is lifted on the old line between LauterbrunnenLauterbrunnenLauterbrunnen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.The municipality lies in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and comprises the villages Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Gimmelwald, Stechelberg and Isenfluh...
and WengenWengenWengen may refer to:*Wengen, a village and winter resort in Switzerland*La Val, a commune in South Tyrol, Italy with the German name "Wengen"*in Germany:**Wengen , a village in the municipality of Nennslingen in Mittelfranken...
.
Operations
Nowadays, most passenger trains are made up of railcarRailcar
A railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
s, the powered car still being positioned at the lower end of the train, and so train compositions do not usually cross Kleine Scheidegg
Kleine Scheidegg
The Kleine Scheidegg is a high mountain pass below and between the Eiger and Lauberhorn peaks in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. It connects Grindelwald with Lauterbrunnen. The name means "minor watershed", even though it is actually higher than the neighbouring Grosse Scheidegg...
to travel directly from Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.The municipality lies in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and comprises the villages Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Gimmelwald, Stechelberg and Isenfluh...
over to Grindelwald
Grindelwald
Grindelwald is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. The village is located at above sea level in the Bernese Alps.-Winter sports:...
. However, a triangular junction
Wye (railroad)
A wye or triangular junction, in rail terminology, is a triangular shaped arrangement of rail tracks with a switch or set of points at each corner. In mainline railroads, this can be used at a rail junction, where three rail lines join, in order to allow trains to pass from any line to any other...
specially built into the mountainside at Kleine Scheidegg
Kleine Scheidegg
The Kleine Scheidegg is a high mountain pass below and between the Eiger and Lauberhorn peaks in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. It connects Grindelwald with Lauterbrunnen. The name means "minor watershed", even though it is actually higher than the neighbouring Grosse Scheidegg...
allows the train to be turned if necessary so that it can also be used on the other side of the col
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
. The newest of these trains reach 28 km/h on the steepest stretch.
At peak periods, additional trains can be put into operation at short intervals ahead of the scheduled train, allowing capacity to be optimised according to demand. This demands an extremely flexible organization procedure and enormous care and attention with regard to dispatching trains.
The busiest stretch of railway runs from Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.The municipality lies in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and comprises the villages Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Gimmelwald, Stechelberg and Isenfluh...
to Wengen
Wengen
Wengen may refer to:*Wengen, a village and winter resort in Switzerland*La Val, a commune in South Tyrol, Italy with the German name "Wengen"*in Germany:**Wengen , a village in the municipality of Nennslingen in Mittelfranken...
as this is also used to transport goods to traffic-free Wengen
Wengen
Wengen may refer to:*Wengen, a village and winter resort in Switzerland*La Val, a commune in South Tyrol, Italy with the German name "Wengen"*in Germany:**Wengen , a village in the municipality of Nennslingen in Mittelfranken...
.
The railway operates two workshops at Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.The municipality lies in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and comprises the villages Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Gimmelwald, Stechelberg and Isenfluh...
and Grindelwald Grund
Grindelwald Grund railway station
Grindelwald Grund railway station is a station on the Wengernalpbahn in the Swiss canton of Bern....
.
Stations
- LauterbrunnenLauterbrunnen railway stationLauterbrunnen railway station serves the village of Lauterbrunnen in the Swiss canton of Bern.-Connections:It has connections to the Wengernalpbahn for Kleine Scheidegg via Wengen and the Bergbahn Lauterbrunnen-Mürren to Mürren.-See also:*Jungfraubahn...
- connection to the Berner Oberland Bahn for Interlaken OstInterlaken OstInterlaken Ost is the main station in the town of Interlaken in the region of Bern, Switzerland. The town has one other station, Interlaken West....
and the Bergbahn Lauterbrunnen-MürrenBergbahn Lauterbrunnen-MürrenThe Bergbahn Lauterbrunnen-Mürren is a mountain railway in the Bernese Oberland area of Switzerland, which connects the villages of Lauterbrunnen and Mürren. The enterprise consists of a connected aerial cableway, also known as the Grütschalpbahn, and a adhesion worked railway.-Operations:The...
to MürrenMürrenMürren is a traditional Walser mountain village in Bernese Oberland, Switzerland, at an elevation of 1,650 m above sea level and unreachable by public road....
. Also the home of one of the two depots of the Wengernalpbahn. - WengwaldWengwald railway stationWengwald railway station is a request stop station on the Wengernalpbahn in the Swiss canton of Bern....
- request stop - WengenWengen railway station-History:The station was opened on 18 April 1892. In 1899 the station was rebuilt and a depot was constructed. In 1905 the station was reconstructed with level platforms, having previously had an angle of 73°....
- connection to the MännlichenMännlichenThe Männlichen is a 2,343 metre mountain in the Swiss Alps located within the Canton of Berne.It can be reached from Wengen by the Luftseilbahn Wengen-Männlichen cable-car, or from Grindelwald using the Gondelbahn Grindelwald-Männlichen gondola. It then takes 15 minutes to walk to the summit...
cable car Luftseilbahn Wengen-MännlichenLuftseilbahn Wengen-Männlichenseen from the upper Männlichen terminus of the cableway.]]The Luftseilbahn Wengen-Männlichen is a cable car linking Wengen with the Männlichen in Switzerland.-History:*1949 The Wengen committee was formed.*1953 Construction started....
. With 4 through platforms, a bay platform facing Lauterbrunnen and a freight depot underneath the passenger station, this is the largest rack railway station in the world. - AllmendAllmend railway stationAllmend railway station is a request stop station on the Wengernalpbahn in the Swiss canton of Bern....
- request stop - WengernalpWengernalp railway stationWengernalp railway station is a request stop station at Wengernalp on the Wengernalpbahn in the Swiss canton of Bern....
- Kleine ScheideggKleine Scheidegg railway stationKleine Scheidegg railway station serves the mountain pass tourist attraction of Kleine Scheidegg in the Swiss canton of Bern. It is on the Wengernalpbahn and the beginning of the Jungfraujochbahn....
- connection to the JungfraubahnJungfraubahnThe Jungfraubahn is an gauge rack railway electrified at 3-phase 1,125 volts 50 Hertz, which runs 9 kilometres from Kleine Scheidegg to the highest railway station in Europe at Jungfraujoch...
and terminus of services from LauterbrunnenLauterbrunnenLauterbrunnen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.The municipality lies in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and comprises the villages Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Gimmelwald, Stechelberg and Isenfluh...
and GrindelwaldGrindelwaldGrindelwald is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. The village is located at above sea level in the Bernese Alps.-Winter sports:...
. - AlpiglenAlpiglen railway stationAlpiglen railway station is a request stop station on the Wengernalpbahn in the Swiss canton of Bern....
- request stop - BrandeggBrandegg railway stationBrandegg railway station is a request stop station on the Wengernalpbahn in the Swiss canton of Bern....
- request stop - Grindelwald GrundGrindelwald Grund railway stationGrindelwald Grund railway station is a station on the Wengernalpbahn in the Swiss canton of Bern....
- connection to the Gondelbahn Grindelwald-MännlichenGondelbahn Grindelwald-MännlichenThe Gondelbahn Grindelwald-Männlichen is a gondola cable car linking Grindelwald with Männlichen. It is the third longest passenger-carrying gondola lift in the world.-History:*1977 Company was founded....
. Trains travelling between GrindelwaldGrindelwaldGrindelwald is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. The village is located at above sea level in the Bernese Alps.-Winter sports:...
and Kleine ScheideggKleine ScheideggThe Kleine Scheidegg is a high mountain pass below and between the Eiger and Lauberhorn peaks in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. It connects Grindelwald with Lauterbrunnen. The name means "minor watershed", even though it is actually higher than the neighbouring Grosse Scheidegg...
reverse at Grindelwald Grund. Also the home of one of the two depots of the Wengernalpbahn. Train announcements and some station signs are just labelled Grund to avoid confusion with Grindelwald. - GrindelwaldGrindelwald railway stationGrindelwald railway station serves the village of Grindelwald in the Swiss canton of Bern....
- connection to the Berner Oberland Bahn for Interlaken OstInterlaken OstInterlaken Ost is the main station in the town of Interlaken in the region of Bern, Switzerland. The town has one other station, Interlaken West....
.
Rolling stock
Locomotives
| No. | Class | Builders | Date Completed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | He2/2 | Stadler Stadler Rail Stadler Rail AG , based in Bussnang, Switzerland, is a Swiss manufacturer of rail passenger cars.In 1942 Ernst Stadler founded the Stadler Engineering Office which later became Stadler Rail.- Factories :... /SLM Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works were a railway equipment manufacturer based in Winterthur in Switzerland... /BBC Brown, Boveri & Cie Brown, Boveri & Cie was a Swiss group of electrical engineering companies.It was founded in Baden, Switzerland, in 1891 by Charles Eugene Lancelot Brown and Walter Boveri who worked at the Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon. In 1970 BBC took over the Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon... |
1995 |
| 32 | He2/2 | Stadler/SLM/BBC | 1995 |
| 51 | He2/2 | SLM/Alioth | 1909 |
| 52 | He2/2 | SLM/Alioth | 1909 |
| 53 | He2/2 | SLM/Alioth | 1909 |
| 54 | He2/2 | SLM/Alioth | 1909 |
| 64 | He2/2 | SLM/BBC Brown, Boveri & Cie Brown, Boveri & Cie was a Swiss group of electrical engineering companies.It was founded in Baden, Switzerland, in 1891 by Charles Eugene Lancelot Brown and Walter Boveri who worked at the Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon. In 1970 BBC took over the Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon... |
1926 |
| 65 | He2/2 | SLM/MFO | 1929 |
Railcars
The earliest railcarRailcar
A railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
s still in service, numbers 101 and 102 ( BDhe4/4, built by SLM/BBC ) date from 1947, No.102 being refurbished 1985. Of the other 14 cars of this class, No's. 104 and 106 - 118, built between 1954 and 1964, which still survive, ten have been refurbished (all except 104 / 7 / 9 / 10) since 2000. No.114 was refurbished along with 102 in 1985 but was returned to works in 2002 to be brought up to the newer specifications.
In 1970 a new class of railcar ( BDhe4/4 ) was introduced, numbered 119 to 124, built by a consortium of SIG
Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft
Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft , or SIG, is the former name of SIG Holding AG, a Swiss company that has been active in various businesses during its more than 150 years of operation. Since the year 2000 the Society has undergone strategic refocus, concentrating on its core compentence in...
, SLM, SAAS and BBC. These were refurbished in 1998. Four further cars, class BDhe4/8, numbered 131 to 134, and built by SLM ( Works Nos. 5363 - 66 inclusive ) with electrical equipment by BBC, arrived in 1988 with the latest additions, a series of four "Panorama" cars of Class Bhe4/8, built by Stadler
Stadler Rail
Stadler Rail AG , based in Bussnang, Switzerland, is a Swiss manufacturer of rail passenger cars.In 1942 Ernst Stadler founded the Stadler Engineering Office which later became Stadler Rail.- Factories :...
arriving in 2004.
Driving trailerControl car (rail)A control car is a generic term for a non-powered railroad vehicle that can control operation of a train from the end opposite to the position of the locomotive...
cars
The earliest coaches still listed to the company are three dating from 1893 and a single example from 1901. These have all been rebuilt twice, the final one in 1995 by the von Roll company. Later examples date from the period 1959 to 2003, some of the earlier of these have rebuilt. Building of the stock has been carried out by SIG, with electrical equipment by Brown Boveri / Asea Brown Boveri and later by Stadler with electrical equipment by Steck, (except No. 231 which was built by SLMSwiss Locomotive and Machine Works
Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works were a railway equipment manufacturer based in Winterthur in Switzerland...
with electrical equipment by ABB
Asea Brown Boveri
ABB is a Swiss-Swedish multinational corporation headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, and best known for its robotics. ABB operates mainly in the power and automation technology areas. It ranked 143rd in Forbes Ranking ....
).
The line also operates with an extensive collection of goods stock, in the main used for services between Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.The municipality lies in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and comprises the villages Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Gimmelwald, Stechelberg and Isenfluh...
and Wengen
Wengen
Wengen may refer to:*Wengen, a village and winter resort in Switzerland*La Val, a commune in South Tyrol, Italy with the German name "Wengen"*in Germany:**Wengen , a village in the municipality of Nennslingen in Mittelfranken...
.