A cab ride along the RHB Bernina Line in a Winter Wonderland

Thanks for sharing this beautiful video.  I love the winter scenes.

My wife and I took this trip about 15 years ago during the summer.  The summer scenery was just as wonderful but different.  The cab eye view is really special.

The train has been modernized  since we rode it.  There were no computers in the locomotive.  The center of the locomotive cab had a large wheel that looked like a truck steering wheel.  I am not sure if it controlled the train speed or the brake.

One of the most interesting aspects of traveling in Switzerland is the lack of cars and trucks on the roads.  Your video shows almost no traffic.  This is the way the roads looked 15 years ago.

Thanks again for posting this beautiful video.

Happy Holidays,  Joe

Awesome scenery, 7% grades, very sharp curves, and eerily quiet in the cab.  Thanks for posting!

You're welcome...very nice that you had the opportunity to ride it in real..no video/film can't replace the actual trip.

The large "steering wheel" is actually (was since now they are being replaced) the hand brake. And yup the RHB is modernizing the fleet, the Allegra from the video are betwen 1-3 years old and next year these new 6 cars consist will enter in service..they even have an observation car.

As for traffic on the roads, well in remote area it's usually no issue, specially off season but on the main artery or cities well it can be very busy at time.

Season's Greetings,

You're welcome...

Nice video.  I've taken the Chur-St Moritz line before, need to check out this one.  I looked for more on Youtube and found several videos of a steam powered rotary being used on this line.  This was a self-propelled rotary and had a 0-6+6-0 driver arrangement.  Almost all the videos had an electric loco tied on behind it, probably for more push power in the deep stuff, although one showed it running by itself.

John

Really hope that one day you can ride the Bernina line..The Albula line (Chur-St-Moritz) is already a wonderful experience.

As for the steam rotary snowthrowers X-rot-d (built in 1910) they are selfpropelled, but sometimes they needed the full boiler power for the rotary alone (the power could be switched between traction/rotary to rotary alone) that's when an engine is pushing it. They were retired in the mid 60's, once in a while they do operate 1 just for the fun of it. On these day (and YT video) an engine is always with or close by..never know with these 100 years old machine, they may break at an unfortunate moment.
Dunno if you have seen this video but in case, it's from 1937 and show the work involved to keep the line open..working on a railroad was never an easy job back then, but even more challenging when you have to battle 10-15 ft of snow.

Love the use of the portable phone back then...@2 min

Video with no sound

All the best for a great Christmas Season,

Yes, I saw that one too.  Pretty tough guys for a tough job.  Digging out after derailing the plow is not for the faint of heart....especially at that altitude!

A good thing they had that phone to call for the rotary plow.  I think that is the same unit that operated for the railfans in the modern videos.  Buried a few of them too.

Just watched it again, the methods they used to start avalanches were scary, especially crawling under that cornice and using skiers.  Wow!

John

Yes it's the same unit....they only had 2 units.

absolutely wonderful videos, thank you.

next time I visit with my skis, I'll have to take the train!