PHOTO STORY | Rhätische Bahn

17 September 2009

Day trip to from Zürich HB to Alp Grüm via Sargans, Chur, Pontresina and back , then on to Aarau. Travelling on SBB lines passing lakes and ancient castles to Chur, the end of the line for standard gauge. From there on and all across the Canton Graubünden rules the metre gauged Rhätische Bahn.

My trip took me up the incredible Albula- and Bernina lines with their hair-raising cliffs, raveens, tunnels and amazing bridges, lush pine forests, glaciers and spectacular mountain scenery. The maximum altitude of 2256m above sea level was reached at Ospizio Bernina, the lowest at Aarau at 381m. The total vertical distance travelled by trian was 1875m!

At Ap Grüm, I had to turn back, if I was going to make the return trip to Aarau. By lucky coincidence, the train after the next was going to be the two yellow railcars ABe 4/4 I Nos. 30 and 34. I was allowed to ride in the cab in the middle of the train, where I could watch the speedometer and kilometre counter ticking away.

Going back the same way I had come as far back as Zürich HB got a little bit tedious, especially after dark. By the time I arrived at Aarau it was well after 9pm.