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Furka Steam Railway

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Coordinates:46°33′41″N8°21′43″E / 46.56139°N 8.36194°E /46.56139; 8.36194

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Redirected fromFurka Heritage Railway)

Heritage railway line in Switzerland

Furka Steam Railway

The Furka Steam Railway

Overview

Native name

Dampfbahn Furka-Bergstrecke DFB

Status

Operating during summer and autumn season

Owner

Verein Furka-Bergstrecke

Locale

Uri /Valais,Switzerland

Termini

Stations

Website

Furka Steam Railway

Service

Type

Heavy rail

Services

Operator(s)

Verein Furka-Bergstrecke

Depot(s)

Realp

History

Opened

1925

Closed

1981

Reopened

1992

Technical

Line length

17.838 km (11.084 mi)

Character

Heritage railway

Rack system

Abt

Track gauge

1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)metre gauge

Highest elevation

2,160 m (7,090 ft)

Maximum incline

3.5% (adhesion)
11.8% (rack rail)

Route map

Legend

elev (M)
or length (m)
inmetres

Furka Oberalp Bahn

Realp

0.000

Realp DFB

1,546 M

toMatterhorn Gotthard Bahn

0.150

Realp Depot

Furka Base Tunnel

Schweigstrasse

Wilerbrücke

70 m

Alt Senntumstafel-Tunnel III

80 m

Alt Senntumstafel-Tunnel II

79 m

Alt Senntumstafel-Tunnel I

36 m

Steffenbachtobelbrücke

37.5 m

3.660

Tiefenbach

1,849 M

Steinstafelviadukt

54 m

Sidelenbachbrücke

26 m

6.996

2,163 M

1,874 M

cantonal border

9.206

Muttbach-Belvédère

2,120 M

Muttbach railway crossing

Gletsch 2 railway crossing

12.891

Gletsch

1,762 M

Gletsch 1 railway crossing

Gletsch-Kehrtunnel

578 m

Rottenviadukt

25 m

Lammenviadukt

86 m

Räterisbachbrücke

22 m

toFurka Base Tunnel

17.838

Oberwald DFB

1,366 M

Oberwald

Furka Oberalp Bahn

elev (M)
or length (m)
inmetres

This diagram:

TheFurka Steam Railway (German:Dampfbahn Furka-Bergstrecke (DFB)) is a largely volunteer-operatedheritage railway which operates a partially rack and pinion-operated line across theFurka Pass, betweenRealp inUri andOberwald inValais. Culminating at 2,160 metres (7,087 ft), abovesea level, it is an old mountainous section of theFurka Oberalp Bahn (FO) that was abandoned after the construction of theFurka Tunnel.^[1]^: 86 It has been gradually brought back into service by the Verein Furka-Bergstrecke with the use of onlysteam locomotives, with the entire line completed in 2010.^[1]^: 86-7 As a result, the nearly 18 kilometre-long Furka Railway is the longest operated unelectrified line in Switzerland. It is also thesecond highest rail crossing in Europe, after theBernina Railway. The Uri side of the line also constitutes the highest railway inCentral Switzerland.

Rotary snowplough at the Steffenbach bridge

The section of line was always a severe operational difficulty for the FO as its high altitude rendered it impassable due to snow and ice for much of the winter season, hence its being abandoned and a tunnel constructed.^[1]^: 86 This has remained a headache for the DFB, as every year it must be closed down and then reopened, an expensive process which involves the removal and replacement of a specially folding transportable bridge that would otherwise be damaged by the snow every year.^[1]^: 88

The rebuilding of the line has also not been without new difficulties. Requiring to cross a busy main road on a rack operated section, the rack over the road is retractable, actuated to raise at the same time as the level crossing barriers by radios fitted to the line's locomotives.^[1]^: 87 Another section, running through a forested nature reserve, has had to be fitted with a sprinkler system that operates before and after trains pass, again actuated by the radios aboard. Relays allow the system to cascade up or down the section in line with the train, to save water which is supplied by natural water supplies near the summit of the line.^[1]^: 87

Current and future plans

[edit]

The organisation is currently^[when?] restoring 2HG 4/4 "D" Steam Locomotives. These 0-8-0 locos were built in Switzerland for use in Vietnam, and were repatriated along with locomotives from the Furka Oberalp Bahn that had been exported to Vietnam after their use in Switzerland.^[1]^: 88 The organisation is currently endeavouring to raise approximately Swiss Fr. 1,700,000, or 1,200,000 Euro or 1,200,000 US Dollars for the work required. The test runs of one of the locomotives are planned for 2013, to assess their suitability for the Furka line. The cost of a new firebox, one of the components the HG 4/4s require, is about Swiss Fr. 110,000, or 80,000 Euro.

Another current project is the restoration of a steam-poweredrotary snowplough to deal with the heavy snowfall that needs to be cleared from the route before services can commence each year.^[1]^: 89 This may provide a lucrative opportunity as photographers and film-makers from across Europe and the world will be keen to capture such clearances on camera.

The fundraising foundationStiftung Furka - Bergstrecke (Furka Mountain Line Foundation), which is separate to the operating company, is providing for the reconstruction of the 2 HG 4/4 locomotives and to develop the line's depot at Realp. The foundation provides investment for equipment and construction on the line generally.

There are videos on YouTube of the line running, with the snowplough.

References

[edit]

^^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^hLambert, A. (July 2012). "By steam to the Rhone's source".Steam Railway Magazine (404). Lynchwood, Peterborough, UK: Bauer Consumer Media Limited.