LNER4479 Posted March 2 Author Share Posted March 2 (edited) Weds 21st continued ... All too soon, our onward train was scrambling up that last curve into the station. Note the lake, still in view from this lofty vantage point. Alp Grüm isn't the summit; the railway climbs still further until it reaches the amazing lago Bianco and the absolute summit at Ospizio Bernina (7392ft a.s.l.), Europe's highest open railway pass (ie not in a tunnel). More fabulous conditions. Looking back to Ospizio station (left). There's a lake under all that lot somewhere. In the summer, it's a glorious Alpine blue colour. On the descent out of the pass, the line zig-zags close to the Morteratsch glacier. That's the second glacier you see on the run. Here's the fun fact - on the more famous 'Glacier Express', you don't actually see any glaciers!! (the latter train takes its name from the Rhone Glacier - which the modern train bypasses courtesy of the 1982 Furka base tunnel). Our train was headed for St Moritz; however, we were booked into a hotel at Chur. So, two quick changes of train (but all well within Swiss stride) at Pontresina and Samedan took us onwards over ... The Albula pass. Almost an anti-climax, after the wonders of the Bernina route, but this is all part of the UNESCO listing, owing in no small part to how the railway spirals its way up (or, in our case down) the pass. It's almost impossible to photograph from the train but I always try! We're about to embark on a clockwise, descending spiral in the mountainside (to the right), which will bring us out on the railway line below. Rather easier to photo (provided you're ready for it) is one of the last of the notable structures (in this direction) - the iconic Landwasser viaduct. Inspiration behind 'Team Grantham's 2019 GMRC heat layout (desperately trying to keep the link with Grantham going!). Note that opening the large panoramic windows to best capture the scene is de rigeur on these trains! See the blue vehicle second to last? That's the rather splendid restaurant car! Time for a cuppa to reflect on all that wonderful Alpine scenery and amazing railway engineering. Edited March 2 by LNER4479 14 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 5BarVT Posted March 2 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 2 You’re making me jealous and nostalgic! I do like a Furka Oberalp loco. It has a differ3nt feel in English! Paul. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWsTrains Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 (edited) 1 hour ago, LNER4479 said: We retraced our steps out to lake Como but then carried out along the remainder of this extensive branchline to its Terminus at Tirano. After over two and a half hours on the train, it was time for a coffee stop in station square. I agree re the Bernina journey but hadn't realised you could get between Tirano and Como, much simpler than our travels. On our self-managed trip we traveled the Bernina both ways (a bonus I guess) and on returning to Chur took the Postbus across to Bellinzona en route to Como. While we didn't have a GRJ guide, we did sit opposite a Swiss Postal Officer and his wife and despite the language barrier we were alerted to just about every Bernina highlight. He new the route inside out! On reflection our route wasn't that bad for a beginner! Edited March 2 by BWsTrains 7 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 31A Posted March 2 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 2 That looks like a brilliant trip Graham - not AT ALL jealous! Interesting that you got a 'proper' train on the Albula; I've never done the restaurant car but would love to! 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les1952 Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 Not sure how you managed to miss a pic of the Peter Witt cars in Milan, they are half of the fleet.... Have this one to compensate (by Central Station). A youngster this one, a mere 96 years old, the earliest ones celebrate their centenary this year. Les 7 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNER4479 Posted March 3 Author Share Posted March 3 (edited) 3 hours ago, BWsTrains said: I agree re the Bernina journey but hadn't realised you could get between Tirano and Como, much simpler than our travels. First time I did it was in 1988 - in the opposite direction. We'd stopped off at Alp Grüm for a photo session. I was just blown away by it all. I seem to recall that we all fell asleep on the train from Tirano to Milan! (was with a group of like-minded fellow railway management trainees. We 'did' most of west Europe in three weeks of non-stop travelling) If poss., I always try to arrange the trip as per last week. For 'first timers' there really is no finer introduction to Swiss mountain scenery (IMHO). Incidentally, Varenna's not a bad spot to spend a couple of night before taking the trip onwards. Edited March 3 by LNER4479 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted March 3 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 3 12 hours ago, 5BarVT said: You’re making me jealous and nostalgic! I do like a Furka Oberalp loco. It has a differ3nt feel in English! Paul. FO. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium New Haven Neil Posted March 3 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 3 (edited) Ah, great memories. I was about to ask if you knew the tour manager from GRJ we had when we went to Switzerland on the Glacier Express tour, then thought....that was for my 50th, and ....err.....I'm 65 in 10 days. He'd be very lucky and very old if he's not six feet under currently, a retired Scottish railwayman. Edited March 3 by New Haven Neil 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Michael Edge Posted March 3 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 3 We went on the Bernina with GRJ in April 2000, it's very obvious how much less snow there is now and you were there in February. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obi-Jiff Kenobi Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 On 02/03/2024 at 10:44, St Enodoc said: Gottardo? As in “a man’s Gottardo what a man’s Gottardo”? 1 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNER4479 Posted March 3 Author Share Posted March 3 5 hours ago, New Haven Neil said: Ah, great memories. I was about to ask if you knew the tour manager from GRJ we had when we went to Switzerland on the Glacier Express tour, then thought....that was for my 50th, and ....err.....I'm 65 in 10 days. He'd be very lucky and very old if he's not six feet under currently, a retired Scottish railwayman. That MIGHT just have been the legendary Stuart Sellar? He died only last year, at the age of 86. Famous within GRJ but probably far more famous for his contribution to ScotRail and the SRPS, including project managing the reintroduction of steam on the FW-Mallaig route in the 1980s Obit here: https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/obituaries-stuart-sellar-railwayman-and-founding-member-of-the-scottish-railway-preservation-society-4343626 Mind you, there are about 400 of us TMs so apologies if the above is a case of mistaken identity ... 3 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium New Haven Neil Posted March 3 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 3 4 hours ago, LNER4479 said: That MIGHT just have been the legendary Stuart Sellar? He died only last year, at the age of 86. Famous within GRJ but probably far more famous for his contribution to ScotRail and the SRPS, including project managing the reintroduction of steam on the FW-Mallaig route in the 1980s Obit here: https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/obituaries-stuart-sellar-railwayman-and-founding-member-of-the-scottish-railway-preservation-society-4343626 Mind you, there are about 400 of us TMs so apologies if the above is a case of mistaken identity ... IIRC he was called Ian, but his surname has gone from my forgettory. He was involved with one of the Scottish preserved railways, we corresponded for a while afterwards. As for snow, it was April 2009, plenty snow up high! 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted March 3 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 3 5 hours ago, LNER4479 said: That MIGHT just have been the legendary Stuart Sellar? He died only last year, at the age of 86. Famous within GRJ but probably far more famous for his contribution to ScotRail and the SRPS, including project managing the reintroduction of steam on the FW-Mallaig route in the 1980s Obit here: https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/obituaries-stuart-sellar-railwayman-and-founding-member-of-the-scottish-railway-preservation-society-4343626 Mind you, there are about 400 of us TMs so apologies if the above is a case of mistaken identity ... 26 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said: IIRC he was called Ian, but his surname has gone from my forgettory. He was involved with one of the Scottish preserved railways, we corresponded for a while afterwards. As for snow, it was April 2009, plenty snow up high! Can't have been dear old Stuart. If you'd ever met him, you'd never have forgotten him! 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishplate Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 2 hours ago, New Haven Neil said: That chap on the roof shovelling snow looks awfully close to the OLE/ live parts of the pantograph ???? The contact wire seems to be hidden behind him, but the catenary passes the photographers side of his head and off to the top of the mast just out of shot on the left. Hopefully there was an isolation, or it is an optical illusion . . . . 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNER4479 Posted March 3 Author Share Posted March 3 (edited) Well, glad all this of some interest (to some). After the sensational conditions of the previous two days, there was always a danger of Thurs 22nd being something of an anti-climax. The weather certainly turned duller. However, one of my TM colleagues wanted to do a recce to one of my other favourite places round these parts ... Back out over THAT viaduct (again!). Destination ... St Moritz 😎 Some of my TM colleagues don't really 'get' St. Moritz but I love it. It really is a place like no other, famous as the home of winter sports and given a memorable name drop in the classic Peter Sarstedt song 'Where do you go to my lovely?' It's all about the location, best viewed from across the lake, railway station to the right. Did I say lake? I haven't actually been in the month of February before, so this was the first time I've seen the lake set out for the famous 'White Turf' event. That's right - horse racing on the (frozen!) lake. The ice clearly thick enough and the temperature clearly cold enough here. Zoom in on the left hand side mid-distance, and you'll see the unmistakable course perimeter fences (quite apart from the cars, hospitality tents, etc). Only in St. Moritz. Well, if it's good enough for horses, it's good enough for me! Farewell for now. Due back here twice in the summer 😊 The train back had one of those lovely restaurant cars again! Time for a midday 'snack'. Changed at Filisur for the train on to Davos, seen crossing the also spectacular Wiesen viaduct. Further change at Davos for the onward train to Landquart. The descent down into Klosters is another favourite of mine. Not sure how the royals are going on skiing on that little snow?(!) A final rendez-vous in Landquart with my fellow TMs. The others had been suitably underwhelmed by the nearby designer outlet village. Ah well, can't please everyone all the time. Great little trip. Hoping to do something similar again at the same time next year. Austria was mentioned. And now - let's focus on the layout. Edited March 3 by LNER4479 18 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted March 4 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 4 2 hours ago, LNER4479 said: Some of my TM colleagues don't really 'get' St. Moritz but I love it. It really is a place like no other, famous as the home of winter sports and given a memorable name drop in the classic Peter Sarstedt song 'Where do you go to my lovely?' Have you done the Cresta Run (no, nor have I)? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obi-Jiff Kenobi Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 I used to think the Cresta Run was popping to the offy to get some fizzy drinks. It’s frothy, man. 2 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNER4479 Posted March 4 Author Share Posted March 4 5 hours ago, St Enodoc said: Have you done the Cresta Run (no, nor have I)? Forgot to bring my tea tray with me.😖 Did see the course set out though (again, for the first time) 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold DaveF Posted March 4 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 4 Your photos have brought back a lot of memories of my trips in the late 80s/early 90s. Thanks very much for posting them. I only went to St Moritz once on a hot summer day, I always intended to go back but somehow never got round to it. David 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted March 4 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 4 8 hours ago, St Enodoc said: Have you done the Cresta Run (no, nor have I)? ISTR Ford attempted a pubicity stunt with a Lotus Cortina on the Cresta run, ca 1964. I believe it did not go well, but stopped short of the disaster it might have been. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwealleans Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 It's on YouTube: 8 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Barry O Posted March 4 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 4 they play cricket on the frozen lake as well.. and no, I am not volunteering to umpire it! Baz 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium New Haven Neil Posted March 4 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 4 (edited) 21 hours ago, Fishplate said: That chap on the roof shovelling snow looks awfully close to the OLE/ live parts of the pantograph ???? The contact wire seems to be hidden behind him, but the catenary passes the photographers side of his head and off to the top of the mast just out of shot on the left. Hopefully there was an isolation, or it is an optical illusion . . . . IIRC there were isolating switches in the OHLE just out of shot! See gubbins on the mast bottom left. Edit: That looks like an earthing pole with the red flag on it too. Must be off, or they have insulating railwaymen.... Edited March 4 by New Haven Neil 6 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWsTrains Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 On 03/03/2024 at 06:26, LNER4479 said: An enclave of Swiss swishness and an extremity of the iconic red trains of the Rhätische Bahn (Rhaetian Railways) RhB. The contrast could not be more complete and just serves to accentuate the remarkable journey that is about to unfold. Thanks to your travelogue I sought out info on the Furka Oberalp Railway. On our 2007 trip, by travelling on the branded "Glacier Express" and "Bernina Express" trains, I was unaware of all the long history of the various railway companies which have been involved in the region. The research turned up this excellent Youtube video to enlighten me! 54 min of leisurely alpine rail travel history, in a word, superb, bringing back great memories of our trip. Your detour from modelling is excused! Colin 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNER4479 Posted March 5 Author Share Posted March 5 So now, the exciting layout news ... Should be first post on the next page 👉 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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