Furka Steam Railway

The Furka Steam Railway (German: Dampfbahn Furka-Bergstrecke (DFB)) is a largely volunteer-operated heritage railway which operates a partially rack and pinion-operated line across the Furka Pass, between Realp in Uri and Oberwald in Valais. Culminating at 2,160 metres (7,087 ft), above sea level, it is an old mountainous section of the Furka Oberalp Bahn (FO) that was abandoned after the construction of the Furka Tunnel. It has been gradually brought back into service by the Verein Furka-Bergstrecke with the use of only steam locomotives, with the entire line completed in 2010. As a result, the nearly 18 kilometre-long Furka Railway is the longest operated unelectrified line in Switzerland. It is also the second highest rail crossing in Europe, after the Bernina Railway. The Uri side of the line also constitutes the highest railway in Central 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	Realp Oberwald
Stations	6
Website	Furka Steam Railway
Service
Type	Heavy rail
Services	1
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 km elev (M) or length (m) in metres Furka Oberalp Bahn Realp 0.000 Realp DFB 1,546 M to Matterhorn 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 Furka DFB 2,163 M Furka Summit Tunnel 1,874 M Uri Valais 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 to Furka Base Tunnel 17.838 Oberwald DFB 1,366 M Oberwald Furka Oberalp Bahn km elev (M) or length (m) in metres

At the Steinstafel bridge

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. 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.

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. 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.

Current and future plans

Gletsch railway station

The organisation is currently restoring 2 HG 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. 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-powered rotary snowplough to deal with the heavy snowfall that needs to be cleared from the route before services can commence each year. 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 foundation Stiftung 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.

See also

• List of heritage railways and funiculars in Switzerland
• List of mountain railways in Switzerland

External links

Media related to Furka Steam Railway at Wikimedia Commons

• Official Website (in English)