Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway, Heritage steam railway in Obergoms, Switzerland
The Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway is a historic mountain railway connecting Oberwald and Realp using a special toothed-rail system designed for severe inclines. The line navigates tight alpine passes where the cogwheel mechanism engages the rails to pull steam locomotives up the mountainside.
The railway opened in 1926 to cross the Furka and link mountain valleys that were otherwise isolated, but closed in 1982 when a modern tunnel route was completed. After significant restoration work, the line reopened in 1992 and now operates as a heritage service for visitors.
The railway represents a crucial chapter in Swiss mountain transport, showing how communities once connected across alpine terrain. Visitors today experience this engineering solution firsthand as the cogwheel system tackles the forbidding slopes.
Trains operate mainly during summer months when snow clears the route, departing from Oberwald station with sweeping mountain views throughout the journey. Wear layers since you will climb to higher altitudes where temperatures drop noticeably compared to the valleys below.
Hidden within the steepest section is a spiral tunnel carved through solid rock that almost completes a full rotation on itself. This remarkable bore allows the track to gain altitude while keeping the gradient manageable for the steam locomotives climbing upward.
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