Chemin de fer du Montenvers, Heritage railway in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France.
The Montenvers Railway is a 5.1 km metre-gauge rack line from Chamonix (1,042 m) to Montenvers (1,913 m), a height difference of 871 m. It uses the Strub rack system outside the terminal stations, with gradients of 11% to 22%. Trains take 20 minutes and connect with the SNCF station in Chamonix.
The line opened in 1909 after construction began in 1906; the first section to Caillet opened in 1908. Steam locomotives from SLM Winterthur worked the route until electrification in 1953. On 25 August 1927, a derailment on the Montenvers viaduct killed 15 people and injured 30.
The line's name comes from the Montenvers, the viewpoint above the Mer de Glace that it has served since 1909. Before the railway, 380 guides and muleteers earned their living carrying visitors up on foot, by mule or in sedan chairs, and many Chamonix residents opposed the project for fear of losing that trade. Today the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc runs the trains, and a cable car links the upper station to the glacier.
The journey lasts about 20 minutes and the train moves slowly so passengers can enjoy the views. Bring warm clothing since it is noticeably colder at the top than in the valley below.
The railway uses a special gear system that allows it to climb mountain slopes that would otherwise be impossible to traverse. This technical feature makes the route one of the steepest of its kind in the Alps.
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