Tuesday, August 16, 2011

A Train Ride Not for the Squeamish

Sender: Helen
Graubünden. Schnellzug St. Moritz-Chur mit Ge 4/4 III 646+648 (SLM/BBC, 1993)

- A Schnellzug is an express train in German-speaking countries, where it refers to trains that do not stop at all stations along a line. 
- Graubünden is a mountainous district, the land of the wild mountain goat, Heidi's home, the source of the Rhine, Switzerland's biggest holiday region. 
- Chur is the capital of Graubünden. 
- St Moritz is a resort town in Graubünden. 

The train pictured in the card is crossing the Landwasser Viaduct (built in 1902), a single track six-arched curved limestone railway viaduct built over the Landwasser River. Kudos to the Swiss railway engineers of the 19th and 20th century who had to build a complex and efficient mountain railway system, along difficult mountain routes, with many bridges and tunnels needed for the trains to cross and go under. 

I really think that the viaduct is one of the most spectacular bridges I have ever seen pictured. What a breathtaking sight. But I'm feeling squeamish already as if I am in that train  because....the ground is such a loooooong way down! By the way, are the first two carriages open-topped carriages? Surely not??


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