Description
On the Footplate – Rhaetian Railway (90-mins) (DVR-R)
Ref: MT758D
We ride with the driver of a Rhaetian Railway Ge 6/6 I baby crocodiIe locomotive along part of the spectacular Albula Line from ReichenauoTamins to Samedan.
Until recent years the company operated a mixed passenger.goods service once a day in each direction, hauled by these vintage locos from the 1920s. In the 21st century these old ladies can only be seen hauling special excursions, so this ride made in 1989 is now an archive document.
The Rhaetian railway operates with metre gauge track, and all lines are adhesion despite some of the taxing terrain through which the routes pass. To gain height on the Albula Line the railway builders utilised spiral tunnels and loops up and down the valley between Filisur and Preda. There are spectacular viaducts at SoIls and Landwasser.
The line was opened from Chur to Thusis on the 1st July 1896, with the route from Thusis to St. Moritz coming into service in 1903. Originally trains were hauled by steam, but electric power was introduced in the Engadine in 1913 and this was so successful that the Ge 6/6 I locos were purchased for the Davos and Albula Lines.
This is an autumn journey filmed in sunny weather and the view ahead is complemented with shots of the driver in action in the historic cab.
It has been produced by the MITV team using broadcast quality equipment and stereo sound recording. The programme has English commentary.
