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.[1]: 86 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.[1]: 86-7 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.
At the Steinstafel bridgeRotary 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.[1]: 86 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.[1]: 88
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.[1]: 87 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.[1]: 87
The organisation is currently [when?] 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.[1]: 88 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.[1]: 89 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.
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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 1 86 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 1 86 7 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 RailwayThe Furka Steam RailwayOverviewNative nameDampfbahn Furka Bergstrecke DFBStatusOperating during summer and autumn seasonOwnerVerein Furka BergstreckeLocaleUri Valais SwitzerlandTerminiRealpOberwaldStations6WebsiteFurka Steam RailwayServiceTypeHeavy railServices1Operator s Verein Furka BergstreckeDepot s RealpHistoryOpened1925Closed1981Reopened1992TechnicalLine length17 838 km 11 084 mi CharacterHeritage railwayRack systemAbtTrack gauge1 000 mm 3 ft 3 3 8 in metre gaugeHighest elevation2 160 m 7 090 ft Maximum incline3 5 adhesion 11 8 rack rail Route mapLegend km elev M or length m in metres 0 000 Realp DFB 1 546 M to Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn 0 150 Realp Depot Schweigstrasse Wilerbrucke 70 m Alt Senntumstafel Tunnel III 80 m Alt Senntumstafel Tunnel II 79 m Alt Senntumstafel Tunnel I 36 m Steffenbachtobelbrucke 37 5 m 3 660 Tiefenbach 1 849 M Steinstafelviadukt 54 m Sidelenbachbrucke 26 m 6 996 Furka DFB 2 163 M Furka Summit Tunnel 1 874 M UriValais cantonal border 9 206 Muttbach Belvedere 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 Raterisbachbrucke 22 m to Furka Base Tunnel 17 838 Oberwald 1 366 M km elev M or length m in metres This diagram viewtalkedit 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 1 86 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 1 88 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 1 87 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 1 87 Contents 1 Current and future plans 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksCurrent and future plans edit nbsp Gletsch railway station The organisation is currently when 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 1 88 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 1 89 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 editList of heritage railways and funiculars in Switzerland List of mountain railways in SwitzerlandReferences edit a b c d e f g h Lambert A July 2012 By steam to the Rhone s source Steam Railway Magazine 404 Lynchwood Peterborough UK Bauer Consumer Media Limited External links edit nbsp Media related to Furka Steam Railway at Wikimedia Commons Official Website in English 46 33 41 N 8 21 43 E 46 56139 N 8 36194 E 46 56139 8 36194 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Furka Steam Railway amp oldid 1121797321, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
