Re: Narrow gauge with rotary in winter - not Colorado ;-)

Ok, it's the rotary of the Raetian Railways (RhB ) which was built for the line across the Bernina Pass. It's meter gauge and it was indeed built by SLM (Schweizerische Lokomotiv- und Maschienenfabrik) in 1912. Despite that the Bernina line has been electrified from the beginning on, the rotary is a 0-6-6-0 selfpowered engine. Often the avalanches take down the catenary and so it was necessary to have the snow fighting machinery independend on electricty (therefore the RhB owns two rather powerful diesel engines)

The roatry is not anymore in regular use, but still maintained and taken out from time to time.

The Raetian Railways have a metergauge network of 384km (239 Mi), 120 engines, 27 powered railcars, ca. 400 passenger coaches and over 1300 freight cars. It's really very modern and very efficient. You can imagine what the D&RGW/RGS would look like if history would have been a little different ;-)

Anyone wishing access to first hand information see http://www.rhb.ch/index.php?id=891?&L=4

Lucky Luke



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/17/2010 04:44PM by rosenth.