Overseas NG: Furka Summit Line fully open

Last month saw the reopening of the whole of the Furka mountain section of the former Furka Oberalp meter gauge railway in Switzerland. Until 1982, this formed part of the route of the famous Glacier Express. In that year a new tunnel was opened, enabling year-round operation, and the summit section was closed.

Since that time, railfans from all over Europe have been campaigning and working to reopen the summit line. Using mostly volunteer labor, they have progressively rebuilt the line, and now the final section between Gletsch and Oberwald has been completed.

The story is told in a German TV program. Even if you don't understand German, the pictures are well worth watching. Of particular note are:

> The collapsible Steffenbach bridge which is folded away in the winter to avoid avalanches.

> Spring snow clearance

> The recovery from Vietnam of locomotives that formerly worked the line and were sold on when it was electrified in the 1940s

> The new grade crossing at Oberwald, with rack which retracts into the road surface when not required for trains to pass.

Congratulations are due to all the volunteers who have worked over the years to achieve this.




To the TV program

Don Newing
Derbyshire, UK