Virtual Railfan Tour of Switzerland - Wednesday - Gornergrat

Today we will take a trip up the Gornergratbahn to see the Matterhorn above.

We must first take the regular train to Visp (from Monteux or Lausanne) or Brig (from Bern). We then transfer to a narrow gauge Matterhorn - Gornergrat Bahn train which takes us as far a Zermatt. Zermatt is a skiing, mountaineering town full of expensive tourist shops.  No need to linger. The one big advantage here is that motor vehicles are prohibited and people coming by car must leave their vehicles on the outskirts and catch a train into the center. There are lots of electric vehicles in the town

This is where the story really starts with the Gornergratbahn train which uses a rack for the entire distance

Even such a simple thing as a switch can become complicated when the rack has to move as well as the switch blades.

Part way up there is a short tramway which takes visitors to a hotel

The views from the top are stupendous

The locals get quite a kick out of watching the tourists



We thought at first this ibex was a stuffed animal - until it winked at us.

Getting ready to return to Zermatt. These trains run on three phase electric current so there are two overhead wires and two small pantographs on the trains
.  I believe this is the only such system left in Switzerland now.  It was very common at one time



On the way down it is useful to choose the right train - at certain times the trains return almost empty to Zermat
 and it is possible to get a seat across from the driver.



With not a lot to hold us in Zermatt we quickly find the MGB train to Visp


The SBB has trains every half an hour towards Montreux and Lausanne

We make sure to sit on the south side of the train to get a view of the Chateau de Chillon just before Montreux




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