Virtual Railfan Tour of Switzerland - Friday - Classic Gotthard North Ramp - Part 2


A local passenger train exits the Gotthard tunnel and comes into the station st Goschenen
Last time we left you enjoying a beer on the station platform at Goschenen and watching trains. We are thinking about how to get back to Zurich.  The easy way would be to take a train back through Wassen, either direct or with one transfer on the way.  However there is another interesting way.
- narrow gauge rack railway (Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn - MGB) to Andermatt
- Post Bus Andermatt to Meiringen through the Susten Pass
- Meiringen to Innertkirchen and return on the narrow gauge Innertkirchenbahn
- Meiringen to Luzern, narrow gauge rack on the Zentralbahn
- Luzern to Zurich on the SBB
From the comfort of our seat in the platform cafe we can watch this passenger train depart

This is the entrance to the Gotthard tunnel.  The through tracks are to the right.  The tracks to the left are for traffic regulation.

A Swiss liveried class 610 heads into the tunnel destined for Milano

A freight with four German (DB) locomotives waits for a margin to run downhill towards Ersfeld and the north

It takes a lot of power to haul freight trains up the grades. They must be able to attain near passenger train speeds in order not to cause delays. The benefits of the new tunnel are obvious - fewer locomotives will be needed.
It is now time to start back to Zurich.
The Post bus to Meiringen actually stops at Goschenen but it is more fun to go up to Andermatt, where it starts.

The MGB train to Andermatt starts from the Goschenen  station forecourt, right next to the Post Bus stop
The climb starts immediately after leaving the station forecourt as can be seen from the SBB platform


This video covers the rack assisted climb from Goschenen to Andermatt. It includes a meet in a siding in an avalanche shelter

Andermatt

At Andermatt there is time for another beer

The Post Bus is on time leaving Andermatt

Passing through Goschenen we have an opportunity to admire the village

The views of the Susten Pass are stunning


There is a 25 minute rest stop at roughly half way

On arrival at Meiringen the driver was given a standing ovation by his passengers for the expert way in which he navigated the numerous hairpin bends. Note the Zentral bahn train to Luzern is waiting just across the street

But before we go on to Luzern there is just time to squeeze in a round trip to Innertkirchen to sample the train that the company has recently received. .
 It is a rebuilt car from the Vevey to Blonay line

There is a very tight turn round at Innertkirchen, in fact the train is due to leave at the same time as it arrives.

On the way back to Meiringen we stop at the platform inside the tunnel to pick up a family of hikers.

At Meiringen the Zentral line train is waiting to take us over the narrow gauge rack equipped line to Luzern
At Luzern we transfer to the standard gauge SBB IC2000 double decker train to Zurich. We walk right down to the front which is almost 1,000 feet, but at least we will have a short walk out of the terminal at Zurich.

Its been a long day but very rewarding. 

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