Swiss Rack Steam 110 mins DVD

Half of this DVD includes Brienz Rothorn Bahn , previously available on Video & DVD, but now withdrawn. This is an excellent film showing operations on the Swiss Brienz Rothorn Bahn, a rack line just under 5 miles long, with a ruling grade of 1 in 4 (25%), which means it is a pretty exciting ride. Add to this that the line was buying Roger Waller’s new steam rack locos during the 1990s, and you have a heady mix. You see the new steam locomotives, and some of the older ones, plus diesels, at work on this spectacular railway set amongst the beautiful Alpine scenery. The second half shows operations over the metre gauge Furka Bergstrecke, a preserved operation over the most mountainous section of the Furka Oberlap Bahn, which closed after completion of the Furka Basistunnel. Of the 17.7 kms closed, some 12.9 kms have been reopened, including the famous folding Steffenbach bridge. Trains are hauled by SLM built 2-6-0 rack and adhesion locomotives repatriated from Vietnam which have to work hard up the ruling 1 in 8 gradients.