Furka railway station
Encyclopedia
Furka railway station is a metre gauge
railway station at the eastern portal of the Furka Summit Tunnel
, in the Canton
of Uri
, Switzerland
. The station was opened in 1926. It was then owned and operated from that point until 1981 by the Furka Oberalp Bahn (FO), which connects Brig
in Valais
, via Andermatt
in Uri, with Göschenen
, Uri, and Disentis/Mustér
, Graubünden
.
In 1982, the original portion of the FO between Oberwald
in Valais and Realp
in Uri, including the Furka railway station, was replaced by an FO line passing through the then new Furka Base Tunnel. The superseded portion of the FO line was abandoned.
Since , the abandoned portion of the FO line has been progressively reopened from Realp, as a heritage railway
operated by the Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway
(DFB). On , the DFB was extended from its then temporary terminus at Tiefenbach
to Furka via the Steinstafel Viaduct, and the station at Furka was reopened. The station building, reconstructed for the reopening, houses a small restaurant, public conveniences, and a modern block system to control safeworking in the Summit Tunnel.
On , the DFB was extended further, from Furka to Gletsch
, via the Furka Summit Tunnel
.
Furka is the summit of the DFB line. As a general rule, DFB steam locomotive
s travel downhill with the driving cab
facing in the direction of travel, to optimise water levels in the locomotives' boilers. A DFB steam locomotive
operating a train between Realp and Gletsch therefore usually needs to be turned on Furka's restored turntable, in preparation for its descent.
Metre gauge
Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland...
railway station at the eastern portal of the Furka Summit Tunnel
Furka Summit Tunnel
The Furka Summit Tunnel is a long railway tunnel in southern Switzerland. It lies at an altitude of . The summit tunnel was completed in 1925, and first opened on 3 July 1926...
, in the Canton
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of Uri
Canton of Uri
Uri is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and a founding member of the Swiss Confederation. It is located in Central Switzerland. The canton's territory covers the valley of the Reuss River between Lake Lucerne and the St. Gotthard Pass. German is the primary language spoken in Uri...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. The station was opened in 1926. It was then owned and operated from that point until 1981 by the Furka Oberalp Bahn (FO), which connects Brig
Brig railway station
Brig railway station is an important railway junction in the municipality of Brig-Glis , in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland...
in Valais
Valais
The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley...
, via Andermatt
Andermatt railway station
Andermatt railway station is an important railway junction on the metre gauge Furka Oberalp Bahn . It serves the municipality of Andermatt, in the Canton of Uri, Switzerland...
in Uri, with Göschenen
Göschenen railway station
Göschenen railway station, in the Canton of Uri, Switzerland, is an important railway junction on the Gotthardbahn railway line, at the northern end of the Gotthard Rail Tunnel....
, Uri, and Disentis/Mustér
Disentis/Mustér railway station
Disentis/Mustér is the eastern terminus of the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn line from Brig via Andermatt, and the western terminus of the Rhaetian Railway line from Landquart via Chur and Reichenau-Tamins....
, Graubünden
Graubünden
Graubünden or Grisons is the largest and easternmost canton of Switzerland. The canton shares borders with the cantons of Ticino, Uri, Glarus and St. Gallen and international borders with Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein...
.
In 1982, the original portion of the FO between Oberwald
Oberwald railway station
Oberwald railway station is a metre gauge station serving the village of Oberwald, in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland. The station is close to the western portal of the Furka Base Tunnel, on the Furka Oberalp Bahn , which connects Brig in Valais, via the base tunnel and Andermatt in Uri, with...
in Valais and Realp
Realp railway station
Realp railway station is a metre gauge station serving the municipality of Realp, in the Canton of Uri, Switzerland. The station is close to the eastern portal of the Furka Base Tunnel, on the Furka Oberalp Bahn , which connects Brig in Valais, via Andermatt in Uri, with Göschenen, Uri, and...
in Uri, including the Furka railway station, was replaced by an FO line passing through the then new Furka Base Tunnel. The superseded portion of the FO line was abandoned.
Since , the abandoned portion of the FO line has been progressively reopened from Realp, as a heritage railway
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
operated by the Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway
Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway
The Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway is a company which operates a railway line between Realp and Oberwald...
(DFB). On , the DFB was extended from its then temporary terminus at Tiefenbach
Tiefenbach halting point, Switzerland
Tiefenbach halting point , sometimes described as Tiefenbach station, or Tiefenbach railway station, is a metre gauge railway passenger facility, on the eastern side of the Furka Pass, in the Canton of Uri, Switzerland....
to Furka via the Steinstafel Viaduct, and the station at Furka was reopened. The station building, reconstructed for the reopening, houses a small restaurant, public conveniences, and a modern block system to control safeworking in the Summit Tunnel.
On , the DFB was extended further, from Furka to Gletsch
Gletsch railway station
Gletsch railway station is a metre gauge railway station serving the village of Gletsch, in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland.-History and operations:...
, via the Furka Summit Tunnel
Furka Summit Tunnel
The Furka Summit Tunnel is a long railway tunnel in southern Switzerland. It lies at an altitude of . The summit tunnel was completed in 1925, and first opened on 3 July 1926...
.
Furka is the summit of the DFB line. As a general rule, DFB steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s travel downhill with the driving cab
Cab (locomotive)
The cab, crew compartment or driver's compartment of a locomotive is the part of the locomotive housing the train driver or engineer, the fireman or driver's assistant , and the controls necessary for the locomotive's operation....
facing in the direction of travel, to optimise water levels in the locomotives' boilers. A DFB steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
operating a train between Realp and Gletsch therefore usually needs to be turned on Furka's restored turntable, in preparation for its descent.
Rail services to Furka
See also
- Tiefenbach halting point, SwitzerlandTiefenbach halting point, SwitzerlandTiefenbach halting point , sometimes described as Tiefenbach station, or Tiefenbach railway station, is a metre gauge railway passenger facility, on the eastern side of the Furka Pass, in the Canton of Uri, Switzerland....
- Furka Summit TunnelFurka Summit TunnelThe Furka Summit Tunnel is a long railway tunnel in southern Switzerland. It lies at an altitude of . The summit tunnel was completed in 1925, and first opened on 3 July 1926...
- Furka Base Tunnel
- Furka Oberalp Bahn
- Furka Cogwheel Steam RailwayFurka Cogwheel Steam RailwayThe Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway is a company which operates a railway line between Realp and Oberwald...