Tiefenbach halting point, Switzerland
Encyclopedia
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
.
In the Swiss German dialect
, the expression Haltestelle normally refers to a railway facility without point
s or switch
es, where scheduled trains are allowed to stop, depart or terminate. Tiefenbach is not strictly a facility of that kind, because it is actually a crossing loop, with a point or switch at each end. Nevertheless, the word Haltestelle is the expression most often used to describe it, perhaps because for such a rudimentary facility, Haltestelle seems more appropriate than Bahnhof.
Between 1926 and 1981, Tiefenbach formed part of the Furka Oberalp Bahn (FO). The portion of the FO on which it is located was then replaced by the Furka Base Tunnel in 1982. Since being reopened in 1992, Tiefenbach has been owned and operated by a heritage railway
, the Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway
(DFB).
Between 1926 and 1981, Muttbach-Belvédère was owned and operated by the 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 Muttbach-Belvédère, 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 The superseded portion of the FO line was abandoned.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 DFB. The first portion to be reopened was the section between Realp and Tiefenbach. On , the DFB was extended from its then temporary terminus at Tiefenbach to Furka
, which is 3.34 kilometres (2.1 mi) further up the DFB line. It has since been further extended, and will shortly be extended again.
Immediately to the west of Tiefenbach, westbound trains operating on the DFB line begin a 11.0% climb towards Furka, with the assistance of an Abt rack rail system.
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 passenger facility, on the eastern side of the Furka Pass
Furka Pass
Furka Pass is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps connecting Gletsch, Valais with Realp, Uri. The Furka-Oberalp-Bahn line through the Furka Tunnel bypasses the pass...
, 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....
.
In the Swiss German dialect
Swiss German
Swiss German is any of the Alemannic dialects spoken in Switzerland and in some Alpine communities in Northern Italy. Occasionally, the Alemannic dialects spoken in other countries are grouped together with Swiss German as well, especially the dialects of Liechtenstein and Austrian Vorarlberg...
, the expression Haltestelle normally refers to a railway facility without point
Railroad switch
A railroad switch, turnout or [set of] points is a mechanical installation enabling railway trains to be guided from one track to another at a railway junction....
s or switch
Railroad switch
A railroad switch, turnout or [set of] points is a mechanical installation enabling railway trains to be guided from one track to another at a railway junction....
es, where scheduled trains are allowed to stop, depart or terminate. Tiefenbach is not strictly a facility of that kind, because it is actually a crossing loop, with a point or switch at each end. Nevertheless, the word Haltestelle is the expression most often used to describe it, perhaps because for such a rudimentary facility, Haltestelle seems more appropriate than Bahnhof.
Between 1926 and 1981, Tiefenbach formed part of the Furka Oberalp Bahn (FO). The portion of the FO on which it is located was then replaced by the Furka Base Tunnel in 1982. Since being reopened in 1992, Tiefenbach has been owned and operated by 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...
, 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).
History and description
Tiefenbach was first opened in 1926. Nominally, it serves the village of Tiefenbach UR, which consists essentially of the Hotel Tiefenbach and some outbuildings. However, the village is located on the Furka Pass road, about 265 metres (869.4 ft) higher in altitude than the railway halting point. The back of the Tiefenbach station building is built into the side of the mountain, to give the building some protection from the annual avalanches. For that reason, only the façade of the station building is visible.Between 1926 and 1981, Muttbach-Belvédère was owned and operated by the 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 Muttbach-Belvédère, 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 DFB. The first portion to be reopened was the section between Realp and Tiefenbach. On , the DFB was extended from its then temporary terminus at Tiefenbach to Furka
Furka railway station
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...
, which is 3.34 kilometres (2.1 mi) further up the DFB line. It has since been further extended, and will shortly be extended again.
Immediately to the west of Tiefenbach, westbound trains operating on the DFB line begin a 11.0% climb towards Furka, with the assistance of an Abt rack rail system.
Rail services to Tiefenbach
See also
- Realp railway stationRealp railway stationRealp 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...
- Furka railway stationFurka railway stationFurka 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...
- 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...
External links
- Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway
- Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (successor to the FO)
- Official timetable of Switzerland