Chemin de fer Montreux-Glion-Rochers-de-Naye

The Chemin de fer Monteux - Glion - Rochers-de-Naye is an electrically operated rack and pinion railway in Switzerland, with a track gauge of 800 mm (2 ft 7½ in), which links the places mentioned in its title.

History

The line, as we know it today, was built by two independent companies, the Chemin de fer Glion-Rochers-de-Naye (GN), which linked the two places in its title and opened in 1892, and the Chemin de fer Montreux-Glion (MGl), with which it made an end - on junction, and which opened in 1909. Prior to this opening in 1909 the GN line formed a cross - platform connection with the Chemin de fer funiculaire Territet-Glion, a feature which still operates today and forms part of the station at Glion. The line operates on 850 V DC with overhead electrical pick up. The line is built to a gauge of 800 mm and is totally a rack and pinion system based on that devised by Roman Abt.

The Line

The railway from Montreux, which departs from platform 8 of the main line station begins to climb steeply almost as soon as it leaves the station and enters the first of many tunnels, changing direction by a series of loops, views of Lake Geneva alternating from side to side, before reaching the station at Glion, which is also the upper terminus of a funicular, the Chemin de fer funiculaire Territet-Glion. The workshops and depot are alongside the line as it leaves Glion the main shops accessed from a traverser off a side line.

The line continues higher to the small village of Caux passing through Alpine meadows which, in the Springtime, are full of wild growing Narcissus, Forget - Me - Nots and others, before reaching its upper terminus at Rochers-de-Naye, the home of the Marmot Paradise, a centre where seven varieties of these small mammals can be seen in a natural environment. From here there are spectacular views over Lake Geneva and across to the French Alps, well worth the trip alone.

The vertical climb of the Montreux - Glion section is 305 m, whilst that of the Glion - Rochers-de-Naye is 1273 m, giving a total of 1578 m. The line is now marketed as part of the "Golden Pass Route".

Locomotive and Railcars

Nowadays the line is home to just one electric locomotive, class HGe2/2, No.2, built by SLM / MFO in 1909, and similar to those found working on the Schynige Platte Bahn and the Jungfraubahn. It was originally part of a delivery of 3 locomotives. Of its two sisters, No.1 was lost in an avalanche in 1966 and No.3 sold to the MOB ten years later.

For the first time in many years the line became home to a steam locomotive in 1992 when it took delivery of a "light oil" fired locomotive built by SLM. This was sold to the Brienz Rothorn Bahn in September 2003, becoming their No.16.

The line is also home to a "Kneeling Cow" diesel locomotive, class Hm 2/2, No.4, built by SLM / Siemens in 1973 and delivered to the Brienz Rothorn Bahn where it became their No.8. Although sold to the line in 1995 it still carries the BRB name and nameplate "Brienz" on one side and is still painted in their red livery. Also on the line can be found a rotary snowplough, numbered No.3, Class Xrote, showing its maker to be Beilhock of Rosenheim.

Passenger traffic is handled by railcars. On lighter traffic days and service times these are 36 - seat single units of class Beh 2/4. The class originally consisted of 8 members, No's.201 to 208, built by SLM / Siemens, the first 5 being delivered in 1939, the others in 1949, 1949 and 1966 respectively. Today only No's 201, 203, 204 and 208 are still working. In busier times there are four twin - units of class Bhe 4/8, again built by SLM / Siemens, No's 301 - 303 being delivered in 1983 and No.304 in 1992.

Services

The line operates an hourly service in each direction; from Montreux, in the summer months to Rochers de Naye and at other times as far as Caux. The trains are timed to offer connections at Montreux with main line services of the SBB-CFF-FFS and MOB.

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