Rochers-de-naye-train-at-montreux-station

The Montreux–Glion–Rochers-de-Naye railway line is an electrically operated

rack railway A rack railway (also rack-and-pinion railway, cog railway, or cogwheel railway) is a steep grade railway with a toothed rack rail, usually between the running rails. The trains are fitted with one or more cog wheels or pinions that mesh with ...

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

with a

track gauge In rail transport, track gauge (in American English, alternatively track gage) is the distance between the two rails of a railway track. All vehicles on a rail network must have wheelsets that are compatible with the track gauge. Since many d ...

of . The line connects the resort of

Montreux Montreux (, , ; frp, Montrolx) is a Swiss municipality and town on the shoreline of Lake Geneva at the foot of the Alps. It belongs to the district of Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland, and has a population of approximat ...

, on the shores of

Lake Geneva , image = Lake Geneva by Sentinel-2.jpg , caption = Satellite image , image_bathymetry = , caption_bathymetry = , location = Switzerland, France , coords = , lake_type = Glacial lak ...

, with the summit of the Rochers de Naye mountain. The line operates via the village of

Glion Glion () is a village in the municipality of Montreux in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland. The village is located 700 m.a.s.l., overlooking Lake Geneva. The position of this village in Montreux and the Chauderon Gorge made it a touristic destin ...

, on the mountainside above Montreux, where it connects with the Territet–Glion funicular. The line was originally built as two separate lines by two different companies, the Chemin de fer Glion–Rochers-de-Naye (GN) and the

Chemin de fer Montreux–Glion Chemin or Le Chemin may refer to: Arts and media * ''Le chemin'' (Emmanuel Moire album), 2013 album by French singer Emmanuel Moire * ''Le chemin'' (Kyo album), 2003 album by French band Kyo ** "Le Chemin" (song), title song from same-titled Kyo ...

(MGI). Today, the line is owned and operated by

Transports Montreux–Vevey–Riviera The Transports Montreux–Vevey–Riviera (MVR) is a Swiss railway company. It was formed in 2001 from the merger of four railway companies: the Chemins de fer électriques Veveysans, the Chemin de fer Les Avants-Sonloup, the Chemin de fer Mont ...

. Since 2017, the line is operated with original Belle Epoque carriages preserved and restored by the MOB company.

History

Glion to Rochers-de-Naye

The first section of the line to open was the Glion to Rochers-de-Naye railway, which was built by the ''Chemin de fer Glion–Rochers-de-Naye'' company (GN), and opened in 1892. Initially Glion was reached by the Territet–Glion funicular, which departed from a lower terminus opposite Territet station, the first station east of Montreux station on the

Simplon railway The Simplon Railway is a line that links Lausanne in Switzerland and Domodossola in Italy, via Brig. The -long Simplon Tunnel (opened in 1906) is a major part of it. The line between Lausanne and Vallorbe is sometimes considered to form part of th ...

. The Glion to Rochers-de-Naye railway was built to a gauge of , and the line was operated by

steam locomotive A steam locomotive is a locomotive that provides the force to move itself and other vehicles by means of the expansion of steam. It is fuelled by burning combustible material (usually coal, oil or, rarely, wood) to heat water in the locomot ...

s using the

rack and pinion A rack and pinion is a type of linear actuator that comprises a circular gear (the '' pinion'') engaging a linear gear (the ''rack''). Together, they convert rotational motion into linear motion. Rotating the pinion causes the rack to be driven ...

system devised by

Roman Abt Carl Roman Abt (16 July 1850 – 1 May 1933Herring, Peter (2000).) was a Swiss mechanical engineer, inventor and entrepreneur. He made groundbreaking innovations in rack-and-pinion railways, giving his name to one of the most widely used systems ...

Montreux to Glion

In 1909, the Montreux to Glion railway opened, built by the ''Chemin de fer Montreux-Glion'' company (MGl). This ran from a lower terminus within Montreux station, and at its upper end made an end-to-end junction with the Glion to Rochers-de-Naye line. A

cross-platform interchange A cross-platform interchange is a type of interchange between different lines at a metro (or other railway) station. The term originates with the London Underground; such layouts exist in other networks but are not commonly so named. In the Uni ...

was retained between both lines and the Territet-Glion funicular. The Montreux to Glion railway was built to the same gauge and rack system as the Glion to Rochers-de-Naye railway, but was electrically operated from the start. Until 1938, when the Glion to Rochers-de-Naye line was electrified, trains were handed over in Glion between

electric Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter that has a property of electric charge. Electricity is related to magnetism, both being part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism, as described by ...

and steam locomotives. At the same time, electric

railcar A railcar (not to be confused with a railway car) is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach (carriage, car), with a drive ...

s took over most services, leaving freight and peak traffic, service trains and snow blowing to the electric locomotives.

Merger

Even after through railcars took over most services, the two lines remained the property of different companies. The two companies finally merged in 1987, to form the ''Chemin de fer de Montreux–Glion–Rochers-de-Naye'' company (MGN). In 1992 this company merged with the Territet-Glion funicular to form the ''Chemin de fer Montreux–Territet–Glion–Rochers-de-Naye'' company (MTGN). In 2001, the MTGN was merged into Transports Montreux-Vevey-Riviera (MVR), a company that operates a number of railway lines in the Montreux area. It is marketed under the ''Golden Pass Services' banner.

Closures

In May 2008 the Montreux to Glion section of the line was closed so that work on the lining of the Tunnel de Valmont could be carried out. It reopened on schedule on 2 June ready for the summer season. During this closure the Glion to Caux and Rochers de Naye section had operated normally with the Montreux to Glion section being covered by a replacement bus service.

Route

The railway from Montreux, which departs from platform 8 of the main line

Montreux railway station Montreux railway station (french: Gare de Montreux) is the largest of the railway stations serving the municipality of Montreux, in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland. All of the SBB-CFF-FFS standard gauge passenger trains operating on the Simplon ...

, begins to climb steeply almost as soon as it leaves the station and enters the first of many

tunnel A tunnel is an underground passageway, dug through surrounding soil, earth or rock, and enclosed except for the entrance and exit, commonly at each end. A pipeline is not a tunnel, though some recent tunnels have used immersed tube cons ...

s. The line changes direction by a series of minimum radius curves, views of

Lake Geneva , image = Lake Geneva by Sentinel-2.jpg , caption = Satellite image , image_bathymetry = , caption_bathymetry = , location = Switzerland, France , coords = , lake_type = Glacial lak ...

alternating from side to side, before reaching the station at Glion. The workshops and depot are alongside the line as it leaves

, the main shops accessed from a traverser set off a loop line alongside the main 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-not ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the northern hemisphere they are colloquially known as forget-me-nots ...

s and others, before reaching its upper terminus at Rochers-de-Naye, the home of the

Marmot Marmots are large ground squirrels in the genus ''Marmota'', with 15 species living in Asia, Europe, and North America. These herbivores are active during the summer, when they can often be found in groups, but are not seen during the winter, w ...

Paradise, a centre where seven varieties of these small mammals can be seen in a natural environment. From here there are views over Lake Geneva and across to the French Alps. The line is long and has a vertical climb of . This is made up of the Montreux - Glion section, which climbs in , whilst the Glion - Rochers-de-Naye climbs in . The line uses track of gauge and the

system devised by

. It is electrified using 850 V DC supplied by

overhead lines An overhead line or overhead wire is an electrical cable that is used to transmit electrical energy to electric locomotives, trolleybuses or trams. It is known variously as: * Overhead catenary * Overhead contact system (OCS) * Overhead equipmen ...

. Passing loops are situated in the stations at Glion, Caux, Paccot and Jaman.

Rolling stock

Locomotives

Railcars

Abbreviations. *(b) Fitted for multiple unit with two or three double headed motor coaches serie Bhe 4/8 301-305. *(c) Carries "Marmot Paradis" livery *(d) Carries "Pere Noel" livery, (marking the visit of Santa to Rochers de Naye). *(e) No.302 carries "Veytaux" nameplate low down on cab side on front (uphill) cab. Name removed from locomotive No.3 which is now unnamed. *(f) Painted in new "Golden Pass" gold/white livery from new. *BBC :

Brown, Boveri & Cie Brown, Boveri & Cie. (Brown, Boveri & Company; BBC) was a Swiss group of electrical engineering companies. It was founded in Zürich, in 1891 by Charles Eugene Lancelot Brown and Walter Boveri who worked at the Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon. In 1 ...

*SLM :

Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works Swiss may refer to: * the adjectival form of Switzerland * Swiss people Places * Swiss, Missouri * Swiss, North Carolina *Swiss, West Virginia * Swiss, Wisconsin Other uses *Swiss-system tournament, in various games and sports *Swiss Internation ...

, Winterthur *MFO :

Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon was a Swiss engineering company based in the Zürich district of Oerlikon (Zürich), Oerlikon known for the early development of electric locomotives. It was founded in 1876 by the industrialist Peter Emil Huber-Werdmü ...

Rotary Snowplow

Preserved Coaches

*Coaches of the Montreux-Glion Railway are restored to original red livery, usually kept at Glion and work with Locomotive No.2. During its time at the line also worked with steam locomotive No.1. *Coach No.16 is painted a dark blue livery with lighter blue panels. Also worked with steam locomotive No.1.

Services

The line operates throughout the year, and provides an hourly service in each direction between Montreux and Rochers de Naye from around 09:00 to dusk. Additional services between Montreux and Caux operate in the early morning, in the evenings, and during peak periods. The trains are timed to offer connections at Montreux with main line services of the

Swiss Federal Railways Swiss Federal Railways (german: link=no, Schweizerische Bundesbahnen, ''SBB''; french: link=no, Chemins de fer fédéraux suisses, ''CFF''; it, Ferrovie federali svizzere, ''FFS'') is the national railway company of Switzerland. It is usuall ...

and

MOB Mob or MOB may refer to: Behavioral phenomena * Crowd * Smart mob, a temporary self-structuring social organization, coordinated through telecommunication Crime and law enforcement * American Mafia, also known as the Mob * Irish Mob, a US crimin ...

References

External links

*
Official web site of the Montreux–Glion–Rochers-de-Naye railway
{{DEFAULTSORT:Montreux-Glion-Rochers-de-Naye railway 800 mm gauge railways in Switzerland Mountain railways Rack railways in Switzerland Railway lines in Switzerland Railway lines opened in 1892 Transport in the canton of Vaud Heritage railways in Switzerland Transports Montreux–Vevey–Riviera lines 850 V DC railway electrification