We literally spent all day traversing Swiss alpine villages and the Southern Alps from the comfort of the Red Trains. The scenery was constantly spectacular and I will attempt to review some of the highlights.
Not too long after leaving St Moritz, our train had to climb significant elevations. This was described as good for the rider but bad for the train. So a series of 360 degree curves were built which allowed the train to climb more steadily and gradually.
Here is a picture of our train navigating one of these turns. Much of these elevation modifications were also done in tunnels. The technology to build these rail lines is amazing.
A little while later, we cruised along the headwaters of the Rhine River. The Rhine is perhaps the best known river that has its headwaters fed by the glaciers of Switzerland … but it is not the only one. The Danube, Po, and the Rhone also begin in the Swiss Alps. The reality that so much of Europe’s water supply comes from Switzerland coined the phrase: Switzerland is Europe’s Water Castle. A little further into the ride, we came to an area where much of these waters flow. A lighthouse from Rotterdam, the Netherlands that had provided light from its perch on the Atlantic Ocean had been decommissioned … its lights were brought to a spot in the Rhine River Gorge as a testiment of thanks to Switzerland for providing 6% of Europe’s fresh water.
The next major stop was at the spot of the train’s highest elevation of the ride … close to 10,000 feet above sea level.
This is our guide who knew all the answers before we even asked the questions !!
From here it was generally downhill through beautiful mountains and valleys. The scenery was incredibly consistent. Mountain peaks in the 7,500 foot range … except we were now rolling closer to the valley floors looking up at the Alps.
Finally we rolled down a last valley to the mountain town of Zermatt … as we got off the train, the thunder and rain began. It turned out that our train was the last one to arrive in Zermatt that evening. The thunderstorms flooded the rail lines, causing later trains to back up and seek alternative lodging for the night. Their bags had arrived earlier, so we considered ourselves very fortunate.
The Adventures of Barry Brink 