The
view back from the train just above Rigi Kaltbad. May 30 2003
'The
William Tell Express'
Friday May 30 2003
We ran non stop now to the summit station at Rigi Kulm.
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The
view back from the train just above Rigi Kaltbad. May 30 2003 |
From the now small station Staffelhöhe, the terminus of the line from May 21 1871 to July 3 1873, the Vitznau Rigi Bahn runs over what were the metals of the Arth Rigi Bahn prior to the 1992 merger. Running was on a lease agreement. The Arth Rigi Bahn is also a standard gauge line. These two routes to Rigi Kulm run parallel from Staffel station.
At Staffel the Vitznau line joins the line from Goldau to run in parallel to the summit. The Arth Rigi Bahn line to Goldau can be seen making its way of down the mountain. May 30 2003
Arrival at the summit was a little late but nothing to worry about. We were scheduled a stop of one hour fifteen minutes at the summit. This appeared as if it could be a little tight to see and do everything. So without any mucking around we headed off to walk to last bit to the summit with its radio transmitter and fantastic views.
At Staffel we had passed an empty carriage parked up. No sooner had we all disembarked No.16 and train set off back down the hill to pick up this carriage to make our train up to a three carriages.
At Rigi Kulm it is possible to walk to last bit to the very top. Panoramic views open up in all directions. This view shows the joint summit station with an electric service from Vitznau in the platform. Once again that is Lake Lucerne in the valley. May 30 2003
At the very end of the lines from Goldau and Vitznau there is a shed, perhaps the shed with one of the best views possible ! May 30 2003
The views from the very top (5899 feet) are in every direction. Looking over the edge to the north Zugger See (the lake) and the towns of Walchwil and, in the distance, Zug, are visible. Beyond are the flatter lands of north west Switzerland. May 30 2003
Looking approximately northwest you can see one corner of Lake Lucerne and the town of Küssnacht. Lucerne is the town just visible on the finger of the lake middle left. May 30 2003
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There
is a narrow strip of land separating the two lakes, Lucerne and Zug. It
is well used with the Gotthard railway route and autobahn making their
ways south. May 30 2003 |
Looking more westward now the steepness of the edge is obvious. The mountain, middle left, above Lake Lucerne is Pilatus. May 30 2003
In the south westerly direction the route down to the station and the summit hotel lead the eye to the mountains of central Switzerland. May 30 2003
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Looking
east over the edge of Rigi and Lake Zug. May 30 2003 |
Several thousand feet below a quadruple headed freight train heads towards the Gotthard pass with a southbound service. May 30 2003.
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The
town of Goldau is dominated by the railway yards. The previously seen
freight train can just be seen heading through the station. May 30 2003 |
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Walking
around the summit area gives this stunning view over Goldau and beyond.
The Gotthard Pass is off somewhere to the right of the wooden cross. May
30 2003 |
A little further around is this rather lonely building over looking the south easterly view. May 30 2003
Yet more mountains ! The view south from Rigi summit. May 30 2003
Having been around the summit we headed back down for a quick drink and a piece of cake outside the hotel before making our way back to the station for the train to Vitznau. We had ended up with about an hour and ten minutes at Rigi Kulm. I think perhaps an extra half an hour or so would have been good, but I wouldn't be saying that if it had been raining !! As it was we couldn't quite believe how lucky we were being with the weather, especially as we were told this was the first decent day that week and in light of the excellent weather had back in August 2000 when in Switzerland.
Having been down to Staffel to pick up an extra coach (the yellow one) No.16 is now ready to head back downhill to Vitznau. May 30 2003
Arth Rigi Bahn electric No.12 stands at Rigi Kulm alongside No.16 of the Vitznau Rigi Bahn. The Arth Rigi Bahn once ran to Arth but in 1959 the line was cut back to Goldau. May 30 2003
A clear view ! No.16 at Rigi Kulm shortly before departure. As on the Vitznau line the Arth line also uses the Riggenbach rack system. May 30 2003
No.16 sits at Rigi Kulm. Note the reversing rod on this side (the drivers side) of the loco. May 30 2003
We made a punctual departure at 15:20, and sat back to enjoy the 50 minute run back downhill.