Furka Summit Tunnel
The Furka tunnel is a 1874 m long Swiss railway tunnel. It was completed in 1925 and connects the stops Muttbach and Furka steam train Furka, previously Furka-Oberalp -Bahn and is 2,160 m above sea level. M. the highest Alps puncture Switzerland.
Until the opening of the Furka base tunnel on 25 June 1982, the former Furka -Oberalp -Bahn ( FO) intercourse with three timetable periods. The summer schedule corresponded to the then European timetable. The winter timetable was divided by the FO in a fall and winter schedule, because you could continue to operate over the Furka only until mid-October.
As soon as the snow fell, had the train as far as this, that the rolling stock on both parts was required in accordance ready. Then, the electric catenary was dismantled, including the masts on nearly 15 miles and made the track " avalanche- friendly". All parts, which rose more than 1 m above the ground, were dismantled and stored. The tunnel has been closed by means of portals in order to prevent the ingress of snow. The Steffenbach bridge on the Uri side, built as a viaduct, was already in the first winter after the building of an avalanche victim. So there still exists today a folding steel bridge was built, which could be withdrawn in three parts on the abutments and so brought every fall to safety. For this work were the days of FO- operation only hand-operated winches available. Consider that on this bridge up to 200 may communicate with t load. This annually recurring work meant a considerable effort and led to corresponding operating costs.
Nevertheless, some early onset of winter has brought the web into trouble, the staff had then but clearing the route under dangers and trains had to Göschenen or Chur geschemelt to standard gauge vehicles are transported reversed to Brig or, namely on the side where it was needed.
For the work to 1968 steam locomotives of type HG 3/4 were used, which were then replaced by modern diesel-electric locomotives FO HGm 4/4. Beginning of June, the route will be reopened. These snow plows had to be used and hurl. Many times the snow heights in the narrow Alpine valleys were so high that the snow in many layers by hand and with heavy construction equipment had to be removed until the web slings could be used. The machinery had to be brought on open rail cars on the spot. So you could open the railway line two weeks earlier. At a high price. In June 1963, the train experienced the worst situation at the opening of the route. A team on the steam train on the snow front was, above Gletsch caught by an avalanche and ripped into the depths. There were several fatalities, including a journalist who made a documentary about the snow removal.
Then the construction of the Furka base tunnel was driven, which could be opened finally in 1982. The mountain route should be dismantled first. Railway enthusiasts founded the club in 1983 Furka mountain route which allowed the gradual reopening of the Mountain plug. After his repair of the summit tunnel is used by the steam train Furka again since 2001.