Monte Generoso railway

The Monte Generoso Railway, abbreviated MG, Italian: Ferrovia Monte Generoso, officially Ferrovia Monte Generoso SA is a Swiss railway company in the form of a stock corporation domiciled in Capolago. It operates the only Swiss narrow gauge rack railway south of the Alps, which leads up from Capolago on the Monte Generoso and runs each from spring to late autumn.

  • 4.1 steam locomotives
  • 4.2 diesel locomotive
  • 4.3 diesel railcars

History

Configuration

After the construction of the first two Swiss mountain railways, the standard gauge rack railways on Mount Rigi, the Vitznau -Rigi Railway in 1871 and the Arth- Rigi Railway in 1875, today's Rigi -Bahn, there remained quiet for the construction of other mountain railways. This had to do not only with the general economic downturn after the Franco-German war 1870/1871 but also with standards set by the authorities framework for railway construction. The construction of cheaper rail lines in narrow gauge was not until the construction of the meter-gauge narrow gauge train Lausanne- Echallens (LE ) in 1873, today's narrow-gauge train Lausanne- Echallens - Bercher ( LEB ) is possible.

For the first time saving opportunity was taken by narrow gauge railway construction in the construction of the funicular to Monte Generoso. Other additional cost reductions were achieved by use of the racks after the Abbot system with two blades on 800 mm gauge. This could even then be made ​​considerably cheaper than that of the rack used in the built up to the Rigi rack railway system Riggenbach.

Otherwise, the Monte Generoso Railway was largely modeled on the Vitznau- Rigi -Bahn (VRB ). Typical in this regard were the pure steam locomotives with the gear but now lying mounted boiler in the middle of the cab on the side of the valley and the small luggage compartment on the mountain side. For passenger transport, the English car design as well as the clutch system adopted by the Rigi -Bahn. The passengers entered the compartment car through the many doors of the page. The conception as a compartment car allowed a favorable seat weight. The cars were joined by a central buffer to the mountain. The connection was secured by a drop hook so that the cars in case of an emergency at any time could be released from the locomotive, from which on the mountain side of the passenger car present on a platform brakeman, and was brought independently to a halt.

The design of the railway line to the rack by Abt system with two fins on steel sleepers with 800 mm gauge, the basic concept of the steam locomotive, albeit in again improved form without luggage compartment, as well as the compartment passenger cars served in the sequence, the built in quick succession gear cable cars, for example, on the Brienz Rothorn, with the built in 1892 Brienz- Rothorn -Bahn ( BRB ), the Rochers -de- Naye built funicular Gion - Rochers -de- Naye (GN ) also in 1892, or but on the Snowdon in Wales built in 1896 Snowdon Mountain Railway and other mountain railways as a model.

For the Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works (SLM ) in Winterthur arose on the basis of the Monte Generoso Railway rapidly the possibility of not only establishment in the market niche of the steam tramway locomotives to become successful in the market niche of the mountain railway cog steam locomotives worldwide with two different legs to establish.

Establishment and operation

On June 5, 1890, the Monte Generoso Railway started operating, but the passenger frequencies fell short of expectations. Early as 1904 led economic difficulties for the company's liquidation, the corporation was founded in 1909 by new owners also went bankrupt in 1914. The company again two years later formed in 1921 renovated financially and yet had to stop the traffic in September 1939. Thereupon the Migros founder Gottlieb Duttweiler sat vehemently for the preservation of the gear train. Migros took the cog railway and on 12 March 1941, the operation was resumed.

In 1954, the steam locomotives by two built on the base of former steam locomotives diesel locomotives (Hm 2/3 1 and 2), and in 1957 by two four-axle diesel railcars ( Bhm 2/4 3 and 4) were replaced, resulting in a more economical operation allowed. Two two-axle diesel railcars ( Bhm 1/2 5 and 6), came in 1968 to do so. 1982 could be ( 4/8 11 to 14 Bhe ) was added after an extensive refurbishment of electrical equipment with four double railcars.

For several years, can also be driven with steam up the mountain again. The long time on a pedestal in Capolago erected as a memorial steam locomotive HG 2/3 was worked up in the meantime operational and is regularly used for special trips and individual scheduled train rides.

Route

The valley station of the Monte Generoso Railway is located on 273 m above sea level. M. Capolago next to the SBB train station. The terminus Lake is located about 300 meters north, on the shores of Lake Lugano at the pier, but is approached only once a day.

From the station the cog railway crosses the Gotthard railway line and leads steeply south up the slope. After a helical tunnel you pass on 707 m above sea level. M. the stop San Nicola. On the side facing away from the lake she now climbs the wooded slope high and reaches Bella Vista ( 1,222 m above sea level. M. ). From 1891 to 1913 joined the Tramway Bella Vista ( TB) - a horse track with 600 mm gauge - this station with the hotel pasta. After a few short tunnel under the ridge of the trains reach the mountain station Generoso Vetta ( 1,605 m above sea level. M. ). The maximum slope on the track is 22%.

Vehicle park

  • Steam locomotive H 2/ 3 2 (1890) SLM
  • Diesel locomotive Hm 2/3 1 (1953 ) SLM, Monte Generoso Railway, Sour ( motor) conversion of H 2/3 5
  • Diesel locomotive Hm 2/2 7 (1975 ), Buhler ( tavern ), Paul Pleiger Maschinenfabrik ( Hattingen - Blankenstein | Blankenstein ), Monte Generoso Railway
  • Dual gear railcar Bhe 4/8 11-14 (1982 ) SLM, Siemens, largely Identical to the 1983 through the gear train Glion - Rochers -de- Naye (GN ) purchased Bhe 4/8 301-303 11: Capolago; 12: Mendrisio; 13: Salorino; 14: St. Gallen ( Migros Cooperatives St. Gallen, Migros Eastern Switzerland today )
  • B4 1, ex cog railway Glion - Rochers -de- Naye (GN ) AB4 18, ex. BC4 18
  • More cars
  • Different goods and service vehicles

Former car park

Steam locomotives

  • H 2/ 3 1, 3-6 (1890) SLM, H 2/ 3 5 6 conversion into diesel locomotive H 2/ 3 1 2
  • Sold H 2/ 3 7 (1892 ) SLM, ex cog railway Glion - Rochers -de- Naye (GN ) 4, 1962 Brienz- Rothorn -Bahn ( BRB )
  • H 2/ 3 8 (1892 ) SLM, ex cog railway Glion - Rochers -de- Naye (GN ) 6
  • H 2/ 3 9 (1891 ) SLM, later renumbered 1, ex cog railway Glion - Rochers -de- Naye (GN ) 1

Diesel Locomotive

  • Diesel locomotive Hm 2/3 2 (1954 ) SLM, Monte Generoso Railway, Sour ( motor) conversion of H 2/3 6

DMUs

  • DMUs Bhm 2/4 3 4 ( 1957) SIG, Bussing (Engine)
  • Bhm 1/2 5 6 (1968 ) Regazzoni (Lugano ), Buhler ( tavern), Monte Generoso Railway, Caterpillar (Engine)
Grade (slope) Lausanne–Echallens–Bercher railway Compartment coach Brienzer Rothorn Brienz–Rothorn railway Rochers de Naye Insolvency Horsecar Saurer
324770
de