Train enthusiasts are gathering this weekend to mark the 100th anniversary of a historic Swiss railway, the Furka Pass steam line, which first opened on July 3, 1926. Vintage steam locomotives are ferrying tourists through the stunning Alpine scenery as part of the celebrations. The Furka Pass, at 2,431 meters (7,976 feet) above sea level, is one of Switzerland's highest Alpine passes and is famous for its hairpin curves featured in the 1964 James Bond film "Goldfinger."
Historic Railway's Origins
Long before actor Sean Connery filmed a car chase scene there, a steam train first traversed the steep, winding route on July 3, 1926, establishing a vital rail link between the regions of Uri and Valais in central Switzerland. The line operated for decades until the early 1980s, when a tunnel at the base of the Alps diverted rail traffic, leading to the closure of the historic mountain route. Volunteers, nicknamed the railway's "pioneers," stepped in to restore, maintain, and operate the historic tracks and trains so they run exactly as they did a century ago.
Restoration and Reopening
The first section of the line reopened as a heritage railway in 1992, and the full 18-kilometer (11-mile) track was ready for travel by 2010. Today, the steam trains operate exclusively as a tourist attraction during the summer months, running between the stations of Realp and Oberwald. Visitors can board vintage carriages and enjoy views of rivers, Alpine meadows, and lush green pastures where patches of snow still linger.
Tourists last month experienced the journey aboard the "dampflokomotive" through the German-speaking region. Passenger Stephan Willareth described his trip as "wonderful," while Kurt Guldemann, a former employee of the Swiss railways, praised the history of the machines.
Volunteer Passion and Skill
Bernhard Lang, one of many enthusiast volunteers who drive the vintage steam trains, noted that mastering the skill can take years. "It's something like a living machine, so you have to get kind of the feeling for it," he said. "To feel how it behaves, how it moves, how it smells, how it sounds." Jacob Kallert, a 21-year-old German transport engineering student and the youngest train manager, emphasized the importance of listening to the locomotives. "You hear every sound, you hear if everything is right," he said. "You can pretty much feel how it was then and how it is now."
Volunteer Sergio Rovelli joked that anyone who dedicates time to the project becomes hooked. "We say, in German, that everyone who works here has the 'Furka Virus, the Furka disease,'" he said. "Once you come here, you like it, and you stay."
Ticket Prices and Celebration
A one-way ticket starts at 46 Swiss francs ($56.82) for a journey lasting just under two and a half hours. The anniversary celebration began Friday and will continue through the weekend, offering train enthusiasts and tourists alike a chance to experience a living piece of Swiss railway history.
