Cog Railway in German Alps; Bayerische Zugspitzebahn

HemiAdda2d May 1, 2011

  1. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    In Garmisch, Germany is a sleepy little tourist town. It hosts a lot of tiny Bed & Breakfasts, souvenier shops, and Germany's highest point, the Zugspitze. To reach the summit, or "Gipfel", you must take either a 10 min cablecar ride to the 9718' summit, or a 40-min electrified cog railway ride up and through the mountain to 9000 feet elevation. The rest of the way to summit is by way of another cable car ride.
    I took the cog, and the cog trains (as well as standard adhesion commuter rail) went by my hotel each day. Here's one such view from near my hotel, and the grade on the Bayerische Zugspitzebahn is just as steep as it looks. (up to 25%!) A token tunnel shot!

    [​IMG]

    The main station is in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, but my family and I boarded at Eibsee Lake, which is directly adjacent Zugspitze. (another shot here)

    Looking upgrade:

    [​IMG]

    Looking downgrade:

    [​IMG]

    Stay tuned!
     
  2. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    As soon as the train clearns the platform, the climb begins in earnest:

    [​IMG]

    Can you say "Steep!?!"

    [​IMG]

    The line features at least 3 tunnels, the last one is almost 3 miles long, and twists and turns within the bowels of Zugspitze to avoid the snowfields, and terminates at the lower level destination at 2600m elevation. It actually terminates underground, much like a subway. Within the tunnel, the grade is still very steep.

    The summit is a functioning resort, with ski rentals, souvenir shops, restaurants, biergartens (in/outdoor beer tavern), a small museum, coffee bars, and of course, hardy souls can hike to the gipfel, and have their pictures taken automatically.
    The views from the top on a clear day are breathtaking.

    Back on the base of the mountain in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, is a stuffed and mounted electric cog locomotive:

    [​IMG]

    That's all I have--Hope you enjoyed the tour!:D
     
  3. Stourbridge Lion

    Stourbridge Lion TrainBoard Supporter

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    MORE, MORE, MORE!!!!!!!

    :tb-cool: :tb-cool: :tb-cool: :tb-cool:​
     
  4. Coccodrillo

    Coccodrillo TrainBoard Member

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    Hi,

    I was searching something on internet about this railway before visiting it, finding this forum. I have made some photos, but apparently I can't post them before three days as I'm a new user.
     
  5. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Hi Coccodrillo, Welcome to the TrainBoard, we're glad that you are aboard. I'm looking forward to seeing your photos, although Hemi has given us some lovely ones also.
     
  6. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Welcome to TrainBoard!

    Yes. We are set up to hold back new member uploads for three days. This is a safety measure which gives us time to screen out the spammers- Who all too often sign on, then quickly start trying to upload porn and other ugliness.

    We'll look forward to your photos!
     
  7. Coccodrillo

    Coccodrillo TrainBoard Member

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    Hi

    I was searching something on internet about this railway before visiting it, finding this forum. I can then post a few photos.

    Firstly, the entrance of the 4.8 km/3 miles tunnel. It has two branches at the end, because the terminal station was relocated in the 80s to be nearer the ski slopes (the old branch and station are nearly unused, and host a scientific research center).

    [​IMG]

    A service train by the summit station, built in the open air and later covered by rock and a restaurant.

    [​IMG]

    The summit with the Eibsee ropeway station. It climbs 2000 m/6000 ft/1.3 miles in a few minutes.

    [​IMG]

    To the left the station (called Zugspitzeplatt) of the railway and the ropeway linking
    Zugspitzeplatt with the summit, to the right the abandoned intermediate station of a third ropeway coming from Austria (it was rebuilt on another path).

    [​IMG]
     
  8. Coccodrillo

    Coccodrillo TrainBoard Member

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    The tunnel from Zugspitzeplatt.

    [​IMG]

    A train bought second hand from Switzerland. As it is too wide to pass through
    the tunnel it is used only on the lower station.

    [​IMG]
     
  9. JohnMD

    JohnMD TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for the Pics, I have been there actually I was born in the area and still have family there.
     
  10. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Coccodrillo, those are interesting pictures, thank you.

    I am surprised a second-hand trainset that is too large for useage on part of the line would have been purchased. Was the purchase a mistake of poor planning, or was it the original plan to purchase a train for only part of the line?

    Please explain a "ropeway", I am not familiar with the word.
     
  11. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Hytec, I think he refers to a cable car.
    Coccodillo, those are some sweet photos, and they bring back fond memories. Thanks for sharing!
     
  12. Coccodrillo

    Coccodrillo TrainBoard Member

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    I had some problems with the computer and little free time - I will continue with some other photos later.

    I don't know, but because of that, passengers have to transfer from one train to another. There are trains which could make the whole trip, but I suppose there aren't enough to cover all the services.
     

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