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Rigibahnen AG
Vitznau-Rigi Bahn  -  Arth-Rigi Bahn  -  Luftseilbahn Weggis-Rigi Kaltbad 

Rigi - www.simplonpc.co.uk

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This page shows postcards and images of the rack railways and cable cars on Rigi, located between two of the arms of Lake Luzern, in Switzerland.

Rigi-Bahnen AG is a group of railways on Rigi, including two standard gauge rack railways, the Vitznau-Rigi Bahn (VRB) and the Arth-Rigi Bahn (ARB), along with the Luftseilbahn Weggis-Rigi Kaltbad (LWRK) cable car.

Reaching a height of 1,752 metres above sea level, the Rigi-Bahnen are the highest standard gauge railways in Europe. They are also the highest railways in both cantons of Luzern and Schwyz. The Vitznau-Rigi Bahn is also notable as the first mountain rack railway in Europe, and only the second in the world, after the Mount Washington Cog Railway in the United States.

A third railway, the Rigi-Scheiddegg Bahn was never electrified, and closed in 1931. It survives as a panoramic footpath.

In 1992 the Arth-Rigi-Bahn (ARB) in Arth and the Rigibahn in Vitznau, formally the Vitznau-Rigi-Bahn (VRB), and the Luftseilbahn Weggis-Rigi Kaltbad (LWRK) combined to create Rigi Bahnen AG.

 (Ref: Wikipedia)


 

Locomotive Classes on this Page
Other Swiss Pages
   GFM/TPF - Metre & Standard Gauge in Fribourg
   LEB - Metre Gauge railway from Lausanne - this page
   NStCM - Metre Gauge railway from Nyon
   Geneva Trams & Trolleybuses
   CGN Header Page - Lake Geneva - Lac Leman
   CGN Page 1 - CGN Paddle Steamers 1822-1886
   CGN Page 2 - CGN Paddle Vessels 1887-2004
   CGN Page 3 - CGN Screw Motor Vessels
   LNM - Lacs de Neuchâtel & Morat



 

Associated Pages

References
   Swiss Railways
       Platform 5 European Handbook No.5  by Haydock, Fox, Garvin
   Lokomotiven & Triebwagen der Schweizer Bahnen
       Band 2: Privatbahnen Westschweiz & Wallis by Peter Willen (Orell Fuessli Verlag)
http://www..com
Contacts
   Website:- www.leb.ch

http://www..com
 

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Rigibahnen AG
Vitznau-Rigi Bahn  -  Arth-Rigi Bahn  -  Luftseilbahn Weggis-Rigi Kaltbad 

Rigi - www.simplonpc.co.uk

All images link to larger copies which will open in a new window/tab



Vitznau-Rigi Bahn (RB/VRB)

Aware of the scenic location of Mount Rigi, Swiss engineer Niklaus Riggenbach masterminded the construction of a railway from Vitznau, on the shores of Lake Luzern and the southern flank of Mount Rigi, to a point close to its summit. He already had the technology as he had patented, in France in 1863, a system of toothed racks set between the railway tracks interlocking with cogwheels fitted under the locomotives.

Jointly, with fellow engineers Olivier Zschokke and Adolf Naef, he submitted an application to the canton of Luzern for permission to build a line from Vitznau to Rigi Staffelhöhe, a point somewhat below the summit of Rigi, but the nearest point to the summit within that canton. The cantonal administration already knew of the success of the Mount Washington Railway and saw the advantages in this construction, granting permission on 9 June 1869.

The construction itself began in the following September, the limited liability company, which had offered 1250 shares was greatly over-subscribed on the first day of issue. On 21 May 1870, Riggenbach’s birthday, locomotive No.1, named Stadt Luzern, made its first trial run. Exactly one year later the first mountain railway using rack and pinion technology was officially opened, Riggenbach, never noted for missing an opportunity, drove the first train to the upper terminus at Rigi Staffelhöhe.

The line, from Vitznau to Rigi Staffelhöhe was 5 km (3.1 mi) long and climbed a total of 1,115 m (3,658 ft) to reach a height of 1,550 m (5,085 ft) at its summit, the maximum gradient being 1 in 4 (25%). (Ref: Wikipedia)


(Ref: Wikipedia)






VRB/RB Steam Operation

The Rigibahn used Riggenbach rack system. The first steam locomotives had vertical boilers, considered as the best solution for the steep gradients of the track. The locomotives could push either two small coaches or one large one.

The first three 1870/1871 locomotives were delivered by the Niklaus Riggenbach railway workshops in Olten. The locomotives were named Stadt Luzern, Stadt Basel and Stadt Bern and they were numbered 1-3. In 1872 three more locomotives (4-6) were delivered without names. Since traffic continued to increase, four more locos (7-10) were delivered in 1873, this time built by SLM.

The vertical boiler and firebox certainly had its advantages, but access was difficult for inspection and cleaning. Between 1882-1892 Riggenbachs Schnapsbrennereien, for 9000 to 10,000 SFr each, converted the locos to conventional horizontal boilers. Locos 5 and 10 were later fitted with superheaters. SLM built new locomotive No.11 in 1899 so that there was always a loco in reserve - the peak August service requiring ten locos in service. Due to further increases in traffic, similar No.12 was delivered in 1902.

In 1908 Arth-Rigi Bahn loco No.2 was acquired and renumbered 14. Final steam loco deliveries were Nos.15-17 in 1913, 1923 and 1925. No.15 was withdrawn in 1941 but Nos.16/17 survived and were restored for occasional use in 1969-71.

In 1937 SLM rebuilt No.7 back to its original state with vertical boiler and luggage platform and in 1939, temporarily designated as RB No.1, it was exhibited at the Swiss National Exhibition in Zurich. It then returned for use as a monument to Vitznau. In 1959 it moved to the Museum of Transport in Luzern. The remaining locomotives were withdrawn between 1913-1937.

For the 125th anniversary VRB No.7 was made operational and was used during summer 1996 between Rigi Staffel and Rigi Kulm. In 1997 it returned for the anniversary '150 years Swiss Railways' - again on the Rigi Bahnen, but this time from Arth-Goldau. The elderly locomotive then returned to the Museum of Transport at Luzern.


(Ref: www.swissrails.ch)

Postcard of restored VRB vertical boiler loco No.7 in service
Vitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards




Postcard of restored VRB vertical boiler loco No.7
Vitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards




Postcard of restored VRB vertical boiler loco No.7 plinthed at Vitznau (on right)
Vitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards




Historic postcards of rebuilt and new VRB steam locos
Vitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards Vitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards




Postcard of restored VRB steam loco No.16 (centre)
Railcar No.5 is to the left and plinthed vertical boiler loco No.7 on the right

Vitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards




Postcards of restored VRB steam loco No.17
Vitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards







RB/VRB Electric Operation

The Arth-Rigi Bahn was the first of the Rigi-Bahnen to be electrified, completed in 1929. Electrification of the Vitznau-Rigi Bahn was completed in 1937 supplying 1500V DC through overhead wires.

VRB railcars numbered 1-3 were introduced with the electrification of the line in 1937 and were products of SLM/BBC. Designated class Bhe2/4, they are painted in a red livery. A fourth railcar designated Ceh 2/4 arrived in 1953. Following increases in traffic on the line a further class BDhe4/4 No.5 from the same makers arrived in 1964 to a slightly updated design.

In 1986, SLM/BBC supplied two railcars (BDhe2/4), numbered 21 and 22, plus single-ended driving trailers (Bt) numbered 31 and 32. Although the railcars are capable of working as single units they are normally to be found working with the trailers.

A battery-powered shunter for use at Vitznau was purchased in 1982. Parts of the former SBB loco Tm 540 (Raco, 1949) were incorporated in the design, which was built by the company Raco and Stadler. The Ta 2/2 No.1 is a battery tractor that has a speed of 5 km/h, and can pull a load of 35 tons.


(Ref: www.swissrails.ch)

Postcards of 1937 Bhe2/4 railcars No.1-5, pushing older vehicles converted to control trailers
Vitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards




Postcard of 1937 VRB Bhe2/4 railcar No.1
Vitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards




Photo of Bhe2/4 1937 VRB railcar No.1
Photo: ©1985 Ian Boyle

Vitznau-Rigi Bahn - Photo: ©1985 Ian Boyle - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards




Postcard of 1937 Bhe2/4 railcar No.2
Vitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards




Photos of 1937 Bhe2/4 VRB railcar No.3
Photos: ©1985 Ian Boyle

Vitznau-Rigi Bahn - Photo: ©1985 Ian Boyle - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - Photo: ©1985 Ian Boyle - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - Photo: ©1985 Ian Boyle - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards




Postcards of 1937 VRB Bhe2/4 railcars No.3
Vitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards




Postcard of 1964 VRB Bhe2/4 railcar No.5 (left)
Vitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards




Postcard of 1964 BDhe2/4 VRB railcar & trailer Nos.21+31
Vitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsVitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards







Arth-Rigi Bahn

By the time construction started on the Arth–Rigi Railway, construction had also started on the Gotthard railway, the Swiss trans-alpine railway line from northern Switzerland to the south and Italy. It was clear that this main line railway would include a station in Arth, now known as Arth-Goldau station.

The concession to construct the Arth–Rigi Railway was ceded, in 1873, to the International Company for Mountain Railways in Aarau, a company founded by Riggenbach and this company carried out the railway project as general contractor at a cost of CHF 4.2 million and also supplied five of the six steam locomotives needed to operate it. Construction of the first section, that from Arth-am-See, a station by Lake Zug, to Oberarth commenced in 1873 and once the position of the railway station in had been agreed with the main line company, in 1874, construction work on the second section began, the Arth-Rigi Railway becoming operational on 4 June 1875. The line offered only summertime services until 1884 when year-round operation commenced.

The line from Arth to the junction at Rigi Staffelhöhe was 6.8 km (4.2 mi) long, making the total length of the Arth line 8.6 km (5.3 mi) The maximum gradient is 1 in 5 (20%).

The first electrification, on the short section of line from Arth to Goldau, came with the commencement of the winter timetable in 1906. The mountain section from Goldau to Rigi Kulm, only operated in the summer until 1928, had the power switched on the following year, making this the first standard gauge rack and pinion railway in the country to convert to electric traction.


(Ref: Wikipedia)

ARB Steam Operations

The Arth-Rigi Bahn (ARB) ordered five locos for the use on the railway from Aarau. Initially it was intended that these would be vertical-boilered like those on the Vitznau-Rigi Bahn (VRB). The accessibility and maintenance problems of the vertical boilers were by then apparent and it was decided to change to design to incorporate conventional loco boilers. The VRB locos were subsequently rebuilt with similar boilers. Loco Nos.1-3 were used by the contractors during construction of the railway. Nos.4-5 arrived shortly after the opening. No.4 was involved in a accident in 1885 and was rebuilt as a dual rack and adhesion loco which could be used as a shunter. Loco Nos. 1-5 were either sold or scrapped after electrification.

A further loco (No.6) was delivered in 1899 from SLM. The performance of the new locomotive was significantly better than in the older locos and when the railway was electrified it was kept in reserve and used for works trains and snow plough work. It was withdrawn in 1941 and scrapped in 1945, so no ARB steam engines have been preserved.


(Ref: www.swissrails.ch)

Postcard of an ARB steam train
Arth-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards




ARB Electric Operations

The Arth-Rigi Bahn was the first of the Rigi-Bahnen to be electrified, initially from Arth to Goldau in 1907. Completion through to Rigi Kulm was not until 1929. BDhe 2/4 railcars by Rastatt/Wüst and numbered 3-5 were introduced with the electrification in 1907 (Nos. 1-2 were shunters).

Railcar BDhe 2/4 No.6 was delivered by SWS/SLM/MFO in 1911. It was restored in 1988. Similar No.7 arrived in 1929. Four more modern BDhe 2/4 railcars 11-14 were delivered by SLM/SAAS in 1949 (2x), 1954 and 1967. A more powerful BDhe 4/4 railcar No.15 was bought from SLM/BBC in 1982.


(Ref: www.swissrails.ch)

Postcards of original ARB electric railcars
Arth-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards




Postcards of ARB electric railcar BDhe 2/4 No.6
Arth-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsArth-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsArth-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards




Postcards of original ARB electric railcar No.7
Arth-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards




Postcards of original ARB 1954 electric railcar BDhe 2/4 No.12
Vitznau-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards




Postcards of original ARB 1954 electric railcar BDhe 2/4 No.12
Arth-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsArth-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsArth-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsArth-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsArth-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsArth-Rigi Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards







Rigi-Scheidegg Bahn

Whilst the Arth-Rigi railway was under construction, another line on the Rigi massif was also being built. This linked Rigi-Kaltbad, on the Vitznau-Rigi line, with Scheidegg to the east. Unlike the previous two lines, the Rigi-Scheidegg Bahn followed the contours near the top of the mountain, rather than climbing it, and was not a rack railway. Also unlike the other two lines, it was built to metre gauge rather than standard gauge, and so never made a direct connection to the other lines. The line opened, in two stages, in 1874 and 1875.

In 1931 the Rigi-Scheidegg Railway, which had never been electrified, was closed. This line, which includes a 70 metres (230 ft) tunnel and several bridges, now serves as a panoramic footpath and in winter is also used for cross country skiing.


(Ref: Wikipedia)

Postcards of the Rigi-Scheidegg Bahn
Rigi-Scheiddegg Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsRigi-Scheiddegg Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsRigi-Scheiddegg Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsRigi-Scheiddegg Bahn - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards







Luftseilbahn Weggis-Rigi Kaltbad

In 1967 the Swiss government granted an operating licence for an aerial cableway to run from near the shores of Lake Luzern to a point near the summit of Rigi. To avoid direct competition with the Vitznau-Rigi Bahn the aerial cableway was to run from Weggis, where connections were available with the lake steamers from Luzern, to meet the railway at Rigi Kaltbad. The licence was granted to the Rigi Railway Company.

The construction period was short, a mere eleven months saw the new aerial cableway completed and the opening took place on 15 July 1968. The cable car rises from the lakeside some 924 m (3,031 ft) to its summit and has a journey time of just 10 minutes. A 100-metre (328.1 ft) pathway at Rigi Kaltbad connects the mountain station of the cable car with the railway station.

The technical installations were the work of K. Garaventa & Sons of Goldau, and the large cabins were supplied by the Carrosseriewerke Company of Aarburg. On the 25th anniversary of the opening of the cable car (in 1993), the original two red passenger cabins were replaced by modern panorama cabins.

In 1992 Arth-Rigi-Bahn (ARB) in Arth and the Rigibahn in Vitznau, formally the Vitznau-Rigi-Bahn (VRB), and the Luftseilbahn Weggis-Rigi Kaltbad (LWRK) to create Rigi Bahnen AG


(Ref: Wikipedia)

Postcards of the Luftseilbahn Weggis-Rigi Kaltbad (LWRK)
Luftseilbahn Weggis-Rigi Kaltbad - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsLuftseilbahn Weggis-Rigi Kaltbad - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsLuftseilbahn Weggis-Rigi Kaltbad - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsLuftseilbahn Weggis-Rigi Kaltbad - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsLuftseilbahn Weggis-Rigi Kaltbad - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards

















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