The celebration in Filisur

In 2002 on October 19th, a special celebration took place at the Albula line in Filisur. Reason was, that the private group "Club 1889" had finished overhauling a historic coach now called the "Filisurer Stuebli". Base was the former party coach X 9064.

For geographical details about the Rhaetian Railroad and Filisur click on the area map symbol left.

Beside the "Filisurer Stuebli" at the celebration other historic equipment was showed too. Many guests

arrived with two special trains, both approaching Filisur at about 11 a.m. this day. The first started at the Rhaetian capital Chur, the second in Samedan, a city of the upper Engadin and separated from Filisur by the Albula pass. Decision was requested, which run to take on pictures …

Because of the early snowfall at the mountainside, I decided to go for the Samedan train. When I visited the station of Filisur at about 8.30 a.m., everything was still very quiet and it snowed with huge snowflakes. (see images - scroll down).

After the two trains had arrived, both of course transported by famous Ge 6/6 I Crocodile locos, some speeches were addressed and a large party tent with grill took care for the welfare of all guests. Later the day, the Ge 6/6 415 shuttled between Filisur and Davos with some historic coaches on the hook …

Beside this gallery you may also visit my Rhaetian galleries about the Albula line, the Bernina line, the Engadin line, the Filisur - Thusis - Chur line and regarding 100 years Albula.
 

2002 Filisur, October 19th - about 8.30 in the morning. The
orange tractor Te 2/2 71 parks on track 5. Fat snowflakes are falling. Because of the still green background, the single flakes are pretty good visible on the photo. In winter such flake images are rarely possible because of the usually white background.
Click on images for enlarged presentation!
  Usually I don't take pictures of railroad environment without rail vehicles. Here I needed to make an exception, because at 8.32 sharp this morning no trains were present at Filisur. A bit later the snowfall had finished again. The three elements at the left are some kinds of bells, which produce noise some time before trains are approaching from different directions (Albula, Chur, Davos).
  Fortunately the snowfall finished soon. The weather gets more and more bright and I checked for a fitting photo location above the village of Bergün. At about 10.50 the awaited train composition appears. The "Filisurer Stuebli" is the carriage between the yellow wagon and the Crocodile loco. This photo shows two single moments together, which happened in reality separated by about one minute. (top of page)
  From the last position , the train has to pass the God tunnel before to come to this new position. So I had enough time to move for this shot. From here the train a bit looks like a model train.
  This is the special train after arriving Filisur. The yellow coach behind the "Filisurer Stuebli" is called Bucunada C114, it's a wagon of the old Bernina line. In the background the steam
loco Heidi is visible (click on the image for enlargement). The bright cloud behind the loco is from the grilling facilities. Rarely the scenery was that empty of people like on this image. Obviously the speeches were addressed this moments …
  That's the second special train - the one which arrived from Chur. Unfortunately as a photographer one can be located just at one location at the same time. To take a picture of this composition on the Landwasser viaduct, would have been a worthy task too. Both trains were placed on track no. 1 during most of the day.
  The choreography on location was not perfect. Just at the
time when the special train had this fine position in front of
the Filisur station building, the tractor shunted the white carriage adjacent to the target object. Later the train took the position like two photos above which is not really very representative … (top of page)
  Of course the normal train operation like always was executed this day too. Here the departure of a train to Davos. It's a
push pull train composition. Though noon time, the shadows
are already unusually long. In the background both special
trains may be suspected …
  This day the weather conditions changed like in April. Sunshine and snowfall alternated frequently. Despite my 160 ASA Film, I had sometimes difficulties to archive fast shutter speeds. This is a photograph of the historic shuttle on the viaduct close to Wiesen. Some moments before this shot, the wind had blown lots of yellow foliage just to the front of my lens …
  During return journey, the sun was shining again. By chance
I detected a photo location high up on the opposite mountain slope. Using the tele sniper I could take this total overview image of the Crocodile Ge 6/6 415 with the four historic carriages. This viaduct crosses the Landwasser river close behind the station Wiesen in direction to Filisur. (top of page)
  Close to final sunset I catched another shuttle once again. Location is about 1 mile ahead Filisur station. The image a little bit looks like one from a model scenery. A few seconds after this shot, the sun finally disappeared behind the mountain peaks. The Ge 6/6 415 was operated these days with always the same pantograph in use.
  The special train from Chur, pulled by the Ge 6/6 414 departed
Filisur later the afternoon with direction Albula pass. The
picture was taken about 100 meters in front of the Toua
tunnel entrance. It is a "GmP", which means a freight train
with additional people transportation. Behind the green
carriage 3 (photo) freight wagons are hooked.
  Nearly from the same position I took this picture. The train
has passed the about 670 meters long 360° Toua tunnel and
is crossing now the Albula viaduct III. Left visible is still the
portal wall of the tunnel entrance. As visible, on October 19th the environment already looks like deep winter. (top of page)
  This further photo of the composition was only possible
because the train in between stopped to execute a photo
shot for train travelling people. This winter location is situated already close to the line's peak position at the Preda station
which was extended by lengthened two tracks recently, in
order to simplify train crossings.
  Usually I don't like to take train pictures from behind. Here it's an exception. Firstly the image gives good view on the fright wagons and secondly one may watch the beautiful scenery towards the Albula peaks. In the foreground the scenery has already afternoon shadow but in the background the peaks still reflect direct sun rays.
  Filisur on October 20th at about 9.00 o'clock in the morning. The train with the Crocodile Ge 6/6 415 rested overnight in Filisur. Close after the full hour the schedule crossings take place. Left the train to Albula, the other from Albula will arrive in a few moments. About five minutes behind the schedule train, our special train at right will depart. (top of page)
  The tele lens produces some increased density in depiction.
The yellow carriage Bucunada C114 is hooked directly behind the loco. The position of the "Filisurer Stuebli" I cannot reproduce exactly from this picture. The usual way of live returned to Filisur after this train had departed. But in 2003
the Albula line will have its 100 years anniversary. Further celebrations are coming up …
  Immediately behind the Filisur station the ramp incline towards Albula pass starts. Short time after leaving the station, the train reaches the Greifenstein tunnel, which is the first 360° spiralling tunnel of in total four. The Ge 6/6 415 seems to have light work, pulling the train uphill. The white party tent still built up is visible behind the train in the middle.
  The station of Filisur by night. This photograph I took when I visited the Albula line for the very first time in 1987. I attach these 3 images here, because they don't fit in other galleries.
I remember well, as I arrived this day late at night by motor cycle. Of course I reconnoitred the station area even in darkness. (top of page)
  At the end of track one, I recognized this loco with 2 small flat wagons. It was a short line construction train hooked to the loco Ge 2/4 221. Fortunately I had with me a small tripod and
I took some long exposures, at that time still on Kodachrome 64. In this moment I have no idea that this is my one and
only time to meet this loco. The next morning, when I tried to take pictures under daylight, the train was not here any more.
  By chance I had with me a flash light too and so I shot this
picture. The loco is the former no. 203, a loco which was reconstructed in 1945 and then renumbered as no. 221.
Today in 2002 just the sister engine no. 222 is existing any more. The left shown no. 221 was scraped in 1998. Which means that this are really historical images, already …
Navigation: Rail world select , RhB: Albula, Bernina, Engadin, Filisur-Chur, 100 years Albula
Last Update: January 2004 - send me an email
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