Monte Generoso railway

Monte Generoso railway.
250px Train at the summit station
Overview
Status	Closed until 2015
Locale	Ticino, Switzerland
Operation
Opened	June 5, 1890
Owner	Migros supermarket chain
Technical
Line length	9 kilometres (5.6 mi)
Track gauge	800 mm (2 ft 7 1⁄2 in)
Electrification	850 V, DC, overhead
Highest elevation
Maximum incline	22%
Rack system	Abt
Route map 250px

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The track descending from the summit, with the Lombardy Plain in the background.

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Bellavista station and restaurant, with passing trains.

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Trains waiting to depart from the Capolago-Riva San Vitale station.

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Capolago: the terminus of Monte Generoso railway near Capolago Lago landing on the shore of Lake Lugano. The mainline railway is behind the hedge to the right.

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Diesel railcars at the summit prior to electrification: Bhm1/2 (left), Bhm2/4 (right).

The Monte Generoso railway or Ferrovia Monte Generoso (MG) is a mountain railway line in the Italian speaking canton of Ticino, in south-east Switzerland. The line runs from Capolago, on Lake Lugano, to a terminus near the summit of Monte Generoso. It is the highest railway in Ticino. The summit () offers extensive views over the Lombardy Plain, part of the Po Valley, and towards the Alps.

Whilst the railway lies entirely within Switzerland, the summit station is only a few metres from the international border with the Italian region of Lombardy. The line is owned by the Migros group, better known for operating supermarkets throughout Switzerland.

The line is currently closed, whilst the railway station and restaurant complex at the summit is being rebuilt. It is expected to reopen in 2016.

History

In 1867, Doctor Carlo Posta built a hotel on Monte Generoso, near to the current location of the Bellavista station on the Monte Generoso railway. In 1886, a concession was granted to the Monte Generoso SA for the construction of a narrow gauge and cog railway to the summit. The line opened on the June 5, 1890, and was originally operated with steam locomotives. The following year, the Tramway Bellavista was opened to link the railway to Doctor Posta's hotel.

However the owning company encountered financial difficulties at various times during the first half of the 20th century. In the 1939, the then owners approached Gottlieb Duttweiler, the founder of the Migros group, for assistance, and in 1941 the railway became part of that group.

In 1954, two diesel locomotives (Hm2/3 1 and 2) were built on the frames of older steam locomotives, followed, in 1957, by two four-axle diesel railcars (Bhm2/4 3 and 4), which allowed a more economical operation. In 1968, two smaller two-axle railcars (Bhm1/2 5 and 6) were introduced. In 1982 the line was electrified and four twin-unit railcars (Bhe 4/8 11 to 14) were supplied by SLM in 1981-2.

One steam locomotive still exists, as does one of the original coaches, and two diesel locomotives. One of the Bhm1/2 diesel railcars is preserved in the Museo Europeo dei Trasporti Ogliari in Ranco on the Italian shore of Lake Maggiore.

Route

The line commences at Capolago Lago station, where trains connect with boat services of the Società Navigazione del Lago di Lugano on Lake Lugano. However most trains start up the line at Capolago-Riva San Vitale station, at an altitude of , where they connect with Swiss Federal Railways trains on the line from Lugano to Milan via Chiasso. The line's car shed and workshop are both situated on the line between the two Capolago stops.

At Capolago-Riva San Vitale station, the line serves a stop on the street in front of the station building, before climbing a ramp to cross a bridge over the throat of the mainline station. From here it climbs the flank of the mountain as far as San Nicolao station, at an altitude of . Bellavista station, at , follows, and with its station buffet and access to various walks is a destination in its own right. Both San Nicolao and Bellavista stations have passing loops, but the latter is the normal passing place for ascending and descending trains.

After leaving Bellavista, the line leaves the heavily forested lower slopes and runs through more open meadows before reaching the Generoso Vetta terminus, at . The station is located a short walk from the mountain summit, and has a buffet, a restaurant and a hotel within the station complex.

Operation

The line is 9 km (5.6 mi) long and is of 800 mm (2 ft 7 ¹⁄₂ in) gauge. It is a rack railway, with a maximum gradient of 22%, using the Abt design. The line is electrified using an 850 V DC overhead line, and is principally operated by the four two-car electric trains built in 1981-2. The remaining steam and diesel locomotives also operate occasional services.

The line operates from mid-March to early November, with trains running hourly during daylight hours. If traffic requires it, the hourly departure may be operated as multiple trains running in convoy. A late evening train operates on Fridays and Saturdays only. Only one train a day runs through to Capolago Lago, in order to connect with a boat service from Lugano.

See also

• List of mountain railways in Switzerland

External links

• Media related to at Wikimedia Commons
• Ferrovia Monte Generoso website