Rhätische Bahn at Reichenau

Rhätische Bahn at Reichenau

At Reichenau/Tamins in Switzerland’s Canton Graubünden, the two branches of the young Rhine, the Hinterrhein and the Vorderrhein come togther to flow as one toward Chur and ultimately Germany, the Netherlands, and into the North Sea. Also coming together here are two major arteries in the Rhätische Bahn network, the line from Disentis/Mustér and the Albula Line coming up from St. Moritz and other points in the Engadine.

The Regio-Express on the Rheinbrücke originated in Disentis. Minutes ago, it was rolling through the rugged limestone cliff-enclosed landscape of the Vorderrheinschlucht, or Ruinaulta, known as Switzerland’s Grand Canyon. After crossing the bridge and stopping at the Reichenau/Tamins station, it will begin its high-speed trip up to Chur. Some of its passengers may be heading for Thusis, Filisur, Bergün, or other points along the RhB’s Albula Line to the Engadine, so they’ll disembark at this station and continue their journey on a soon-to-arrive train coming down from Chur.

Swiss precision…a daily touchstone of Graubünden’s “Kleine Rote” (Little Red) rail network, the Rhätische Bahn. Despite the affectionate nickname, the Rhätische Bahn is anything but “little,” but rather an extensive system linking all regions of Graubünden.

The photograph was taken in the late afternoon sun from a parallel bridge connecting Reichenau with its station and the highway, while waiting for the opportunity to shoot the RhB special steam train returning from an all day excursion to Sumvitg.