Showing posts with label Leysin Grand Hotel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Leysin Grand Hotel. Show all posts

Sunday, 13 December 2015

The line over the last couple of decades


Aigle


Leysin Feyday


Aigle


Aigle


Leysin Grand Hotel


Aigle


Aigle




The line I know best in Switzerland is the CF Aigle-Leysin, locally known as the Cog. This runs from Aigle on the main line up to the skiing town of Leysin. I have spent many months in Leysin, including a whole winter. This is the easiest way to travel, the road is 15km whilst the railway is 5km, thanks to using the rack. Leysin has four stations, all at different levels. The line runs tramway style in Aigle to the Depot, where it reverses and immediately gains the rack. The first section runs through vineyards, many of which have their own monorail systems for gathering the grapes.

There's an excellent service, hourly in both directions from about 5am to midnight. Some of the older trains still run, there are also some very modern units. The line is metre gauge, there are two other metre gauge lines originating in Aigle, so it's narrow gauge heaven!