Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway

The Furka cogwheel steam railway (Dampfbahn Furka-Bergstrecke) is a restored heritage rack-and-pinion railway that runs the historic mountain route across the Furka Pass in the central Swiss Alps. It operates steam locomotives on the original high-mountain alignment.

The operation offers steam-hauled journeys over the mountain route with steep gradients and rack sections, passing alpine scenery and historic railway structures. Services are seasonal, typically running during the summer when the mountain passes are clear of snow.

The original mountain line formed part of the regional rail connection across the Furka Pass; after construction of base tunnels and route modernisation the high-mountain section was abandoned and later restored by volunteers and preservation groups as a heritage railway. The restored line reopened in stages and now runs as a tourist steam railway.

The heritage route runs between Realp in the canton of Uri and the mountain stations around Gletsch/Oberwald in the Valais region, crossing the Furka high pass and traversing alpine terrain.

• Seasonal steam heritage service: The line is a heritage steam-operated rack railway running the original mountain route over the Furka Pass and operates seasonally in summer months.

What to See #

• Realp: Realp station - lower terminus at the Uri side where trains start their ascent over the mountain route.
• Gletsch / Oberwald: Gletsch/Oberwald - the higher mountain terminus and historic rail village at the Valais side where the line descends into the valley.