Train lines among the Swiss Alps - our trip was from Tirano (in the lower right) to Bernina Diavolezza (about 2/3 of the way up that line)
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View from the train
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Cows along the way
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Basilica of the Madonna - Tirano
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Water is piped from the mountains above down to a
turbine to produce electricity.
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Brusio Spiral Viaduct
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Our train on the Brusio Spiral Viaduct
Most of the loops of the tracks occur inside tunnels of which there were many.
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Stone “igloos” made by farmers with rocks removed from their fields. The "igloos" act as refrigerators because they remain at 42°F year round. |
The rail route goes past the town of Miralago on the southern shore of Lake Poschiavo. The lake water is a cold 36°F - not tempting for swimming. There is also a station at La Prese on the northern shore of Lake Poschiavo. This area is known as the kingdom of the “Herb King” because numerous organic herbs and flowers are grown here as are the herbs found in Ricola cough drops and lozenges.
At Poschiavo we stopped while a second engine was attached to our train for the trip up the zigzags and over the “continental divide.” The engines all have a small snow plow attached in front. This train runs everyday all year long to St Moritz and on to the Black Sea.
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Lake Poschiavo near the town of Miralago
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It wasn't a beautiful day
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Logging operation
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In many places, the train tracks share the road
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Passing us
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How would you like to live in this house? It would certainly make the dishes rattle!
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One of many tunnels
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Village in the mists below
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Lots of water
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Snow shed and bridge
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Mountain lake
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Snow, at last
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Lago Blanco - White Lake |
Water shed/Continental divide - Left to the Adriatic,
right to the Black Sea
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Poor visibility!
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Arriving at the cable car station at Bernina Diavolezza
At Bernina Diavolezza station, we got off the train and rode a large (102 passenger) cable car up to a hotel and restaurant and ski destination at Diavolezza (9530 feet).
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Roads, Cable car lines, and ski runs at Diavolezza
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Cable car
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View from the terminus
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Snow making machines (canons)
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Building and restaurant at Diavolezza
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Snow cat
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Gale enjoying a walk in the snow
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Sign in many languages
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Stuffed Alpine Ibex (mountain goat)
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We ate a nice lunch at the hotel/lodge and then returned to Tirano on the UNESCO Heritage train, the Bernina Express.
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Snow plow/snow blower for the train tracks
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Snow fences along the train line
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Brusio Spiral Viaduct on the way down
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Brusio Spiral Viaduct on the way down
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Pesteda - for flavoring pizzoccheri or anything else
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