Trains - Switzerland: Books - History and Equipment

La Suisse et ses chemins de fer

Switzerland, a country in the heart of the Alps. Switzerland, a small country geographically, a large country in the field of economy, and a giant in the railway world.
Everywhere, on the plateaus, in the valleys and in the mountains, engineers have imagined and workers have built railway lines with often audacious routes, and which sometimes reach unsuspected altitudes. This book, richly illustrated with photos from yesterday and today, is like a tribute to the best in Europe in terms of rail transport.

Information

Author:	Jean Tricoire
Details:	272 pages, 27 x 22 cm / 10.6 x 8.7 in, hardback
Illustrations:	numerous b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	La Vie du Rail (F, 2019)
ISBN:	9782370620811

Mit den Augen des Lokführers - Unterwegs auf schmaler Spur in der Schweiz

The Rhaetian Railway and the Matterhorn-Gotthard Railway together form the largest meter-gauge network in Switzerland with a length of 528 km, on which legendary trains such as the Glacier Express run.
In contrast to other books, the illustrated book shows this route network from two perspectives: from the outside view and from the driver's perspective.

Hans-Bernhard Schönborn managed to travel along all the routes of both networks in the driver's cab and take photographs along the way - every railway fan dreams of this. There is also a lot of information about the routes and the job of a train driver.

Information

Author:	Hans-Bernhard Schönborn
Details:	176 pages, 26.5 x 23 cm / 10.4 x 9.1 in, hardback
Illustrations:	41 b&w and 366 colour photos, 20 drawings, 19 maps
Publisher:	Transpress (D, 2018)
ISBN:	9783613715578

Eisenbahn von oben - Die Schweiz

From Lake Geneva to St. Gallen: See the railway country of Switzerland from a bird's eye view! A network of tracks that patiently winds its way between peaks and valleys, past lakes and over rivers, and through (large) cities and pretty villages.
Huge marshalling yards and quiet stretches of track, spectacularly photographed by the passionate aerial photographer Niklaus Wächter, with accompanying texts by the Swiss railway enthusiast Werner Nef.

Information

Author:	Werner Nef, Niklaus M. Wächter
Details:	192 pages, 29 x 27 cm / 11.4 x 10.6 in, hardback
Illustrations:	160 colour photos
Publisher:	GeraMond Verlag (D, 2018)
ISBN:	9783862452989

Alpenbahnen

Travelling through the Alps by train - something that is taken for granted today - once required pioneering work in railway construction. Every single Alpine railway - from the Semmering Railway in the east to the Tenda Railway in the west - is considered a technical masterpiece.

This illustrated book shows trains in the wild nature of the Alps between rugged high mountains, glittering Swiss glaciers and the French Maritime Alps. On spectacular routes, dizzyingly high bridges and viaducts, technology and history meet the majestic mountain world - a unique combination!

Information

Author:	Berthold Steinhilber, Eugen E. Hüsle
Details:	320 pages, 37.5 x 29.5 x 4.3 cm / 14.75 x 11.6 x 1.69 in, hardback
Illustrations:	220 colour photos
Publisher:	Frederking & Thaler (D, 2022)
ISBN:	9783954162819

Türen schließen! - Die schönsten Bergbahnen der Alpen

A train ride to the summit is one of the most impressive railway journeys that passengers can take. Karl-W. Koch reports on the fascination of the mountain railways in the Alps, all of which he personally visited with his camera.
Not only did he manage to take impressive pictures of the demanding railway operations in the mountains, but he also gained access to the workshops and depots that are otherwise closed to visitors. He gives a vivid account of the routes, their planning, construction and history. He also does not leave out the sophisticated cogwheel technology. A book that invites you to travel into the mountains.

Information

Author:	Karl-W. Koch
Details:	176 pages, 27.5 x 24 x 1.8 cm / 10.8 x 9 x 0.71 in, hardback
Illustrations:	200 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Transpress (D, 2022)
ISBN:	9783613716575

Treni di montagna - Le più belle ferrovie delle Alpi

Since the inception of European railway transportation, the towering mountains have posed a challenge - technological, conceptual, even aesthetic - for nations bordering the Alpine range. Overcoming environmental obstacles like steep slopes, inaccessible terrain, and extreme weather, railways in the Alps stand as remarkable testaments to European railway ingenuity.

Bold viaducts, helical tunnels, cogwheel systems, narrow-gauge railways, and locomotives designed for steep gradients showcase a unique array of technical solutions, still enabling travelers to reach some of the most breathtaking mountain vistas by train.

This volume explores the Alpine railways, delving into the historical events and technical features of each railway, from engineering marvels to rolling stock. From the Mont Blanc glaciers to the Jungfraujoch, from the Roya Valley to Lake Geneva, and spanning Liguria, Piedmont, Lombardy, France, and Switzerland.

For each route, detailed maps, a rich and unique photographic collection, historical and technical insights, a discovery itinerary, and practical information are provided to assist in organizing journeys on Europe's most significant mountain trains.

Text in Italian.

Information

Author:	Diego Vaschetto
Details:	208 pages, 28.5 x 21.5 x 2.2 cm / 11.2 x 8.5 x 0.87 in, hardback
Illustrations:	profusely illustrated
Publisher:	Edizioni del Capricorno (I, 2014)
ISBN:	9788877072306