Route Switzerland: Interlaken Ost - Lauterbrunnen / Grindelwald - Kleine Scheidegg - Jungfraujoch

This layout is one of the most famous routes in Europe. From Interlaken Ost, you take the train to Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald. There another train brings you higher in the mountains to Kleine Scheidegg. At last, you take a third train into the Jungfraujoch mountain to an underground station, the highest in Europe. Outside the station, you have a gorgeous landscape of the snow and experience "The Top Of Europe".

This Swiss route starts in Interlaken Ost (567 meters above sea level (masl)) with connections heading Spiez and Luzern. The city is located between the Berienzersee and Thunersee.

This route will be served by the BOB (Berner Oberland Bahn). Today they used the ABDeh 8/8, almost the same type used by the Zentralbahn to Luzern. Information about this train type in German: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/BOB_ABDeh_8/8. During busy moments, like the tourist seasons, the train also has unmotorised passenger wagons.


From Interlaken Ost, the route turns southbound. Between Interlaken and Zweilütschinen the trains to Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald are driving together. Underway it drives via Wilderswil, where a smaller train service drives to Schynige Platte. In Zweilütchinen the train split or couple. The front part drives to Lauterbrunnen; the rear to Grindelwald.

After Zweilütchinen both directions made use of a cog rail, the Riggenbach model. After 12½km from Interlaken Ost the front part reaches Lauterbrunnen (795 masl). Grindelwald (1034 masl) is 19½km away. The trains can climb up to 12%.

In Lauterbrunnen as Grindelwald, you have to change from train (company) to drive to Kleine Scheidegg on the World longest cog rail. But there is no direct connection, because de motor car has to be on the downhill side for safety reasons. Welcome to the Wengernalpbahn (WAB).



There are different train types used on the railway. Often it is the BDhe 4/8 131-134 (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/WAB_BDhe_4/8) from Lauterbrunnen and the WAB Bhe 4/8 (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/WAB_Bhe_4/8) from Grindelwald (sometimes Lauterbrunnen too).

From Lauterbrunnen, there is an old route to Wengen, which was too steep for modern use. Since 1910 there is an alternative rail link via Rohrfluh (994masl). 3¾km from Lauterbrunnen the train reaches Wengen (1275 masl), a car-free village. Some trains terminate here. After Wengen the train climes higher via Wengernalp, where the name of the railway comes from) to Kleine Scheidegg (2061 masl).

From Grindelwald, you first descent to a lower station, Grindelwald Grund (994 masl). Here is a parking place for those who didn't come by train. After turning the train climes up with a beautiful landscape, especially in the winter. After 9km the train also arrives at Kleine Scheidegg.


Here you can see mountains 360 degrees around you. In the summer you can walk; in the winter you can use the velogemel (snow cycle).


Here the third train departs; the Jungfraubahn. These trains use double overhead wires and another track gauge. That this is different, means the trains have to be maintained on high attitude. This also can be the reason that train simulators use this route as an add-on. Since 2016 they use the JB Bhe 4/8. The train climes with a gradient of up to 25%.

After 2 km the train arrives at Eigergletsjer (2320 masl). The last station before the train drives underground. Here is also access to a cable car downhill and the trains are maintained.


During the journey in the tunnel, 3.7 km after Eigergletsjer, the trains stop at Eismeer station (3158 masl). Here the travellers can shortly leave the train for a view behind glass.


After 9.3 km travelling from Kleine Scheidegg, the train reach Jungfraujoch (3454 masl). This is the highest train station in Europe. Although it is underground. With restaurants, shops, a theme park and more, you won't be bored. But one thing you must see is the observatory, where you can see the eternal snow and one of the highest points you will ever see from the ground. Hopefully, this view will be shown in TSW2, also when it is highly exceptional.


The total length of this network is 48km and has an altitude difference of 2.89 km. With 3 or 4 different types of trains and travel time of 2 hours.

Interesting videos:











trigzd had created this suggestion in August 2020, but with the extension from Interlaken, it really makes this one of the most spectacular routes in TSW2. https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/jungfraubahn-and-wengernalpbahn.24968/

 

Absolutely another Swiss Mountain Railway this time rack equipped. The question is this can the game handle the Steep sections which are rack equipped or not? If not core update should be added to have simgraph handle Rack railways.