100 Years of the Furka-Oberalp Railway

One hundred years ago, the Furka-Oberalp Railway connected Valais, Uri and Graubünden across the High Alps for the first time. To mark the anniversary, history comes alive where it all began – with historic locomotives, steam train journeys and a festive weekend between Realp and Gletsch.

A long whistle echoes through the Urseren Valley. Slowly, the steam locomotive begins to move as white clouds of steam drift over the tracks and dissolve against the backdrop of rugged mountain peaks. For a moment, time itself seems to stand still. The fact that this scene still exists a hundred years after the opening of the Furka-Oberalp Railway is anything but a given.

When the Furka-Oberalp Railway began continuous operations between Brig and Disentis on 3 July 1926, it was considered an engineering masterpiece. For the first time, a railway line connected Valais, Uri and Graubünden across the High Alps. It opened up remote regions, facilitated exchanges between linguistic and cultural areas and became an important lifeline for tourism. The 96-kilometre route could initially only operate during the summer months. It crossed some of Switzerland’s most spectacular landscapes and laid the foundation for the connection that is now internationally renowned as part of the Glacier Express.

Yet the railway’s history was never free from challenges. Snow, avalanches and the harsh conditions of the high mountains made operations demanding for decades. With electrification beginning in 1942 and the opening of the Furka Base Tunnel in 1982, the original mountain route eventually lost its transport significance. Its fate seemed sealed. But it was precisely at this point that one of the most remarkable chapters in Swiss railway history began. Railway enthusiasts, volunteers and specialists refused to let the historic line disappear into oblivion. Through countless hours of work, tracks were restored, historic rolling stock was refurbished and steam locomotives were returned to operational condition. Step by step, the Furka Steam Railway emerged from these efforts. Since 2010, it has once again operated along the entire mountain pass route, delighting thousands of visitors every year. To this day, this commitment remains indispensable. The historic steam locomotives are the heart of the Furka mountain line, making the engineering achievements of past generations tangible and alive. To ensure that these venerable machines can continue crossing the Alpine passes in the future, they require regular maintenance, overhauls and complex repairs.

This extraordinary success story takes centre stage during the anniversary celebrations from 3 to 5 July 2026 in Realp and Gletsch. The weekend offers a varied programme featuring exhibitions, historic steam operations and fascinating insights into the worlds of technology and craftsmanship. Original steam locomotives will run along the mountain line, vividly bringing the pioneering era of Alpine railways back to life. Beyond the train rides and demonstrations, however, the celebrations are above all about people coming together. Railway enthusiasts, volunteers, employees and visitors will have the opportunity to meet, exchange stories and demonstrate that the Furka-Oberalp Railway is far more than a historic railway line. It is a piece of Swiss cultural and transport history that does not end in a museum but continues its journey into the future. The engineers built the railway. The volunteers preserved its soul.

Even after the anniversary festivities, steam will continue to rise along the approximately 18-kilometre Furka mountain route – past steep slopes, through narrow gorges and up to elevations exceeding 2,000 metres above sea level. The Furka Steam Railway operates from 18 June to 27 September 2026, from Thursday to Sunday.

Information on reservations and timetables is available online.
100 Years of the Furka-Oberalp Railway

Anniversary celebrations
3 – 5 July 2026

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