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A train ride up through snow and ice

February 26, 2019, No comments

It’s one of Switzerland’s great rail journeys and it’s just as spectacular in winter. The round-trip ride from Interlaken to Kleine Scheidegg is one of my favourites, and I love it when it’s a winter wonderland. Of course, you can go for the skiing, but I like it for the beauty of having a snowy lunch in the mountains.

From Interlaken Ost you take the train to Lauterbrunnen and then change to the yellow-and-green rack railway up to Wengen and beyond. It takes about an hour and half to reach the top of the line at Kleine Scheidegg, where I always have a meal in the sun with a view of the Eiger.

You can choose to climb ever higher and go all the way up to Jungfraujoch from here. It’s definitely worth the time and money. But usually I simply relax and watch the skiers swoosh past before taking the train down the other side, via Grindelwald and it’s wide-open valley.

So here’s a gallery of my journey in the sun and snow. A gentle day out for anyone who likes trains and mountains and mountain trains.

All aboard for train for Wengen! The train has been chugging up here for over a century.
On the way up you get a picture-perfect shot of the U-shaped Lauterbrunnen valley.
The impressive North Face of the Eiger dominates the tiny red train up to Jungfraujoch.
Everyone stops at Kleine Scheidegg, either to change trains, to eat lunch or to ski back down.
My favourite lunch at the top is always a bowl of Älpermakkaroni.
Winter means skis and up here is no exception. Expect lots of skiers and lots of skis.
Miles of pristine pistes for skiers who come up this high.
There’s a great view of the Grindelwald valley once you’re up at Kleine Scheidegg.
The ride down the other side takes you along the base of the Eiger and down to Grindelwald.
Time to go home via the wide open valley around Grindelwald.

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