1912 to today

History

The railway was proposed in 1907 by a watchmaker, a cheesemaker, and the owner of the valley's only printing press, who between them had no experience of railways and an exact grasp of how much the valley needed one. The canton said no twice. The third drawing worked.

• 1912

  The Falzgrund and Sonnenberg Rack Railway Company opens the valley-to-treeline section with two steam locomotives, Goria and Mumm.

• 1926

  The Saddle Gallery is cut through the ridge. Electric traction replaces steam above Treeline; the summit station opens with a tea room.

• 1939

  Wartime traffic carries mail, cheese, and conscripts. The railway never closes a full day.

• 1954

  The great avalanche winter. The shed at Treeline is rebuilt in nine weeks by the village.

• 1979

  The valley trainshed is rebuilt in iron and glass. The first all-weather timetable goes live.

• 1998

  Cars 07 and 08 arrive, the first with panorama windows and a level floor for sledges and prams.

• 2012

  Centenary. The observatory deck opens above the summit station, and the Night Owl begins Friday and Saturday runs.

• 2026

  The dispatcher's board goes digital. The brass levers stay, because they still work.