Day 6 - Wassen
After the torrential rain of the previous day, the weather forecast predicted a day of sun from 8am, at first we were skeptical that the localized weather patterns, and high altitude, would lead to another day of cloud, but we couldn't of been more wrong. The clouds cleared the blue sky was in abundance and there was a fresh later of snow on the local mountains. We immediately headed to the local church in Wassen to record some of the stunning valley scenes, before getting into the car and driving up through the steeply graded pass to Devils Bridge where the small mountain rivers were in a full raging torrent due to the amount of rain that had fallen from the previous day. The sheer power and noise from the flowing water was like nothing I'd ever witnessed before. After a spell at Devils Bridge we drove onto Andermatt and up to 2000m to Oberalppass where we found fresh snow for as far as the eye could see. We also took the opportunity to take lunch at the mountain restaurant before returning to the Gottard Valley for the afternoon.
Fresh snowfall on the impressive mountain scenery surrounding Wassen.
Bombardier Railpool Class 187 No.187005 leads an unidentifies Class 186 out of the spiral tunnel on the mid level at Wassen, with a south bound intermodal.
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Bombbardier Class 187 No.187005 leads a Class 186 classmate over the brick span bridge on the mid level of the Wassen loops.
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The below images were all taken from the same location of the same train passing through the Wassen spirals in the Gottard Pass. The Churchyard are Wassen provides excellent views of trains passing through the stunning scenery, and it's from this location where you can best enjoy amazing scenery.
SBB Class 420 No.11343 leads Class 620 No.620 074 along the upper shelf of the Wassen sprials.
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SBB Class 420 No.11343 leads Class 620 No.620 074 exit the spiral tunnel onto the mid level of the spiral route.
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SBB Class 420 No.11343 leads Class 620 No.620 074 cross the brick span arch bridge on the mid level of the Wassen loops.
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SBB Class 420 No.11343 leads Class 620 No.620 074 exit from the lower spiral and into the bottom of the Wassen pass.
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An unidentified Class 500 passes Wessen working the 08:09 Zurich to Locarno.
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SBB Class 420 No.11188 passes the mid level at Wassen working the 07:10 Chiasso to Basel (Train 2316).
Class 620 No.11667 and Class 420 No.11349 pass over the single span arch at Wassen with a north bound (although its travelling south at this point on the line) container train.
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Italian Pendilino Class 610 No.610 002 works the 08:40 Luzern to Chiasso (Train 2569) on the lower level of the Wassen pass.
With the mountain river in full torrent, MGB EMU No.2022 passes Devils Bridge with the 10:28 Andermatt to Goschenen.
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MGB No.93 enters the cliff face at Devils Bridge operating the 10:52 Andermatt to Goschenen.
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MGB No.5- climbs towards Oberalppass working the 11:28 Andermatt to Disentis.
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MGB Locomotive No.4 arounds the curves between Oberalppass and Natchen, working the 11:14 Disentis to Andermatt service.
MGB Locomotive No.1 decends between Natschen and Andermatt working the 07:57 St Moritz - Zermatt 'The Glacier Express'.
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MGB Locomotive No.2 arrives into Oberappass with the 09:52 Zermatt to St Moritz 'Glacier Express'.
MGB No.54 climbs towards Oberalppass with the 13:28 Andermatt to Disentis.
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MGB Locomotive No.54 passes along the edge of the Oberalpsee working the 13:38 Andermatt to Disentis.
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MGB Locomotive No.5 exits from the snow shelter alongside the Oberalpsee working the 13:14 Disentis to Andermatt service, this train also had a chartered Glacier Express panoramic coach in the consist.
SBB Class 420 No.11348 leads Class 620 No.620062 through Graggintal on a south bound intermodal.
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DB Schenker Class 185's No.185121 and No.185141 pass over the viaduct at Graggintal heading south.
SBB Cargo No.620 074 leads Class 420 No.11343 south over the Graggintal Viaduct with an intermodal in tow.
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SBB Class 420 No.11349 and Class 620 No.11667 pass over the Graggintal viaduct heading south.
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SBB Class 500 No.500 028 leads No.500 030 south through Graggintal with the 15:40 Luzern to Chiasso.
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DB Class 185's No.185105 and No.185131 pass Graggintal Viaduct on route south towards the Italian border.
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SBB Class 500 No.500 042 passes Intschi with the 15:40 Luzern to Chiasso service.
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SBB Cargo Class 620 No.620 065 leads Class 420 No.11340 south through Intschi on a south bound Intermodal.
Italian Pendilino Class 610 No.610 004 passes Intschi with the 15:09 Zurich- Lugano service.
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A single Class 187 No.187 005 passes Intschi with a train of chemical tanks in tow.
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SBB Class 420 No.420 267 rounds the curve at Intschi with a postal service heading north.
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Following close behind the post train running wrong line SBB Class 500 No.500 003 and No.500 029 pass working the 16:10 Logano to Zurich.
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Triple headed SBB Class 420's No.11244 No.11200 and No.11198 pass Wassen working the 16:47 Locarno to Zurich.