The Jungfrau is
one of the main summits in the Bernese Alps, situated between
the cantons of Valais and Bern in Switzerland. Together with the
Eiger and Mönch, the Jungfrau forms a massive wall overlooking
the Bernese Oberland and considered one of the most emblematic
sights of the Swiss Alps.
The above Image shows the site from the Jungfrau Joch to the
Aletsch Glacier, up here you can hike around in the snow and to
get here is also easy with an impressive train ride all the way
to the top of Europe!
Strictly, the Jungfraujoch is
the lowest point on the mountain ridge between Mönch and
Jungfrau, at 3,471 meters (11,388 ft). It is just above this
location that the mountain station of Jungfraubahn is located,
Jungfraujoch railway station, which at an elevation of 3,454
meters (11,332 ft) is the highest railway station in Europe. The
Jungfraujoch is often called the "Top of Europe" in tourist
literature.
The Jungfrau Railway - Taking a trip to the Top of Europe
Switzerland's 5,000 kilometre (3,000 mile) railway network -
much of it over mountainous terrain - is an engineering marvel
by any standards. And among the most impressive accomplishments
of all is the spectacular Jungfrau Railway in the beautiful
Bernese Oberland. The railway took 16 years to build and was
opened in 1912, operating from Kleine Scheidegg to the
Jungfraujoch - at 3,454 metres (11,333ft) still the
highest-altitude station in Europe.
The route to the Top of Europe covers 12 kilometres (5.8 miles).
It runs through open terrain for only the first two kilometres
(1.2 miles) from the Kleine Scheidegg to the Eigergletscher (Eiger
Glacier) station. From then on it climbs through a tunnel hewn
out of the Alpine rock. Two observation windows offer
breathtaking vistas of the Alpine landscape.
From the Eigerwand (North Wall) Station at 2,865 metres
(9,400ft), passengers can look down to the Grindelwald Valley,
the Kleine Scheidegg and beyond Interlaken to Lake Thun. From
the Eismeer (Sea of Ice) station at 3,160 metres (10,368ft), the
landscape is one of eternal ice and rock.
The summit itself is a glacier-and-grotto world. Visitors are
afforded excellent views of the Aletsch Glacier, at 22
kilometres (14 miles) the longest in the Alps. On clear days,
you can even see beyond Switzerland's frontiers to France's
Vosges mountain range and the Black Forest in Germany.
Among other attractions are the Sphinx observation terrace, Ice
Palace, audio-visual show and high Alpine research exhibition.
The Jungfraujoch complex also includes restaurants, a souvenir
shop, post office and even conference facilities - for "summit"
meetings, of course.
The completion of the new observation hall on the Sphinx in 1996
represented the climax to a 12-year, CHF 130 million expansion
programme which also included:
* the opening of the new Top of Europe "Berghaus" complex, with
five restaurants and a seating capacity of 700 (1987)
* the construction of a second station hall on the Jungfraujoch
(1992)
* the purchase of two new trains, with construction of sheds at
the Kleine Scheidegg (1993)
* the renovation of the Ice Palace (1993)
* the inauguration of the historical and research exhibition
(1996)
For most of this century already, the trip to the Jungfraujoch
has been the highlight of many a holiday in Switzerland.
Visitors are now assured an even more memorable experience on
the Top of Europe.
Jungfrau Railways - Long tradition and high achievements
Our company, Jungfrau Railways, with its head office in the
Bernese Oberland metropolis of Interlaken, comprises six
spectacular mountain railways, under joint management and
privately owned by shareholders.
The Jungfrau Railway, a cogwheel railway which takes privileged
passengers from Kleine Scheidegg (2,061m / 6,764ft) to the
Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe at 3,454m / 11,333ft Europe's
highest-altitude railway station. The Jungfrau Railway, a true
masterpiece of technology, was built between 1896 and 1912 by
Swiss rail pioneer Adolf Guyer-Zeller.
The Wengernalp Railway is the longest cogwheel rail route in
Switzerland (19km / 12 miles) and takes passengers to Kleine
Scheidegg on two different routes; one leading along the famous
Eiger North Wall. The railway began operation in 1893.
The Schynige Platte Railway which opened in 1893 offers a
nostalgic and leisurely trip to Schynige Platte summit (1,967m /
6,454ft) and the Alpine Garden with its 500 different species of
plants. Passengers are also offered spectacular views of Lakes
Thun and Brienz and the Triple Peaks - Eiger Mönch & Jungfrau.
The Harder Railway, actually a funicular, is 90 years old, and
still going strong! From the world famous resort of Interlaken
it climbs the 1.4 km track to the Harder Kulm (1,322m / 3,966ft)
to offer a marvellous bird's-eye view of the whole Jungfrau
Region.
The Lauterbrunnen-Mürren Mountain Railway, (5.7km / 3.5 miles
funicular/adhesion railway) was opened in 1891. It starts in
Lauterbrunnen as a funicular with a gradient of 61%. At
Grütschalp passengers change to a panoramic narrow-gauge train
that carries them through breathtaking Alpine scenery to the
car-free resort of Mürren (1,634m / 5,361ft).
The Bernese Oberland Railway has been taking visitors
comfortably and safely through some of the loveliest landscape
in Switzerland - into the valleys of the Lütschine to glorious
Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen, whatever the season, since 1893.
The Jungfrau Railway - 100 years of technical challenge for the
"railway to the sky"
Europe's highest-altitude railway station was opened on 1 August
(Swiss National Day) in 1912. At 3,454 metres (11,333ft) above
sea level, the scenically spectacular Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe
- became accessible to a wider public. The Jungfrau Region, the
Bernese Oberland and Switzerland had yet another attraction to
offer.
The idea of building a railway up the Jungfrau Mountain (claimed
by many to be an impossible dream) came to Adolf Guyer-Zeller,
an already renowned railway pioneer, while hiking in the
Jungfrau Region in 1893. Captivated by the towering trio of the
Eiger, Mönch & Jungfrau, he jotted down notes and sketches which
corresponded very closely to the subsequent planning and
construction of the Jungfrau Railway. Others before him had
dreamed of building what became known as the "railway to the
sky".
The 19th century was witnessing the Golden Age of
mountaineering, and the Jungfrau had already been climbed in
1811. One-by-one, the snow-capped peaks of Switzerland were
being made even more accessible by mountain railways. Guyer-Zeller's
idea had advantages over previous Jungfrau projects. Firstly, it
would not start down in the valley but at Kleine Scheidegg,
where it would link up with another railway already in
operation. This alone meant a huge saving in altitude. The
railway would also run through a tunnel, thus not be exposed to
the Alpine elements. Guyer-Zeller also proposed intermediate
stations, each with outstanding panoramic views, tourist
attractions in themselves. This would permit the railway to be
opened in stages and earn money before it was even completed.
He applied for building permission, describing in high-flown
terms the beauty and wonders of the Alpine world to be opened up
to the public. The Swiss Parliament granted his application -
possibly less impressed by his poetic prose than by his offer to
spend CHF. 100,000 of his own money on equipping a
meteorological station on the Jungfraujoch summit.
Guyer-Zeller began constructing the Jungfrau Railway in 1896.
Several hundred workers, lodged in barracks, worked
round-the-clock in shifts. But delays were caused by geological
problems, financial difficulties, disputes and tunnelling
accidents with loss of life. It had been calculated that the
railway would take seven years to build - but it took 16 years.
The cost had been estimated at around CHF 10 million - the final
figure was CHF 15 million. The Jungfrau Railway was inaugurated
in 1912 on 1 August, Swiss National Day. Although the
calculations for cost and completion were well wide of the mark,
Adolf Guyer-Zeller was right about the ultimate financial
success of the Jungfrau Railway. It made a profit from the first
full year of operation and only once has it recorded a loss.
Guyer-Zeller himself did not live to see his dream fulfilled -
he died in 1899 at the age of 60. Reputed to be a tough, even
ruthless businessman, he was a kind employer. He often visited
his workers, eating with them on site and handing out money.
Workers wept when news of his death reached them.
More than 100 years after Guyer-Zeller's "impossible" dream, the
Jungfrau Railway continues to pose a challenge to construction
technology. This was clearly demonstrated in the 1970s when a
new "Top of Europe" complex was constructed to replace the burnt
down Mountain Lodge which dated from 1924. The climatic
conditions on the Jungfraujoch put both men and machines to the
test. The workforce had to contend with an average temperature
of minus eight degrees Celsius / 18° Fahrenheit and risk
avalanches, lightning, storms and winds of up to 250 kilometres
/ 150 miles an hour. Overnight storms resulted in snowdrifts up
to six metres / 20 feet deep. For these reasons, the roof was
built together with the exterior construction to provide
much-needed protection for the interior work.
Power and energy supplies also posed a problem - but here, at
least, the high altitude has proved a positive factor. The
intensive insolation serves to provide a natural energy
potential which is harnessed in a highly innovative way; the
solar warmth collected during the day is stored overnight. In
addition, unlikely heat sources such as light-bulbs, electrical
appliances and even the body temperature of visitors are taken
into account. As a result, there is no need for radiators. Even
when the sun does not shine and the outside temperature drops as
low as minus 30° Celsius / minus 22° Fahrenheit, supplementary
heating is not necessary. Only at night is heating supplied by
means of electrical energy from the Jungfrau Railway's own power
station, to ensure that room temperature is maintained at 18°
Celsius / 65° Fahrenheit. Fresh drinking water is transported by
Jungfrau Railway to the Jungfraujoch from Kleine Scheidegg.
Industrial water is obtained from melted snow. Sewage disposal
is effected by means of a special 9.4 kilometre / 6-mile duct
leading down to Grindelwald.
For more info please see the
official Jungfrau Railways website
here.
Google map showing the
Jungfrau's
location: