After watching viral videos on social media of a steam train moving through flower beds, wooden-roofed houses and down to a lake with emerald green water, surrounded by interspersed mountains, Le Thi Hong (25 years old, from Hanoi) was determined to go to Switzerland to fulfill her dream of visiting once in her life.
The beauty of the steam train in the middle of poetic nature.
Unique train ride "1-0-2"
This scenic route across the Emmental Alps in central Switzerland features an impressive steam train up the Brienzer Rothorn. The highest station on the line is at the summit of the mountain, at 2,244 m. The train also passes through mountain tunnels and many spectacular loops.
Brienz train station opposite the fairytale village at the foot of the mountain.
The Swiss steam train is unique in that it only operates from June to October each year. The train has been in operation since 1892 and takes about an hour each way. The steam train journey starts in Brienz and runs 7.6 km from Brienz train station to Rothorn Kulm summit station.
The train has only two carriages with an open-air design so that passengers can fully admire the wonderful scenery outside, but is still equipped with arched glass windows that can be pulled down if it rains. The train space is quite small, each row of seats has only three seats and there is no walkway because the train is designed for sightseeing. In particular, the steam train makes quite a lot of noise because it has an open space where the engine sound can be heard.
The steam train was winding its way along the green mountainside.
Feast your eyes on the natural scenery
As a passenger on the train, Ms. Hong was able to enjoy the picturesque natural scenery, from majestic and magnificent to poetic and lyrical. It was a beauty that made all passengers on the train burst into admiration. This is considered a wonderful experience exclusively for those who are passionate about natural scenery.
The beauty of the peaceful countryside village of Brienz at the foot of the mountain.
According to Ms. Hong, the scenery throughout the journey is a diary of emotions. When the train starts to depart from the foot of the mountain, a poetic picture appears. That is the village of Brienz with its characteristic wooden roofs interspersed with each other, nestled under the towering mountains and intersecting with the emerald green lake mixed with a hint of ivory white like a milky stream at the bottom of the lake.
More than 20 minutes after the train departed, the dreaminess was gradually replaced by majestic beauty. From this height, the mountains along both sides of the road gradually appeared, the temperature decreased so visitors could feel the air was fresher and cooler.
A mountain range resembling a dinosaur's spine lies on the way up to the Brienz Rothorn.
As the train approaches the mountain peak, the image of the mountain becomes higher, farther, layered and there is a big difference in temperature in different mountain ranges. Therefore, visitors have the opportunity to admire the contrasting picture created by the mountain covered with light white snow mixed with the hill covered with yellow flowers and green grass.
“The scene that impressed me the most during the trip was the image of a small, pretty red steam train with pure white smoke flowing through the hillsides of the vast, majestic nature. This was the first time I had seen a scene with so many different but harmonious beauties,” Ms. Hong confided.
The old couple who live here are watching the train go down the mountain in the evening.
The cows grazed on the mountainside.
Notes when experiencing a steam train ride
According to Ms. Hong, people should go to the Brienz Rothorn Bahn website a week in advance to buy tickets and choose a suitable time for the trip. In particular, virtual life enthusiasts should be present 30 minutes before departure to be able to choose a suitable seat outside for taking photos and videos.
The last train of the day ran along the sunset mountainside to return to the station.
Before planning to experience the steam train, everyone should check the weather forecast. If the planned day is a sunny day, it will be great, you will see the view of Lake Brienz with its milky white jade green color and can see 693 different mountain peaks layer by layer. But if unfortunately go on a rainy day, you will have to roll down the train window, it is difficult to see around because the sky is also gloomy, leading to an incomplete trip and no beautiful photos.
In terms of transportation, from Interlaken Ost you can take the train straight to Brienz. If you are in Interlaken, you can go to the pier and enjoy a super beautiful trip on Lake Brienz, passing the stop at Iseltwald (where the scene in “Crash Landing on You” was filmed). If you are traveling by car, there is a large parking lot on the main road, right next to the Brienz Rothorn Bahn station.
Image of a winding steam railway between two mountain slopes.
One of 693 mountains with extremely unique beauty.
Detailed schedule of steam train experience:
- 14:30: Arrive at Brienz steam train station
- 14:58: Steam train departs from Brienz station to Rothorn summit
- 15:57: Reach the top of Brienz Rothorn
After reaching the top of Brienz Rothorn, you can go to the only restaurant there to rest, sip a cup of coffee and enjoy the view. Or you can also walk a little further to the highest point of Brienz Rothorn to enjoy the view, take pictures and enjoy the most wonderful view. If you want to spend more time at the top of Brienz Rothorn, you should take an earlier trip.
- 17:10: Arrive at the train station
- 17:40: Last trip of the day by steamer returning to Brienz station
- 18:40: Arrive at Brienz station
