Dampfbahn Furka-Bergstrecke

About the museum

The route over the Furka belongs to a railway line that the Brig-Furka-Disentis Railway was to build from 1910. In 1914 the section from Brig to Gletsch opened; the First World War and a lack of money stopped the project, and in 1923 the company went bankrupt. The Furka-Oberalp Railway took over the facilities, continued the construction and then operated the mountain line in summer for decades, with a steep section of up to 110 per mille and a summit at around 2,160 metres.

In October 1981 the last train ran over the mountain line, because the new Furka Base Tunnel was nearing completion and the old line was to be dismantled. Railway enthusiasts resisted: in 1983 the Furka Mountain Line Association was founded, and in 1985 the operating company DFB AG. Section by section, tracks, bridges and retaining walls were secured and the line reopened. On 12 August 2010, with the Gletsch–Oberwald section, the entire mountain line could be travelled again.

Today historic steam locomotives and carriages, many of them over 100 years old, run on the metre-gauge rack railway between Realp and Oberwald. Almost 520 volunteers restore and maintain vehicles and track and help with operations. The railway is supported by DFB AG, the Furka Mountain Line Association with about 7,500 members, the Furka Mountain Line Foundation and the Steam Locomotive Friends. The locomotives are maintained at the Realp depot, where guided tours are also available on request.

Highlights

• Ride on historic steam locomotives and carriages on the rack railway from Realp to Oberwald
• Steep section with gradients of up to 110 per mille and a line rising above 2,000 metres
• Stopover of about 25 minutes at Furka station at 2,160 metres with a mountain inn
• Three-part Steffenbach Bridge, folded up every autumn to protect it from avalanches
• Depot tours in Realp with locomotive depot, carriage shed and steam snow blower

Founded

1983

Operated by

Dampfbahn Furka-Bergstrecke AG (DFB AG)

Admission & discounts

The price shown is for a single journey Realp–Oberwald in 2nd class (from price; 1st class costs more, shorter distances are cheaper). The price includes the historic supplement and seat reservation. Children under 6 travel free, but without a guaranteed seat. Regional guest cards (Aletsch Arena, Binntal Landscape Park, Bellwald, Andermatt Urserntal, Sedrun/Disentis) give individual travellers a discount.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Realp station has public rooms equipped for disabled access with toilets, and in Gletsch access to the trains is wheelchair accessible. The railway provides no information on the other stops.

Kids & families

Children up to age 5 travel free (without a guaranteed seat); children aged 6 to 15 travel at a greatly reduced rate with a Junior Card or Children's Co-Travel Card.

Getting there & parking

The DFB station in Oberwald is connected to the MGBahn station by an underpass; in Realp it is a seven-minute walk from the MGBahn station to the DFB station. By car to Oberwald via Brig and Ulrichen or via the Grimsel Pass and Gletsch, to Realp via the A2 to Göschenen and through the Schöllenen Gorge. Tickets for Oberwald are sold on the platform before departure, not at the MGBahn counter.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Bistro at Realp station and Dampfbahn-Beizli, mountain inn at Furka station, SteamPub dining car on selected journeys, shop with coffee corner in a converted railway carriage in Oberwald; souvenir shops in Realp and Gletsch.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Charter trains for clubs, companies and private occasions on request (reisedienst@dfb.ch).

Plan your visit