It happened on Oct. 29, 2022, with 25 four-part Capricorn railcars from leading Swiss manufacturer Stadler. Rhaetian Railway (RhB) took the longest narrow gauge passenger train in the world on the UNESCO World Heritage route from the Albula Tunnel in Preda to the world-famous Landwasser Viaduct just outside Filisur. Several thousand guests and railway fans attended the public event in Bergün or positioned themselves along the route mentioned above to experience this unique journey.
It all worked like, well, clockwork. With the precision of a Swiss watch.
RhB traveled along the Albula Line on Saturday afternoon, October 29, 2022, with 25 four-part Capricorn railcars from leading Swiss manufacturer Stadler. The 1.18-mile-long record train was lined up like a string of pearls in the Albula Tunnel during the night from Friday to Saturday and on Saturday morning. It then set off in Preda at about 2.20 pm. Shortly after 3.30 pm, the record-breaking train reached its destination: the spectacular crossing of the Landwasser Viaduct.
“After intensive preparation, we are overjoyed to have achieved this world record,” saidi Renato Fasciati, Director of RhB. “Not only did we have a wonderful railway festival here in Bergün, but we were able to present ourselves around the world as a fascinating and innovative mountain railway thanks to our dedicated partners, sponsors and an incredibly dedicated team.”
The success of the world record was officially confirmed on-site by GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™.
A Festival Setting For The World Record Train
A festival site was built outside Bergün where around 3,000 visitors attended the world record attempt. On the festival site, Märklin also presented the world record train in mini format – with 25 Capricorn LGB model trains and a length of 262 feet on a scale of 1:22.5.
The world record attempt itself was broadcast on Blick TV with an approximately two-hour program and was included in coverage by numerous TV stations around the world. More than 120 media repre-sentatives from 15 countries followed the world record live.
The RhB partners showed their skills at the station itself. For example, the track construction company SERSA was present with a track construction machine and a locomotive simulator. Expertise partners ABB and Repower provided information about electromobility. Siemens enabled a fantastic rail experience with augmented reality. The Albula Railway Museum was open, while Märklin and BEMO also showed various model railways. The entire railway village of Bergün was on the move.
Facts and figures About The World Record Train
– The train consisted of 25 compositions, each with four carriages of the new Capricorn railcars, and had a total length of 1.18 miles.
– “Capricorn” is the Rhaeto-Romanic term for ibex.
– The world-record route from Preda to Alvaneu is 15.5 miles long.
– The train covered a difference in altitude of 2590 feet.
– The world record-breaking journey crossed 48 bridges and went through 22 tunnels.
– The largest viaduct on the world record route is the world-famous Landwasser Viaduct just after Filisur with a length of 465 miles and a height of 213 miles.
– The longest tunnel on the world record route is the Greifenstein Tunnel just before Filisur which is 2290 feet long.
– The attempt to break the world record generated 4,000 kWh of braking energy (recuperation).
– The world-record train traveled at a speed of 18 to 22 mph.
– The record-breaking journey took around an hour.
– The weight of the record-breaking train was around 2,990 tons.
– Communication within the train was ensured by means of a field telephone almost 1.25 miles long from the Civil Defence.
– In addition, 7 train drivers and 21 technicians were at work on the train to ensure its operability.
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