With a line from Vitznau and a line from Arth both running to
the summit of Mount Rigi, the Mount Rigi Mountain
Railway is one of the world's only mountain railways with
multiple branches. The Vitznau branch was the first stretch - in
fact it was the first mountain railway in Europe, with services
beginning in 1871. Whilst this railway proved popular, it was not
easy to access from the other approach to the mountain, and it was
decided that there should be another line from Arth. Construction
on this stretch was swift, and trains began running to the summit
in 1873.
Each line affords wonderful panoramas over the Alps in their short
run (just less than five miles) to the summit. Today,
the Mount Rigi Mountain Railway is
diesel-hauled, having been electrified as early as 1906. However,
on rare special occasions, the original steam engines are used to
make the journey.
