Day 4 - Heidi Express over Bernina Pass

 
The Heidi Express' route is displayed in blue, Bernina Express in red.

The Heidi Express originates from Landquart, the Bernina Express originates from Chur. As you can see, after Filisur, both trains run on exactly the same route, climbing the 2253-meter Bernina pass to Tirano in Italy.

The Bernina Express trains were all fully booked while we were there, so we booked with Heidi Express instead. It added to our travel time because we had to take a train from Chur to Landquart to board the express train. We had to get up very early in the morning.

We got off the scenic train at Poschiavo, so that we could have more time for lunch before boarding the returning Heidi Express back to Landquart 


At our request, Posthotel served breakfast at 6:30 am for us. (They normally start breakfast at 7:00).

We took the 7:20  train to Landquart, then connected to the Heidi Express leaving Landquart at 7:45.


The interior of the Heidi Express first-class car, with panorama windows.

A broadcast system on the train announces many scenic attractions along the way in German, French, Italian, Japanese and English.
Our train coming around a bend.
This photo was shot from our panorama car at the far left of the picture toward the back of the train. 

The second-class cars in the back do not have panoramic windows, but passengers can roll down windows and stick their cameras out to take pictures.
The train passes some gorges, as well as the Albula valley forest on its way to the sunny Engadine. 

 

This is the view from the other side of the bridge.
Then the train climbs the 2253-meter Bernina pass, providing a nice view of ice-cold glaciers. (The hills are alive...)


(not quite the Matterhorn)

More glaciers. 
The glacier and Lake Bianco.

The reflection from the glaciers causes the water's misty-colored hue.
Snow peaks and a running stream. (Cold-filtered for the Rocky-Mountain taste of Chur).
The train made a brief stop at Alp Grum. From these alpine pastures you can see Italy (not pictured).
 
As mentioned earlier, Heidi Express runs on the same railroad track as Bernina Express after Filisur (just before Bergun.) Both climb over the 2253-meter Bernina pass. The train then rapidly winds down the mountains to Poschiavo, dropping 1300 meters within a few kilometers' horizontal distance.

The looping track, as seen in the picture, along with numerous tunnels, is an engineering feast. From inside the train, it didn't feel like a rollercoaster at all. The only way we knew the train was looping was by looking out the window. We saw a town church on our left hand side, then the same church was on our right, then it was on our left again ...

 
Cows with cow bells in the meadow by the railroad. Most of them are relaxing and bathing under the Sunday warm afternoon sun, but this one (below) is working and clunking the bell hard.

Just arrived at Poschiavo. Walking from the train station to the old town in search of a good restaurant for lunch.
Lunch at the picture-perfect Poschiavo old town.

The atmosphere is clean and peaceful and the air is light and crisp. The people who live here are lucky.

At this cafe, we sipped on coffee and indulged in wonderful Italian gelato.

It was wonderful sitting in the sun, eating, and relaxing.

Sister & brother, by the fountain in front of the cafe.