The Rhein-Schauen train seen on top of the flood barrier at Rhy-Schopf near Widnau in Switzerland on October 9, 2021 with a 1949 vintage Stadler built electric loco. The train operates as a round trip from Lustenau in Austria.
KEITH FENDER
THE line, used from the 1890s onwards in both Austria and Switzerland alongside the River Rhine where it enters Lake Constance – and forms the border between the countries – was built to enable construction and then maintenance of the flood barrier dams which enclose the river for tens of kilometres.
The 33km railway network was electrified at 750V DC in 1946-1950 with small electric locos being provided by the then small Swiss engineering firm Stadler.
Until 2008 the railway was used to move stone from quarries, and other construction material, but rather than close when this work ended the line has become a successful heritage line – known as the Rhein-Schauen (Rhine View), offering steam and electric/ diesel hauled trains from Lustenau in Austria.