FollowA few years back the Berner Oberland Bahn wanted to widen the railway line so that they could create a passing place between Zweilutchinen and Wilderswil. Permission was granted on condition that the BOB also built and maintained a walking path alongside the river. The path makes a very nice walk. We start at Lauterbrunnen. It’s a mild day and the river is swollen with melt water from the mountains.
The path takes us past the little hydro station and past numerous little hamlets alongside the river. It’s all very chocolate-boxy.
The train stops on request at this tiny village.
The valley has been plagued by floods over the years, most recently in 2005 when much of the road and railway was destroyed.
There have been many attempts to prevent this over the years, mostly by removing the rocks from the river and making it as wide as possible. An unfortunate side-effect of this is that the fish could no longer swim up to their spawning pools in the mountains. Fish ladders have therefore been built to help them get around the most difficult bits.
Further downstream we come to an iron – smelting furnace. This was built in 1638, and it eventually employed 54 people. A small village sprang up nearby to accommodate them.
In 1831 the village was badly damaged by a flood, and subsequently destroyed by fire in 1854. Nothing remains other than the furnace.
Further down the path the valley broadens out. There’s still work taking place on the river here.
And eventually we arrive at the tiny village of Zweilutchinen. Despite its size it’s an important road and rail junction.
The train from Grindelwald pulls in.
Followed a minute later by the train from Lauterbrunnen.
The Lauterbrunnen train gently collides with the rear carriage of the Grindelwald service, and the two are coupled together for the rest of the journey down to Interlaken.
