A rail journey through time
All aboard please, next stop: the history of 150 year old Appenzell Railways. A journey along the milestones of time.
1875
In the year of its founding, Switzerland’s first narrow-gauge railway tunnel, the Heinrichsbad Tunnel, is built between Herisau and Winkeln.
1946
Appenzell Railways has Switzerland’s longest narrow gauge vehicle and the world’s first dining car with a roof mounted pantograph. The pan- tograph allows the carriage to be supplied with power independently even if the power supply to the rest of the train is interrupted.
1889
With a radius of 30 metres, the world’s tightest rack rail bend is used with a steam locomotive built specifically for it. Switzerland’s first narrow gauge mail car with a post office follows a year later.
1990
Appenzell Railways is the first Swiss railway to install enclosed toilets in its passenger carriages.
2018
Switzerland’s steepest adhesion railway line will start operation between St. Gallen, Speicher and Trogen.
2025
Today, Appenzell Railways operates six lines in the cantons of Appenzell lnnerrhoden, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, St. Gallen and Thurgau. The team of 240 employees carries some 6.5 million people every year.
2027
Starting in 2027, the Rheineck Walzenhausen cogwheel railway is scheduled to become the world’s first fully automated overland adhesion/rack and pinion railway service.
