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SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | FEBRUARY 2026 9 By Karen Range, Resident In December, my husband and I went on an AMA Waterways Rhine River cruise to the Christmas markets in Germany and France. Our trip also included pre-cruise days in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and post-cruise days in Lucerne and Zurich, Switzerland. Lucerne, Switzerland, was our favorite city visited and one of our favorite excursions was riding the Rigi Mountain Train. The trip to Rigi began with a one-hour boat ride on Lake Lucerne. The boat crossed the lake to the town of Vitznau where we boarded the Rigi Mountain Train, the oldest cogwheel train in Europe. The train ascended 5,906 feet above sea level to the top of Mt. Rigi. The ascent took about 30 minutes. There was snow at the mountain top (called Rigi Kulm), along with a bistro (small restaurant) and a souvenir shop (of course!). Cogwheel railways or mountain railways are a type of railway system that use a toothed rack rail, usually located in the middle of the track, to provide traction for the locomotive. Unlike traditional railways that rely on the friction between the wheels and the track to move forward, cog railways use a cogwheel or pinion gear, which engages with the rack rail to climb steep inclines and navigate through difficult terrain. The history of cog railways can be traced back to the early 19th century when engineers began experimenting with different methods of climbing steep inclines. One of the earliest successful cog railway systems was developed by Swiss engineer Niklaus Riggenbach, who used a toothed rack rail and a cogwheel to transport coal from a mine to a nearby town. Our day-trip tour to Rigi Kulm was included as part of our stay in Lucerne. There are plenty of things to do for those who book a longer visit. There are inns and hotels, additional restaurants, a skating rink, and a wellness center, plus sledding, snowshoe excursions, and various hikes. All of us in the tour group were accommodated in one train car. The seats were comfortable, the ride was smooth and offered panoramic views of lakes, mountains, and meadows. I've included two pictures taken from the train, one picture of the train, and a picture of the snow at the summit. We also saw some houses along the way. Our tour guide said that the folks who live along the railway either take the train up and down or hike. Anyone able to hike those mountain paths must be in great shape. I would definitely stick to the train coming and going! Rigi Mountain Train Ride, Lucerne, Switzerland

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