Railway Montenvers Bashny.Net

Europe, this Europe. Here everything is made for tourists.
People who came to Chamonix and willing not only to see the Alps and Mont Blanc, and climb higher and closer, like, feel do not have to puzzle over how to do it. Scores of low lifts up those that will lift you to a height of nearly 4000 meters, helicopter rides, hiking trails and mountain ... even trams and railways. The singularity of the railway is that it is not the two rails, as we used to, but three. What is this third rail - see below ...





Railway Montenvers (Montenvers) connects Chamonix, located at an altitude of 1035 meters above sea level and the Montenvers station, located at an altitude of 1913 meters. This station is located in close proximity to the largest glacier in France Mer de Glace and this factor determines both the appearance of the railway, and its huge popularity in our time among tourists.



Here is the railway itself. Instead of the usual two rails here are three of them. The third rail gear. It is with the help of the head by means of the gear train drives the composition. The wheel turns, the train rides.



By and large, the same principle that in Truckee tanks or crawler tractors



This railway was built in 1909, but operates to this day. Together with the famous Mont Blanc tram, transportation is one of the attractions of Chamonix.
The first locomotive of the road ever stood on a pedestal near the building of the main station in Chamonix



Now train a more modern and quickly take you to the foot of the glacier Mer de Glass.
The entire journey takes about 20 minutes. Cost is quite biting - 27 euros (round trip) or 20 euros each way.
But there is quite a convenient way to save considerably on the trip (if you plan to actively use the lift, train or tram) - buy MultiPass - universal ticket, where you can ride the lifts Unlimited, trains and trams in Chamonix during paid time.
54 euros per day, 67 - for two, 78 for three, etc.



Path train runs along the wooded hillsides



Even during the recovery from the windows of the train open vistas



Along the way there are some intersections, where an oncoming train can disperse. A total of three train lines.
The first goes from Chamonix at 8 am (from December to April - 10 am) and the last of Montenvers - 17.30 (16.30 in winter)



Railway Montenvers



The picturesque bridge in the alpine forest



Montenvers station. Visitors returning from the glacier waiting for the last train



On the door of the station beautiful painted signs with the names of the surrounding attractions and hiking trails



The lower part of the Mer de Glace glacier. Unfortunately, in the summer, the lower part of the glacier melts much and is a pretty sad sight. To see the glacier in all its glory, you need to go to a cooler time



But boasting gorgeous views of the peaks of Les Drew (Les Drus) and Le Grand Jorasses (Les Grandes Jorasses).



Helicopter tour, as it turned out, is quite sane money. Unfortunately, we found out about it only on the last day and a chance to see the Alps from the height of this time missed



The empty station Montenvers after the last train left



Looking at the glacier melted the last time we went to Chamonix ... on foot.
After all, it was necessary to see what are the alpine hiking trails.



Source: aquatek-filips.livejournal.com