Rail & Ship building

Pilatus Railways

In May 2022, Bunorm Maschinenbau AG completed the revision of two track turners for Pilatus Railways. The Pilatus Railway, the steepest cogwheel railway of its kind worldwide, runs from Alpnachstad to Pilatus, overcoming an impressive altitude difference of 1635 meters on a 4.618-kilometer narrow gauge track with a gauge of 800 mm. As part of this revision in Aarwangen, the old bearing pins were removed, and new bearing locations were prepared, welded and then carefully checked. Our plant and equipment builders carried out the mounting welding of the locking and bearing points on-site on Pilatus.

This is nowhere else to be found on any cogwheel railway worldwide. Since the 1960s, two unique pieces have ensured that the trains of the steepest cogwheel railway in the world are adequately branched: the track turners. A track turner is a fixed track element attached to a turning cassette. This can be rotated around its axis. The track element connects to another track depending on which side is on top. The track turner, therefore replaces the classic switch like on other mountain railways.

We want to thank Pilatus Railways for the trust they have placed in us and are looking forward to further cooperation.

www.pilatus.ch

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