In 1893, two cogwheel railways in the Bernese Oberland made their maiden voyages: the Schynige Platte Railway and Wengernalp Railway.
The Wengernalp Railway leads along the Kleine Scheidegg mountain pass from Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen, giving an almost tangible mountain panorama
of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau
. In winter, it’s the lifeblood of the Jungfrau ski region between Grindelwald and Wengen. The Schynige Platte Railway starts in Wilderswil and climbs up to a viewing platform called Schynige Platte – Top of Swiss Tradition, which lies at 1,967 metres above sea level.
Although the two railways are based on the same cogwheel system, they are completely different. The Schynige Platte Railway still runs every day with nostalgic locomotives and coaches. Even the tickets are designed to reflect tradition. The Wengernalp Railway, meanwhile, has an ultra-modern look, with its traction vehicles offering passengers a panoramic view as it brings them to the Jungfrau – Top of Europe.
The special stamps are available in two sheetlets which together resemble a travel diary: lying side by side , they appear to be bound by rings. The background is a panorama of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. On the stamps themselves, both railways are depicted in a realistic fashion.
text and pictures:Swiss Post