Many of the Swiss moutain railways originally ran using rack equipped locomotives propelling control trailers up the grades. The Bernese Oberland Railway used this method until the powerful railcars were introduced from about 1949 onwards. Several of the locomotives had been retained to be used as shunters as there was still appreciable freight working and stock movement in the 1980s. This is BOB 24 at Lauterbrunnen on 6 July 1984

One of the BOB's powerful rack equipped railcars, 306, runs round its train at Lauterbrunnen on 6 July 1984. The BOB and the associated lines carry very heavy traffic and an intense clockface service is operated between Interlaken and both Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald to the levels of punctuality and efficiency which are expected of all Swiss railways

This is the other terminus of the BOB at Grindelwald, a pretty Alpine resort with the high mountains towering behind. 308 was departing for Interlaken on 7 July 1984

BOB 309 with its train at Grindelwald on 7 July 1984, with the usual activity at this busy location. The Wengernalpbahn platforms are just to the right of this picture

The Jungfraubahn is amongst the top five railway attractions in the world. The base station is high in the mountains at Kleine Scheidegg, a location which can only be reached on foot or by using the Wengernalpbahn lines from Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald. The line has retained one of the original locomotive plus trailer sets in full working order and this view was taken by the depot on 7 July 1984

The Jungfraubahn's historic set is seen here just above Kleine Scheidegg at the start of the climb into the icy world of the glaciers, more than 11,000 feet above sea level!

Regular service on the Jungfraubahn was provided by these powerful rack equipped railcar sets, and this example was loading for its next trip to the glacier on 7 July 1984. The hotels in the background come into their own in the winter for the ski season, but the summer provides opportunities for walkers in the clear mountain air. All these hotels have to be supplied by rail as there is no road access at this point

This is the main station building at Kleine Scheidegg with the tracks of the Jungfraubahn in the foreground. The Wengernalpbahn tracks are behind the building with the line from Lauterbrunnen entering from the left, and that from Grindelwald from the right

Under the north face of the Eiger mountain, the Jungfraubahn starts its long climb up the summit of the line which is in a tunnel at Jungfraujoch. From here visitors can walk out to view an icy panarama of the high Alps to the south

Another view of a Jungfraubahn railcar set at the start of the climb just above Kleine Scheidegg. As the snows retreat from these slopes in the early summer, the surrounding areas spring to life and the ground is covered with tiny alpine wild flowers

High on a plateau on the south side of the Lauterbrunnen valley lies another community whose only access to the outside world is by rail. The short Murrenbahn connects the village of Murren with the funicular which brings travellers and all supplies from the valley below, and forms a connection with BOB mainline from Lauterbrunnen to Interlaken

The Schynige Platte Bahn was the most traditional of the BOB group of railways in the 1980s and operation was still provided by tiny rack locomotives propelling two lightweight trailers. Some of the rolling stock had been cascaded from the Wengernalpbahn. Traffic was heavy especially on a Sunday morning, for like many of these lines, there are opportunties to walk in the high mountains and connect by means of cable car lines to one of the other railways in the group and return by a different route. This is the view at the terminus on 8 July 1984

Spectacular mountain scenery can be viewed from the summit of the Schynige Platte line as depicted here in this view of a train led by control trailer 15 approaching the top station on 8 July 1984

A view of the same train entering the summit station. From this point walkers disperse along the many mountain paths with opportunities to return by an alternative route using cable car lines into the surrounding valleys. The Swiss take transport integration very seriously to include the high mountain paths as well as the more usual urban networks

The Wengernalpbahn was built to provide access into the high mountains, and thence by means of the Jungfraubahn into the glaciers. This is the scene at Grindelwald on 7 July 1984 with a WAB train headed by motor railcar 101 ready to depart for Kleine Scheidegg. The train will reverse at Grindelwald Gründ, and 101 will then propel the train up the rack section for the rest of its journey

This is Kleine Scheidegg station taken from the WAB side with the tracks in the foreground being the line from Lauterbrunnen. The north face of the Eiger completes the picture

I was really surprised at the level of activity all the time at Lauterbrunnen but then I realised that here all the supplies for the villlage of Wengen must be assembled and propelled up the hill. One of the line's original locomotives is engaged in assembling the next train with deliveries for the village on 6 July 1984

Sometimes freight can be propelled up the hill on the front of a passenger train. This was the scene at Lauterbrunnen on 6 July 1984 shows again the intense activity required to supply the high mountain settlements which are only reachable by rail

A load of fresh produce is ready to be taken up the hill to supply the hotels, guest house and shops in the village of Wengen high above

This is the first of several images taken at Wengen station on 8 July 1984. There are two trains in this picture which have come down from Kleine Scheidegg in convoy. The facilities at Wengen are extensive because not only are there short working passenger trains turning back as well as through trains to and from Lauterbrunnen, but the station is the only supply route for a substantial resort village

A WAB railcar set at Wengen on 6 July 1984 with the station building in the background. Wengen station is also a busy location with constant toing and froing of trains in both directions.

Wengen station is a wooden structure in Swiss chalet style. The freight depot can be seen to the left with vans being unloaded. There are no motor vehicles in Wengen. Passengers with luggage are met by battery powered carts to take them to their hotels. Similar trolleys are used to collect supplies for the shops and hotels. To walk around the streets of Wengen free from the danger, noise and fumes of motor traffic is almost a vision of paradise!

This image at Wengen was taken from the window of the train going up to Kleine Scheidegg on 6 July 1984, and shows two trains which have just come down from the same location. All the BOB group of railways retained traditional liveries in the 1980s but the rolling stock was maintained in immaculate condition