Contura – Autumn/Winter 2013/14

The section of the RhB line between Bergün and Preda is impressive
enough by day. After ten at night it is even more exciting.
"Contura" looks over the shoulder of track worker Walter Gubser
as he works on the tracks of the RhB.
Why do all small boys want to be train drivers when they grow up? The real
heroes are not the engine drivers, but the men in orange overalls. Walter
Gubser is one of them. On this night in spring, he guides us over the Albula
Line of the Rhaetian Railway. Countless stars shine on the tracks, viaducts
and helical tunnels; every now and then the moonlight is reflected in the
eyes of a grazing stag. Shortly after 10 pm the last train from Bergün rumbles
through on its way to Preda. Then the track is ours and we do something
not normally allowed. We walk between the rails and over bridges
while Gubser gives us an insight into the workings of this railway, which
has UNESCO World Heritage status.
Hard work - yesterday and today
The railway worker knows every inch of the track, every sleeper and probably
every stone as well. No, that’s not an exaggeration: "In the old days,
our signature tune was tic, tic, tic, tic", he says – the noise made by each
team of four as they packed the crushed stones under the sleepers with
their pickaxes. "And woe betide anyone who got out of rhythm", says Gubser.
In time, the pickaxe crews became track assemblers and, later still,
track workers. Nowadays a tamping machine does the work of the pickaxe
crews. Nevertheless, the job is still pretty tough. Gubser, who sometimes
describes himself as a federally certified
track ballast tamping officer, works on
the railway at night for 10-15 weeks a year.
With so many trains using the track, there
is no other solution. No matter whether
it’s 25 degrees below freezing, snowing or
"merely" raining: damaged rails must be
replaced, fallen rocks removed and points
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