Bellinzona–Mesocco railway

The Bellinzona–Mesocco railway (Italian: Ferrovia Bellinzona–Mesocco; BM) was a Swiss metre gauge railway that linked the towns of Bellinzona, in the canton of Ticino and Mesocco, in the canton of Graubünden. The line was built by the Società Anonima della Ferrovia Elettrica Bellinzona-Mesocco and later became part of the Rhaetian Railway. At last the section of the line between Castione-Arbedo, and Cama was operated by the Società Esercizio Ferroviario Turistico (SEFT) as a tourist railway known as the Ferrovia Mesolcinese.[2]

Bellinzona–Mesocco railway
Train at Cama in 2007
Overview
StatusPartially closed and removed
LocaleCantons of Ticino and Graubünden, Switzerland
TerminiBellinzona
Mesocco
Stations17
Operation
Opened1907
Closed1972 (Bellinzona–Castione)
1978 (Cama–Mesocco)
2013 (Castione - Cama)
Technical
Line length31.3 kilometres (19.4 mi)
now 12.7 kilometres (7.9 mi)
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in)
Minimum radius80 metres (260 ft)
Electrification1500 V, DC, overhead
Maximum incline6%
Route map
km
elev
in m
0.0
 Bellinzona BM
227
2.0
 Molinazzo
236
Gotthard Railway
to Lugano
Moesa
3.5
 Arbedo-Castione
241
Gotthard Railway
to Arth-Goldau
4.2
 Castione Villaggio
5.7
 Lumino
258
6.9
Canton of Ticino
Canton of Grisons
8.1
 Valmoesa
(
factory
siding
)
262
9.1
 San Vittore
275
Moesa (75 m)
10.8
 Roveredo
294
Moesa (81 m)
11.2
 San Antonio
302
12.2
 Grono Bahnübergang
325
12.7
 Grono
332
13.3
new depot
15.2
 Leggia
340
16.2
 Cama
351
17.6
 Piani di Verdabbio
367
18.7
 Sorte
403
21.4
 Lostallo
423
23.3
 Cabbiolo
446
25.4
 Vigna
486
Piotta tunnel (42 m)
Capella tunnel (31 m)
28.5
 Soazza
620
San Giovanni tunnel (13 m)
31.3
 Mesocco
766

Source: Swiss railway atlas[1]

The Gotthard railway opened in 1882, providing a transport link to the communities of the valley of the Ticino River. In order to provide a link to the communities of the Val Mesolcina, the Bellinzona–Mesocco railway was opened in 1907. Although intended as a feeder line to the Gotthard railway, the Bellinzona terminus of the BM was located some 500 metres (1,600 ft) from the main line station, and the main transfer point was Castione-Arbedo station further north.[3]

From the beginning, an extension over the San Bernardino Pass to Thusis was planned, in order to provide a rail connection to the Rhaetian Railway (RhB), but this was not constructed. In 1942 the line was merged into the RhB, but it was never connected to that railway's main network. In 1972, all passenger traffic ceased and the line between Bellinzona and Castione-Arbedo was closed, whilst freight traffic continued on the rest of the line.[3]

In 1978 the upper section of the line was damaged by a bad storm, and was never repaired. The remnant of the line between Castione-Arbedo and Cama continued carrying freight traffic until the closure of the factories on the line removed that traffic. In 2003, freight traffic ceased and the line was transferred to SEFT.[3]

The original line was 31.3 kilometres (19.4 mi) long, and was electrified at 1500 V DC using overhead lines. It had 17 stops, a maximum gradient of 6% and a minimum radius of 80 metres (260 ft). The surviving tourist line was at last 12.7 kilometres (7.9 mi) long.[2][3] It was closed at end of 2013.

References
  1. Eisenbahnatlas Schweiz (Swiss railway atlas). Schweers + Wall. 2012. pp. 48, 49. ISBN 978-3-89494-130-7.
  2. Eisenbahnatlas Schweiz. Verlag Schweers + Wall GmbH. 2012. pp. 48–49. ISBN 978-3-89494-130-7.
  3. "Bellinzona–Mesocco". www.eingestellte-bahnen.ch (in German). Archived from the original on 2018-03-08. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
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