Lauterbrunnen–Mürren Mountain Railway

Route of the BLM above the Lauterbrunnen valley, with the cablecar section in red and the rail section in green

The BLM commences from Lauterbrunnen, using a terminus that is directly opposite the platforms of the Berner Oberland-Bahn (BOB) to Interlaken, and the Wengernalpbahn (WAB) to Kleine Scheidegg and Grindelwald. The first section of the line is an aerial cableway that rises 690 m (2,263.8 ft) in a distance of 1.4 km (0.9 mi). The cableway follows the line of the funicular that preceded it, and the remains of the funicular are visible at many points.[2][8]

The aerial cableway and railway connect at Grütschalp station, where both lines are within a single building, which also contains the line's workshop. A complex transfer machine in the station is used to transfer goods between the two sections and is well used since road access to Mürren is virtually impossible. The same machine was used to transfer goods between the funicular and rail, and has been retained for use with the cable car.[8][2][4]

From Grütschalp to Mürren the line is continued as a 4.27 km (2.7 mi) long narrow gauge electric railway, which rises 152 m (498.7 ft). Through most of its length, the rail line commands a view of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau across the depths of the Lauterbrunnen Valley. The railway has a single intermediate calling point, at Winteregg station, and runs to a terminus at Mürren station, where the platforms used by passengers are enclosed within a modern station building. Just before the station is reached, the line passes a large freight depot, used in the carriage of freight to Mürren.[2][4]

The cablecar that replaced the funicular

The cable car section of the line is operated by a single cable car, which shuttles between Lauterbrunnen and Grütschalp with a journey time of 4 minutes. The car has an upper passenger level, carrying up to 100 passengers, and a lower level capable of carrying 6 tonnes of freight. The cable car is scheduled with the railway to provide a through journey frequency of between two and four services per hour.[7][9]

Two trains pass in Winteregg station

The rail line is single-track, with a passing loop at Winteregg station. It has a track gauge of 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 ³⁄₈ in) and is electrified at 550 V DC supplied by overhead line. The line is operated using rail adhesion only, and has a maximum gradient of 5%. The former funicular shared the same track gauge, enabling the use of the funicular to transfer rolling stock to and from the electric railway.[2][4][8]

The rail section is operated by single electric railcars, often towing or pushing a flat car for goods, with a journey time of 14 minutes. The railway is scheduled with the cable car to provide a through journey frequency of between two and four services per hour.[7][9]

The rail line uses the following self-propelled vehicles:[10]

Image	Numbers	Notation	Year	Notes
	11	BDe 2/4	1913	Built for the BLM by SIG/MFO. Used on occasional special services.
	21-23	BDe 4/4	1967	Built for the BLM by SIG/BBC/SAAS to replace the 1913 built stock.
	31	BDe 4/4	1967	Built by BBC/MFO for the OJB where it was numbered 82. It was acquired and rebuilt for use on the BLM in 2010.
	25	X rot m	1956	Diesel snow blower.

In addition there are four low-floor flat cars, which are pushed or pulled by the passenger cars and carry demountable bodies that can be transferred to the cable car, and a number of unpowered works vehicles.[10]