DOCSLIB.ORG

3. Justification for Inscription

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
3. Justification for Inscription Candidature UNESCO World Heritage | Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina Cultural Landscape | www.rhb-unesco.ch 3. Justification for Inscription 3.a Criteria under which inscription is proposed > 361 (and justification for inscription under these criteria) 3.b Proposed Statement of Outstanding Universal Value > 363 3.c Comparative analysis (including state of conservation > 367 of similar properties) 3.c.1 Identifying comparable railways > 367 3.c.2 Comparison of railways > 374 3.c.3 Comparison of the surrounding countryside > 420 3.c.4 Overall view of the comparison > 457 3.d Integrity and Authenticity > 465 Additional Information > 3. Justification for inscription > Table of contents 359 Candidature UNESCO World Heritage | Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina Cultural Landscape | www.rhb-unesco.ch Albula line > The steep climb between Bergün/Bravuogn and Preda called for a complicated alignment with numerous engineering struc- tures. A Rhaetian Railway passenger train crossing the Albula Viaduct III. Foto Geiger Additional Information > 3. Justification for inscription > 3.a Criteria under which inscription is proposed 360 Candidature UNESCO World Heritage | Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina Cultural Landscape | www.rhb-unesco.ch 3.a Criteria under which inscription is proposed (and justification for inscription under these criteria) The property is nominated according to Crite- zenith of the golden age of mountain railways. It ria i, ii and iv pursuant to Article 77 of the Op- has also exerted a powerful influence on how the erational Guidelines for the Implementation of Alps have been perceived over the years. the World Heritage Convention on the following grounds: Criterion i The “Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina Cultural Landscape” is an exceptional mas- terpiece of creative genius generated by the interaction of aesthetic standards, engineer- ing acumen, technical innovation and perfect craftsmanship in a Gesamtkunstwerk. It is the outcome of the outstanding cooperation of wide skills with a highly innovative approach and handling of difficulties. Criterion ii The “Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina Cul- tural Landscape” is a pioneering work of modern engineering and architectural structures that ex- hibits the important interchange of human values on innovative technical developments in the early 20th century. It is an excellent example of a harmo- nious relationship between human interaction and natural beauty, exemplary of the perception of the Alps as a sublime experience of the relationship be- tween nature, culture and technology. Criterion iv The “Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina Cultural Landscape” is an outstanding example of a technological ensemble which illustrates the Additional Information > 3. Justification for inscription > 3.a Criteria under which inscription is proposed 361 Candidature UNESCO World Heritage | Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina Cultural Landscape | www.rhb-unesco.ch Bernina line > The daring alignment at Alp Grüm ensures an unimpeded view of the landscape. C. Gilli /Rhaetian Railway Additional Information > 3. Justification for inscription > 3.b Proposed Statement 362 Candidature UNESCO World Heritage | Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina Cultural Landscape | www.rhb-unesco.ch 3.b Proposed Statement of Outstanding Universal Value In exceptional fashion, the “Rhaetian Rail- tion and the quality of the achievement estab- way in the Albula/Bernina Cultural Land- lished the basis for the worldwide recognition scape” is an example as unique as it is typical it has enjoyed ever since it was first brought of a mountain railway integrated into an Alpine into service. It is essentially different from landscape. The Albula line, with its spectacu- the mountain railways already figuring on the lar alignment and original engineering struc- World Heritage List: the Albula line, as a mas- tures that represent a most impressive technical terpiece, constructed with lavish planning and achievement, is an outstanding ‘product’ of the excellent craftsmanship, represents the arche- golden age of high altitude railways. From the type of the mountain railway from the golden outset, it was recognised as a transport route age of rail. With its many stone viaducts of var- most harmoniously embedded in the landscape. ying heights and lengths, the complex, some- The Bernina railway, as an electric surface times overlaid structures of the helical tunnels railway at exceptionally high altitude and with and the long crest tunnel, the meticulous and extreme upgrades, is a unique example of the architecturally valuable design of the elevated application of a technology that was highly in- structures, and finally the actual operation it- novative about 1900, but would soon become self, it displays all the characteristics of a main- widespread. What is more, the development of line railway, even though it was constructed its alignment was planned with a view to the with a narrow gauge. The Bernina line, on the best possible integration into the surrounding other hand, an electric surface railway at a high landscape. The Albula/Bernina line, as a rail- altitude and with the extreme gradient of 70‰, way that traverses an entire mountain range, opened up new technical territory and intro- links three distinct linguistic and cultural re- duced a new type of railway which would soon gions. To this day, it remains in full service, become widespread. The Albula/Bernina sec- transporting both passengers and goods. tion represents a special type of “high-altitude mountain railway”: over a distance of some 130 The combination of two different kinds of km and with a maximum difference in altitude mountain railway – on the one hand with crest (1,550 to 1,700 m) it crosses a mountain range, tunnels (and the equally technically demanding from one side to the other. While the “Semmer- spiral tunnels) and on the other a surface elec- ingbahn” UNESCO World Heritage Site marks tric railway crossing a high altitude mountain the beginning of accessing mountainous areas pass in the open – make the Albula/Bernina by rail, the Albula/Bernina line represents the line simultaneously unique and typical, an out- golden age of mountain railway construction: standing example of a railway in the mountains. it was only with the development of mechani- Its major role in the history of railway construc- cal tunnelling machines in the second half of Additional Information > 3. Justification for inscription > 3.b Proposed Statement 363 Candidature UNESCO World Heritage | Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina Cultural Landscape | www.rhb-unesco.ch the 19th century that long tunnel constructions Bernina Cultural Landscape” is an exceptional and special types of tunnel (such as spiral tun- example of a masterpiece created by a unique nels) could be erected within acceptable time and diversified interplay between economics, and cost constraints. The construction of al- politics, engineering, culture and nature. pine mountain railways came to an end with the First World War. Since then, no new trans-al- Even at the time the railway was built, the out- pine railways have been completed, while spiral standing quality of the landscape to be tra- tunnels no longer feature in contemporary rail versed was recognised and deemed worthy of construction. preservation. Emphasis was put on harmonious integration of the railway infrastructure, while The construction of the Albula/Bernina line at the same time the alignment – particularly in was rendered possible by an exceptionally crea- the case of the Bernina line – was planned, as tive exploitation of technical, economic and far as possible, to present the landscape to the socio-cultural influences. An important goal traveller in all its magnificence as a landscape which was promoted by the construction of experience. The structurally created measures the railway, was to preserve the diverse cul- to enhance perception of the landscape during a tural and linguistic areas within the canton of rail journey together with the railway landscap- Graubünden. In view of the topography, the ing realised during construction are unique in the Albula line was laid out as a narrow-gauge rail- early 20th century. The experience of the excep- way, but its design and operation followed the tional views is an inherent element of the quality pattern of a mainline (standard gauge) railway. of the property. The “Rhaetian Railway in the The aim was to facilitate access to the Engadin, Albula/Bernina Cultural Landscape” displays in both summer and winter. Thus the railway emblematically this synthesis of nature, culture contributed to the development of a new branch and technology which has exerted a powerful of the economy, namely winter (sports) tourism. influence on how the Alps have been perceived Indeed tourism was to become the main indus- over the years: a vignette of cultural history. try in the region. The railway line was integrated subtly into the diversified cultural landscape and continues to enrich it today. The Bernina line was a product of the hydroelectric projects, built on Italian initiative, to generate power for the Lombard metropolis of Milan, and exploited the capital released by these projects. Moreover, the concerns of tourism were taken into account by aligning the track to ensure an exceptional ‘mountain experience’ from the comfort of the train. To satisfy these special conditions, the latest technology was used to construct the high Alpine railway as an electrical surface
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Annual Report 2012 the Added Value of Local Skills Is Key to Local Develop- Ment
    Annual Report 2012 The added value of local skills is key to local develop- ment. The history of Swiss rack railways can be summa- rised in this one phrase, combining local skills in the railway industry, the region’s particular geography, and international success. It is precisely ideas cultivated and implemented locally that make Swiss peaks accessi- ble to tourists from every corner of the globe and spread this technology to remote countries. One common denominator is the hallmark of all the phases of this adventure, from the challenges faced by the pioneers to the first attempts at implementation, from the bold designs to the initiatives that define Switzerland’s tourism, culture, and history: the active and responsible participation of institutions, private en- terprise, and financial entities. An exemplary attitude still teaching us today that, in order to make progress, ideas must be sustained by the tenacity of those who generate them, by the consensus of institutions, and by those whose mission is economic support. This year Banca del Sempione wants to dedicate its an- nual report to the Swiss rack railway industry to cele- brate another example of Swiss success in the world and to recall men of genius, visionary entrepreneurs, and enlightened public servants who made it happen. These men understood local needs and found effective solu- tions, setting examples for the men and women at Banca del Sempione who in the same way have offered their customers solutions by listening and paying atten- tion to them for more than three generations. Banca del Sempione SA Annual Report Report on the fifty-second year of operations, presented to the General Meeting of Shareholders on 30 April 2013 Contents 6 Bank’s governing bodies 9 Chairman’s report 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Sustainable Transportation a Challenge for the 21St Century
    On Track to the Future Sustainable Transportation A Challenge for the 21st Century www.thinkswiss.org Swiss – U.S. Dialogue “We think it is an excellent time to have a dialogue on public transportation as awareness is growing in the U.S. and in Switzerland. Based on the Swiss experi- ence, I strongly believe that public transportation only works with a strong public commitment.” Urs Ziswiler Swiss Ambassador to the United States of America “The project of the Embassy of Switzerland initiated a promising exchange and a dialogue on sustainable transportation. On behalf of the American Public Trans- portation Association and our colleagues in the United States, we look forward to building upon this relationship to further the goals of mobility and sustainability in both of our countries as we head into the 21st century.” Michael Schneider Co-Chair APTA Task Force on Public-Private Partnerships “With an excellent public transportation network, Switzerland makes a contribu- tion toward reducing CO2 emissions. The investments in railroad modernization constitute an important pillar of the economy. As a transit country in the heart of the old continent, we help Europe to grow closer together through good transpor- tation infrastructure.” Max Friedli Director of the Swiss Federal Office of Transport ThinkSwiss: Brainstorm the future. The ThinkSwiss program is under the auspices of Presence Switzerland, the Swiss State Secretariat for Education and Research (SER) and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. For more information, please visit www.thinkswiss.org. Concept and Author Partners Edition Embassy of Switzerland This brochure was created in collab- Printed in an edition of Office of Science, Technology oration with the Swiss Federal Office 10,000 copies.
    [Show full text]
  • HELVETIA PHILATELIC SOCIETY NEWSLETTER Founder Edward H Spiro
    UDC 656.835 (494) ISSN 0951-0001 HELVETIA PHILATELIC SOCIETY NEWSLETTER Founder Edward H Spiro Hon. President: Tony Hoyle Hon. Secretary: Peter Vonwiller, 13 Pulpit Close, Chcsham, Buckinghamshire HP5 2RZ Tel: 01 494 782472 Hon. Editor: Peter Hobbs, Six Tyning End, Widcombe Hill, Bath BA2 6AN Tel: 01 225-31 09 71 No. 1 January 2003 INTERESTING ENTIRE LETTER FROM FAMOUS SWISS THEOLOGIAN J-J-C Chanviere (1783-1871) John Millener acquired this 1822 item from Geneva with a nice "P,7_P,/FERNEY" hard- stamp in red and various other marks on an entire to Paris. He believes the "P.I.P. Ferney" mark is a handstamp of the Fischer Post. It is overstruck (or understruck?) by a feint PsP$ boxed cancel, possibly. Also an octagonal T.3. and a double circle September 27 1822 (Paris receiver?) and a mystery circle with a line across. There is a manuscript 8 on the front and also on the reverse, -plus a small 28 at the top left hand front. Does the diagonal line through the address have any significance? Would readers like to comment possibly? John enclosed a copy of the contents which is an interesting view on life in 1822. The writer Jean-Jaques-Caton Chanviere was a Swiss theologian, protestant pasteur, born and died in Geneva. In 1816 he was given the chair of theology, dogmatic and moral which he occupied _IIntAl 1864.. Ric wrote extensively as is shown by the letter addressed to John Bowring, who was a philologist and trav- eller, spoke more than 100 languages and was a disciple•öf"Jeremy Bentham, hinself a disciple of Hobbes and Helvetius: Now look that lot up in your encyclopaedia Who else is sitting on a letter sent by someone famous and they have never read the contents? Page 2 HELVETIA PHILATELIC SOCIETY NEWSLETTER January 2003 SOME ANSWERS TO OUTSTANDING QUERIES with thanks to the members concerned .
    [Show full text]
  • Literaturverzeichnis “Schwere Brocken”
    Literaturverzeichnis “Schwere Brocken” Das Verzeichnis enthält nicht nur die verwendetete Literatur zu den Bänden 1 bis 3, sondern mehrheitlich auch bereits die Angaben zu Band 4. Die Autorennamen sind alphabetisch nur nach dem Erstautor und dann in chronologischer Reihenfolge aufgeführt. Literaturangaben ohne Jahresangabe („o.J.“) stehen jeweils am Anfang. Bei mehreren Veröffentlichungen pro Jahr erfolgt die Unterscheidung durch „a“, „b“ usw. hinter der Jahreszahl. Literaturangaben ohne Autorenangabe finden sich unter N.N. entsprechend der alphabetischen Reihenfolge. Namenszusätze (wie: „von“, „am“, „de“) wurden bei der alphabetischen Reihenfolge berücksichtigt, nicht jedoch Umlaute oder im Ausland vorkommende Variationen lateinischer Buchstaben (wie „Š“, „Ø“, „Ż“). Titel (wie: „Dr.“, „M.A.“, „Prof.“) wurden – wie international üblich – weggelassen. 23. Literatur − Abbot, Rowland A.S.: The Fairlie Locomotive. Newton Abbot 1970 − Abelshauser, Werner: Rüstungsschmiede der Nation? Der Kruppkonzern im Dritten Reich und in der Nachkriegszeit 1933 bis 1951. In: Gall, Lothar (Hrsg.): Krupp im 20. Jahrhundert. Berlin 2002, S. 267–472. − Abelshauser, Werner (Hrsg.): Die BASF. Eine Unternehmensgeschichte. München 2003. − Achilles, Fritz Wilhelm: Rhein-Ruhr Hafen Duisburg. Duisburg 1985 − Adam, Klaus et al.: Vom Zweispänner zur Stadtbahn. Leipzig o.J. (1996) − Adler, Gerhard et al. (Hrsg.): Lexikon der Eisenbahn. Berlin (Ost) 1983 − Adler, Harald: 100 Jahre unter Volldampf. Bahnwerk Leipzig-Engelsdorf. Leipzig o.J. (2005) − AG „Historische Nahverkehrsmittel Leipzig“ e.V. (Hrsg.): Die Leipziger Straßenbahn 1952–1965. Erfurt 2008 − Agoston, Tom: Teufel oder Technokrat? Hitlers graue Eminenz. Herford 1993 − Akkus, Adar: Herbert Otto von Klemperer. Letzter jüdischer „Betriebsführer“ eines großen Maschinenbauunternehmens. In: Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin, Heft 1/2013, S. 14–15 − Albé, Alessandro: „Taigatrommeln“ in aller Welt.
    [Show full text]
  • Media Documentation Mount Rigi Railways
    Media documentation Rigi Bahnen AG Europe's 1st Mountain Railway gives access to Mount Rigi – the Queen of the mountains Media documentation Table of contents 1. Rigi before railway construction ...................................................................................... 3 2. Engineer ........................................................................................................................... 12 3. Construction and operation of the Vitznau-Rigi railway ............................................... 13 4. Construction and operation of the Arth-Rigi railway .................................................... 14 5. Goldau High Platform ...................................................................................................... 15 6. Construction and operation, aerial cable car Weggis-Rigi Kaltbad ............................. 18 7. RIGI in the present times ................................................................................................ 19 8. Technical data for the cogwheel railway Vitznau-Rigi Kaltbad-Rigi Kulm ................... 21 9. Technical data Cogwheel railway Goldau-Rigi Klösterli-Rigi Kulm ............................. 23 10. Technical data aerial cable car Weggis-Rigi Kaltbad .................................................... 25 2 Media documentation 1. Rigi before railway construction There is only one Swiss mountain that bears the honourable title of «Queen of the mountains»: Mount RIGI. Like an «outer baley to the Gotthard» it looms between the lakes of Lucerne, Zug and
    [Show full text]