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The Climb to Bernina Pass in Morning Fog

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Steve Ember

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The Climb to Bernina Pass in Morning Fog

While the famous sunny and clear "Champagne Climate" of the Upper Engadin region of Canton Graubünden was on full display in Pontresina as the Rhaetian Railway's Bernina Express departed, low-lying clouds were still shrouding the landscape as the train ascended the steep Bernina Line toward Ospizio Bernina, at the Bernina Pass.

This narrow-gauge line of the Rhätische Bahn connects the Upper Engadin region of Switzerland,
through the rugged alps of the Bernina Range, to Tirano, Italy, on the border with Switzerland.

Through the courtesy of the RhB, this view, along Lago Bianco, was captured
from the control cab of the popular Bernina Express during the climb.

As with the other routes of the RhB, the line is single tracked with passing sidings where, with
typical Swiss precision, trains going in opposite directions can meet and pass with minimal delays.

The photo was taken on an autumn day in 2010 and makes its first appearance today.

©2020 Steve Ember

Comments 14

Mirjam Burer 26/02/2021 16:33
very special mood and great compo Steve..
lg, Mirjam
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- Steve Ember 01/05/2022 23:44
  A belated Thank You, Mirjam - much appreciated!
  LG,
  Steve
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David H Thomas 17/11/2020 18:50
very powerful lighting completmenting the geometric composition of the scene
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- Steve Ember 01/05/2022 23:49
  A belated Thank you, David.
  I always appreciate your visits and insightful comments on my work.
  Best regards,
  Steve
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Fran Gonzalez Carbonell 06/11/2020 18:04
Fantástico ese encuadre con la via del tren separando el encuadre,
Saludos
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- Steve Ember 01/05/2022 23:48
  Gracias, Fran, aunque tarde, por tu encantador comentario. ¡Muy apreciado!
  Saludos,
  Steve
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Thomas Reitzel 05/11/2020 17:26
Lago Bianco in morning mist, but soon the sun will have sucked it away!
As you are crossing the crossing here - ;-) - you are exactly crossing a continental divide.
While the waters of Lago Bianco go down southwards to the Adria/Mediteranian, the waters of the little Lej Nair(not to be seen at your right) go down to the Engadin, into the Inn - Danube and into the Black Sea.

Schwarzes Meer - / - Adria
Thomas Reitzel

A wonderful romantic view, you were lucky enough to meet a driver who allowed you to take this picture(and many others, I suppose!)

Stay healthy to return here some fine day!
Tom
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- Steve Ember 05/11/2020 20:35
  Thanks so much, Tom, for your comments - and reminding me of the significance of the two lakes.
  Indeed, so much of my love for - and knowledge of - the Bernina Line, the RhB, and Canton Graubünden began with our chance meeting in 1989 in the driver's cab of a Bernina Line train at Pontresina, followed by our hike from Ospizio Bernina to Alp Grum and Bündnerfleisch und Bier on the sun terrace of the Belvedere...and, of course, the ride back in the open Panorama-Wagen on that perfect autumn afternoon!
  So much of that came back as - this time - I rode the Bernina Express.
  And you are so right - there were many, many photos from that cab. If anything "good" can be said of all the upsets and travel restrictions we're currently experiencing, it has been the chance to revisit so many of the images from my Swiss and German sojourns that there never seemed to be enough time to work up when I was up to my eyeballs with the demands of the broadcast career.
  Cheers and stay well!
  Steve
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JOKIST 04/11/2020 21:41
Ein fantastisches Motiv -
beeindruckend aufgenommen!

Ingrid und Hans
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- Steve Ember 04/11/2020 23:33
  Vielen Dank, Ingrid und Hans, für Ihren schönen Kommentar, den ich sehr schätze.
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claudine capello 04/11/2020 11:38
un train historique qui passe dans des endroits très touristiques !! bravo la composition avec la brule est remarquable comme les rails et l ombre ....bravo une très belle photo très artistique cl
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- Steve Ember 04/11/2020 23:38
  Merci et mille grazie, Claudine!
  I not only appreciate your visits and kind words on my images, but your comments are helping me to both brush up on my (long-ago studied) French and to learn some new Italian words and phrases.
  Now, if I can only start traveling again...one day ;-)
  Ciao,
  Steve
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Matthias Moritz 04/11/2020 8:04
I like these misty moments :-)
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- Steve Ember 04/11/2020 23:49
  Thank you, Matthias. They're among my reasons for so loving the alpine regions - the unpredictability and the opportunities for capturing something "atmospheric" when Mother Nature happens not to be in "postcard-mode." ;-)
  Happy you liked!
  -Steve
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