The last mountain line in Switzerland still running daily steam, the Brienz Rothorn Bahn shoves polished-brass locomotives up 1,678 vertical metres of cogwheel track from the shore of Lake Brienz. The smell of coal smoke and hot oil is half the ticket price; the summit view over the impossibly turquoise lake to the Bernese giants is the other half. It operates June to October only. Sit on the right going up, and book the first departure of the day.
Featured in Ten mountain railways with views you won't believe · Mountain