Driver’s Eye View - Vall de Núria Cog Railway - Part 1 - Ribes de Freser to Núria

I'd like to say a massive thank-you to the staff of the railway for their help in making this video.The Núria Rack Railway is located in the Pyrenees mountains in the North Catalonia region of Spain, it was opened in 1931 to serve the Vall de Núria mountain resort, it is the highest rack railway in Southern Europe rising more than 1,000 metres over its 12.4 km length, starting from Ribes Enllaç, adjacent to the Renfe Ribes de Freser station on the Barcelona-Puigcerdà railway line and finishing at Núria (altitude 1,964 metres)
The railway is the only means of transport to the car free mountain resort of Vall de Núria, located in the county of Ripollès. The train journey takes around 40-minutes serving two intermediate stations at Ribes-Vila and Queralbs located just after the start of the rack section and also the furthest point that can be reached by road.
Since opening on March 22nd 1931 the 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) gauge line has been electrified at 1500 V DC via an overhead power supply. It became part of the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) on January 2nd 1984. The first 5.5 km (3.4 miles) of the line is operated as a conventional adhesion railway with the remainder of the line operating as a rack railway using the Abt system with a maximum gradient of 15%.
Track Gauge - 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)
Music - Track - Composer - Source 00:22 & 36:34 - ES_Autumn in Nice - Trabant 33 - epidemicsound.com
This railway was included as part of a Rail Discoveries “Catalonia & Little Trains of the Pyrenees” tour, for more information please click on this link - www.raildiscoveries.com/tours...

[@salloom1949]

I thoroughly enjoyed the ride passing through the spectacular scenery. I enjoyed every moment of the ride. Thank you very much for your wonderful production.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you, It's nice to know you enjoyed the ride, I was lucky to enjoy good weather on the day.

[@JimNicholls]

Another extremely scenic trip, Tim, and some more remarkable engineering. Thank you for that!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi Jim, the railway was heavily engineered with long tunnels and lofty viaducts. The scenery looked beautiful in the late October sunshine, I can't think of a better way to enjoy the Pyrenees.

[@esjay2011]

Many thanks for this video. I now know what it looks like. When we did the ride 3 years ago. The cloud level was down to the bottom so we traveled in a fog to the top and then up the cable car just to say we had done it. The monastery and grounds are beautiful sitting as it does on a pass between Spain and France. I would love to go up again.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, I'm pleased you enjoyed the ride, I was lucky with the weather. I'll be uploading two further videos taken on the day, the return trip and a scenic trip where I use a little of the video taken on the earlier trips along with views to the side, a ride on the cable car and a walk around the lake with a look inside the church.

[@YASTravelsEatsWell]

That was a neat train trip thru the mountains! I've driven numerous times in this area & frankly I didn't know that this cog railway existed! If I go back to this area of the Pyrenees I will definitely check out the train. Great video! Thanks! Merci bien, Muchas gracias

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, this area is beautiful, I really enjoyed my time there. The railway serves a resort that has no road access, the train followees a fascinating route next to an old mule track, if you get a chance to ride the railway I think you will find it a rewarding experience. Cheers. Tim.

[@pattyadkisson8519]

LOVED this trip !!!!!! Great job, thank you,

[@Timsvideochannel1]

That's nice to know, I'm glad you enjoyed it 😊.

[@Bigbro28]

You sure know how to pick ‘em, Tim. Another outstanding cab ride 👍. 🐨🇦🇺

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hello Martin, I didn't know this railway existed, until I visited it as part of rail themed holiday. It goes to show that the world is full of amazing places waiting to be discovered. I'm off the Eastern Germany for two weeks in the middle of January to visit a number railways I know amost nothing about. I'm pretty sure I'll get very cold and hopefully I'll see some awesome narrow gauge steam action in snow covered landscapes that with a bit of luck I'll be able to capture and share on this channel. Seasons Greetings. Tim.

[@xeneelik5037]

Vall de Núria Cog Railway is like The Diakopto-Kalavryta railway in Greece.🚞 Thanks for capturing the beautiful scenery around the railroad too !🥰

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, I have seen videos of the Diakopto-Kalavryta on KZbin and I agree from what I've seen these two railways pass through similar scenery. I'm glad you enjoyed the ride 🙂.

[@amfamilycreations5312]

149👍🏼 AMAZING VIEWS 🤩 👌🏼 THANKS FOR BIG EFFORTS DEAR FRIEND 💪🏼

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hello, I'm pleased you enjoyed the ride. Best wishes. Tim.

[@amfamilycreations5312]

@@Timsvideochannel1 Thanks & Welcome Dear 🤗 🙏

[@robertcoleman4861]

A wonderful journey thanks TIM & i had no idea how beautiful spain is cheers bob.🤠💯👍👍👍👍

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hello Robert, Northern Spain is very scenic and unspoiled by too much tourism. I'm glad you enjoyed the ride 🙂.

[@babydriver8134]

Imagine how much nicer the view had the camera been mounted on that box just behind the windshield. Thanks all the same.

[@josepmiquelpovillmedalla9131]

Gràcies Tim per aquest meravellós vídeo del nostre tant entranyable i estimat cremallera de Núria. Si teniu la oportunitat de visitar la zona no dubteu ni un minut en realitzar l'excursió fins la Vall de Núria, un indret on només es pot arribar en l`esmentat cremallera o a peu. Si la vostra forma física us ho permet feu el trajecte a peu des de Queralbs ( últim poble on podreu arribar en el vostre cotxe ) fins al Santuari de Núria tot seguint el "camí vell de Núria". És una ruta espectacular que us permetrà gaudir del paisatge en tot el seu esplendor, sobretot perquè des de la inauguració del llarg túnel que es veu en el vídeo ( per motius de seguretat ) el trajecte en tren ha perdut una part de la seva espectacularitat original. El retorn fins a Queralbs el podeu fer en el cremallera i així us estalvieu el trajecte a peu de tornada.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hola, ho sento, he contestat tard. M'alegro que t'hagi agradat el vídeo. El ferrocarril és una manera meravellosa de gaudir d'un paisatge espectacular. Núria és un indret fascinant i preciós, espero tornar algun dia per caminar per l'antic camí muller i seguir el traçat del ferrocarril original, ara substituït pel túnel. La Núria és un paradís de senderistes, m'encantaria veure-la a l'hivern. Bon any nou. Tim :-)

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

Absolutely stunning. Thanks for taking the time to share. -grant

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, I took a look at your Canadian model railway videos, those trains are awesome. I'm glad you enjoyed taking a ride on the Vall de Núria Cog Railway. Season's Greetings. Tim.

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

Very much enjoyed the ride Tim and thanks for stopping by for a look. Cheers! -grant

[@panikrystyna1]

Dziękuję za interesujący film. To ciekawe, że pociąg jest jedynym środkiem transportu, droga wchodzi w las i zamienia się w leśną dróżkę. Tunele świetne, widoki piękne. Pozdrawiam serdecznie.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Witam, cieszę się, że jazda się udała. Będę przesyłać więcej filmów pokazujących kolej i ośrodek, który obsługuje w ciągu najbliższych dwóch lub trzech tygodni. Życzenia świąteczne. Tim.

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

really excellent Tim. Thank you

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Cheers, I'm glad you enjoyed it Keith.

[@serotong20]

I am always here to enjoy your videos.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you, that's nice to know.

[@johannperaus6890]

Hi Tim! It's really worth a trip, this railway 👍. I didn't even know they existed. Best regards from Hans and Cheers 🍻🇦🇹.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hello Hans, Like you I'd never heard of this railway and now I've seen it, I don't understand why it isn't better known. Thanks for the links. Cheers. Tim.

[@johannperaus6890]

@@Timsvideochannel1 Yes, Tim, that's unfortunately the case, even a real railway worker doesn't know everything. But this track is really nicely integrated into nature. Enjoy the Kantwurst, etc. I'm granted it to you. 🍻

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@johannperaus6890 Hello Hans, I love finding railways I didn't know existed. I enjoyed Kantwurst and a wafer biscuit for my lunch, very tasty, thank you. Cheers. Tim.

[@Bruno.Trains]

I really like traveling in this way. Thank you for giving me this opportunity!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

I'm pleased you enjoyed the ride 😊.

[@VlakynaSlovensku]

Fantastic footage!!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

It was a wonderful ride, I'm pleased you enjoyed it.

[@KOLEJ22DrogaPrzygody]

Hello my friend, good video , super

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi' I'm glad you enjoyed it. Seasons greetings. Tim.

[@johnmchardy1229]

Lovely mate. Got a better laptop now after drowning the other one. Very restful and scenic. First time I have taken a trip in the Pyrenees especially on the Spanish side. Thanks excellent work and very enjoyable. Cheers from Australia.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hello John, I glad you're pleased with your replacement laptop. Northern Spain is very scenic, not at all like the South. This is the first of three railways I visited in the Pyrenees on this holiday, I'll be uploading the rest over the Christmas break. Seasons Greetings from a very cold UK.

[@johnmchardy1229]

Same to you my friend.

[@daciatravel.647]

Very nice video!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you, I'm pleased you enjoyed it 🙂.

[@WhiteTiger333]

The trains, the station buildings, and the passengers' clothing all seem to be mostly blue! :)

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Blue is nice colour, I watched the video again and "yes" there is plenty of blue.

[@slycat1939]

awesome secenic ride. tyvm be safe.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thanks, will do :-)

[@sellier-bellot22]

A bit scary at times and the track gauge was very special indeed ! Cheers . 🥸🥸🥸

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, it's a metre gauge line and I was pleasantly surprised by the beautiful Pyrenean mountain scenery.

[@sellier-bellot22]

@@Timsvideochannel1 I agree !

[@jorgrisch6280]

Fantastisch 💪👍👍

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you, I'm pleased you enjoyed it 🙂.

[@jorgrisch6280]

@@Timsvideochannel1 Danke schön und weiter so 💪👍Ich wünsche schöne Weihnachten 🎋🎄

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@jorgrisch6280🙂

[@ferenctimar]

Well, Tim, I think you had a very pleasant trip, and for us viewers, your excellent video brought quite a few pleasant moments, thanks for that! In my opinion, this railway is in no way inferior to the much better-known Swiss mountain railways. It also drives through a stunningly beautiful landscape!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you, I'm pleased you enjoyed the ride, Northern Spain is very scenic and this train is surely the best way to take in the views. From the number of trains and the amount of track-work, I imagine this railway gets very busy in the ski season.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@VICTOR MONDAIN 🙂👌👍.

[@johncassels3475]

What a lovely railway! I wonder if they built it today, whether they would dispense with the abt cog system and just rely on adhesion all the way. Unless I have missed something, none of the cog sections seemed particularly steep. Running in winter snow may also be a factor I am underestimating. Thanks for sharing - this was a very nice enjoyable video.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, that is an interesting question, out of interest I looked up the steepest metre gauge line I was aware of, the Bernina Railway between Switzerland and Italy where the Wikipedia article says that it is one of steepest adhesion worked railways in the world with inclines up to 7% which is a long way short of the 15% of the Núria Railway. The steepest tramway according to Wikipedia is the Lisbon tram system in Portugal with inclines as steep as 13.8%, I believe all axles are powered on the Lisbon trams and they don't have to cope with deep snow. Whilst it would be a close call, I believe the railway would still employ a rack system if it was built today. I'm pleased you enjoyed the ride.

[@291281]

Excelente vídeo del tren de cremallera

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Gracias. Me alegro de que lo hayas disfrutado.

[@nicholasroberts6954]

Marvellous scenery. Great video. One can but wonder what the motivation for building such a railway line can have been ? Economics or national defense ? It can't have been easy or cheap to construct. Love the asthmatic owl hooter !

[@Timsvideochannel1]

I can only think that the railway was built to access the beautiful Núria Valley, already a tourist destination before the railway was built. Núria is a ski resort in winter and a hiking Mecca for the rest of the year. It must have been a challenge to construct and the long tunnel is a recent addition because the original route around the valleys steep slopes was prone to rock falls. I'm pleased you enjoyed the video

[@yusoffnoor857]

Wow, I enjoy this video, beautiful landscape, nice music intro, what is the name of the music?

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, I'm glad you enjoyed the ride. The music is "Autumn in Nice", I have given a link to the website where the music can be found in the video description.

[@javierguidounicaud6621]

Nice and interesting cab ride. A pity that the situation of the camera does not allow to appreciate these beautiful landscapes in the catalan Pyrénées.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, I'm pleased you enjoyed the ride. I will be posting two more videos taken on this railway, one of which has the camera placed on the front of the train given a clear view of both the railway and wonderful scenery.

[@Gg-cb9rm]

Beautiful area. I would have really appreciated a camera placed more in front and with a wide-angle lens

[@Timsvideochannel1]

You might like this one - kzbin.info/www/bejne/npanm5qIlK57h8k

[@janezblond5335]

Neverjetno lepa pokrajina. Nič nisem vedel o Pirenejski Španiji in Franciji Menim, da se bo zgodovina železnic vrnila, če za druge ne, za turiste. Še posebej me veseli, da je toliko mladih navdušenih nad železnico in fotografirajo ob progi. Sam nisem bil železničar, nazadnje sem kot predšolski otrok občudoval vlake na bližnji železniški postaji v Celju, Slovenija, potem pa sem delal nekaj čisto drugega, v pisarni, kjer se je zadnjih 25 let ves čas mudilo in često nisem pogledal čez okno, da bi opazil, da cel dan dežuje. Po nedavni upokojitvi pa sem se znova navdušil nad železnico. V Sloveniji imamo upokojenci javni prevoz zastonj. Komaj čakam izkaznico upokojenca, da si to zagotovim. Prevozil se bom na vseh progah v naši deželici, ki je majhna, a neverjetno slikovita. Ceste se ne morejo meriti z železnico. Pri enaki širini prometnih objektov železnica prevozi neverjetne količine tovora, zaslužek železnic je plačal vse tiste trase preko neokrnjene narave, ki ni primerna za kmetijstvo, predore in viadukte. Železnice zimske razmere ne ustavijo, kot je videti iz posnetkov okoli prelaza Bergen, Norveška (ko je snežni vihar), kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2e8XmSOaqqXgpI. Ampak tam je Polarni Sever. Kaj pa Slovenija? Mediteran - pa si poglejte posnetek, kaj pozimi delata sneg in močan veter, imenovan Burja. Ni dosti bolje kot na Norveškem: Relacija Ilirska Bistrica Pivka pozimi: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYjPl4WEiL2mr5Y... Lep pozdrav vsem iz Slovenije.

[@jaumemiro7574]

Ribes de Fresser, Queralbs, Vall de Nuria trayecto corto pero mas bonito

[@Timsvideochannel1]

El nord d'Espanya és bonic i aquest ferrocarril és una manera meravellosa de veure alguns dels paisatges increïbles.

[@patharmansukhbhai1510]

Thenkyu for m, h , pathar Gujrat Rajkot in India

[@Timsvideochannel1]

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@user-jy9xz1fg8v]

Видео класс Но камерой надо показывать не только дорогу но что вокруг

[@neilforbes416]

14:46 The cog section begins....... Here we get our "teeth" into this video. I guess a trainee driver on this line would be an in-"dentured" apprentice? LOL (I can hear you groaning from here in Australia, Tim). P.S. I can't seem to get the little emoticons to work(I don't call them "emojis" as that's such an ugly word).

[@top40researcher31]

@Neil Forbes next you be singing the happy wanderer or when us kiddies were growing up the Mr Whippy Song 🤣

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Well I've got to admit that your jokes were pretty good this time. From time to time I have problems with the emoticons, then a few days later they work fine, I guess the odd gremlin breaks free to wreak havoc occasionally 😉.

[@top40researcher31]

@Neil Forbes emojis is part of everyday language

[@neilforbes416]

@@Timsvideochannel1 I find the same thing. I'll call up an appropriate emoticon, click on it..... nothing! Try again....... nothing! Then another time, click and there it is. It's frustrating at times!

[@top40researcher31]

@@neilforbes416 😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆 yep mine works.............😄

[@MausMasher54]

Yikes, that is one long Tunnel....a potential end of the world hideout....I was about to ask where were the Cogs, then at the station they were...LOL...

[@Timsvideochannel1]

The tunnel was exceptionally long, when I post the return trip next weekend, you will see that the driver turned the headlights on full beam showing the inside of the tunnel, much of which is double track with what looks like platforms either side. I was left with more questions than answers.

[@jxdbcn]

The Roc del Dui tunnel was opened in 2008. Previously the train made a detour through a very aerial section called Els Descasadors, if you look at the right side of the tunnel’s entrance you will see the beginning of that former section which is now opened for hiking. Another line worthy of your interest could be the Lleida-La Pobla de Segur also known as the Lakes’ Train, or Tren dels Llacs.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

​@@jxdbcn Hello, thank you for your reply about the tunnel, I saw the old track bed leading to an abandoned tunnel and wondered what the story was, thanks to your comment, I now know. I looked up the Lleida-La Pobla de Segur, if I get the opertunity I'd like to take a trip along the line.

[@jailajaila9887]

🧡🧡🧡❤❤❤👍👍👍👍👍💞💞💞🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎💌💌💌💌💌💙💙💙💜💜💜💜💙💙💙

[@Timsvideochannel1]

😊😊😊.

[@davidpanton3192]

0:22 Oh dear. That map is not going to go down well with the Welsh...

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Oh dear, I've slipped up there, especially as some of the worlds best narrow gauge railways are to be found in Wales.

[@russelveganeucleonps4plays820]

INKLRT/TRL

[@christianmeynard4952]

Il y a des zombis muselés dans le décor qui gâchent tout !