Does the mist and rain add a sense of mystique to one of the great railway wonders of the world?
At Biaschina, SBB’s route on the south slope of the Gottard Pass navigates a complete double spiral (or double helix).
The line passes through several tunnels and appears the viewer on three distinct levels, each hundreds of feet above each other.
I made these images from the Ticino riverbed using my Lumix LX7 on Saturday 16 April 2016.
Denis McCabe, Gerry Conmy, Stephen Hirsch and I were visiting the line to make photographs before the new base tunnel diverts traffic at the end of the year.
![A southward passenger train on the top level of Biaschina loops.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/P1440471-2.jpg?resize=473%2C709)
![P1440473](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/P1440473.jpg?resize=473%2C709)
![Finally, with little warning, the train emerges from the tunnel on the lowest level of the Double Helix. Lumix LX7 photo.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/P1440477.jpg?resize=473%2C709)