Operette am Gleis with the steam locomotive Rhaetia
Train ride to Landquart, steam train ride to Schiers and tickets for the operetta on the track
Graubünden’s oldest steam locomotive is back on the tracks: the Rhaetia, which entered service in 1889, has undergone extensive restoration and will be officially re-launched in 2026 with a performance of an operetta. Experience the inauguration weekend with a steam train journey between Landquart and Schiers and the operetta by the tracks, where the newly restored Rhaetia serves as the backdrop for an unforgettable musical performance
Included in the experience:
Return journey from, for example, Zurich, Meilen, Uster, Rapperswil, Chur, St. Gallen, Herisau or Linthal to Landquart
Return journey on the RHÆTIA steam train from Landquart to Schiers
Ticket for the ‘Operetta on the Platform’ (performance at 1.30 pm)
1 coffee, tea or hot chocolate in the SOB train bistro
Highlights featuring the operetta and the «RHÆTIA» steam locomotive
The Rhaetia Steam Locomotive
On 8 July 1889, the Rhaetia steam locomotive entered service and made its maiden journey between Landquart and Davos. It heralded a new era of tourism in the canton of Graubünden, brought greater mobility to the region and was therefore a symbol of the Industrial Revolution. Now it is back: railway enthusiasts from various countries contributed to the costly restoration work through donations.
Operetta by the Tracks
The world premiere of *Operetta by the Tracks* allows the audience to immerse themselves in the atmospheric station setting of the former ‘Landquart–Davos narrow-gauge railway’ from the 19th century. On board were the Dutch railway founder, Willem Jan Holsboer, with a maritime past, and his second wife Ursula from Davos in 1889, who reappear in the operetta.
Musical Production
Rich barrel-organ music, enhanced by double bass, vocals and drama, featuring some new compositions as well as appropriate props and period costumes, creates a festive and nostalgic experience. The steam train from the Wilhelminian era, bearing the RHÆTIA name, serves as a picturesque backdrop for the operetta at Schiers station, making this railway heritage experience truly unforgettable.