Lok 7
The history of the legendary steam locomotive
For over 150 years, Steam Locomotive No. 7 has proudly traversed the Rigi, captivating young and old alike with its leisurely, heavy-footed pace.
It has found a new home in the former engine shed at Rigi Kulm. A permanent exhibition offers visitors the chance to view the locomotive’s fascinating engineering and unique charm up close.
On selected days, history even comes to life: on these occasions, Locomotive No. 7 leaves the exhibition and takes guests up to the Queen of the Mountains using real steam power.
Facts
| Commissioninge | 1873 |
| Art | H 1/2 Nr. 7 |
| Location | Lok 7 Exhibition Rigi Kulm |
| Factory | SLM Winterthur |
| Speed | 7,5 km/h |
| Number of axles | 2 |
| Length over buffersr | 6400mm |
| Weight | 11.7 t |
| Performance | 88 kW / 120 PS |
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The locomotive was built in 1873 by the Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works (SLM) in Winterthur. It belongs to the first generation of rolling stock for Europe’s first mountain railway, which was designed by Niklaus Riggenbach. The most striking feature of Locomotive No. 7 is its vertical boiler. This design was chosen to ensure that the fire-touched heating pipes remained covered with water at all times, even on steep gradients (up to 250‰), thereby minimising the risk of a boiler explosion.
![Dampflok H 1/2 der VRB ]()
Dampflok H 1/2 der VRB
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Although the vertical boiler was safe, it had operational drawbacks. Consequently, between 1882 and 1892, almost all of the Rigi Railway’s locomotives were converted to horizontal boilers – including No. 7 in 1892.
![Lok Nr. 7 mit liegenden Dampfkessel]()
Lok Nr. 7 mit liegenden Dampfkessel
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With the electrification of the line in 1937, the steam fleet effectively became redundant. Whilst almost all of her sister locomotives were scrapped, No. 7 escaped this fate: in collaboration with the SLM, her exterior was restored to its original condition with a vertical boiler, and she was refurbished for the 1939 Swiss National Exhibition.
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In 1959, the locomotive found its place in the Swiss Museum of Transport’s National Mobility Collection in Lucerne. But it did not remain behind museum walls for long...
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To mark the 125th anniversary of the Rigi Railways, it was restored to working order and steamed up to the summit along its original route for the first time in years.
![Lok 7]()
Lok 7 – © RIGI BAHNEN AG / Heidi Duss-Bürgi -
A particular highlight was its transfer to mark the 150th anniversary. On 15 September 2020, the legendary locomotive was transported by water from Lucerne to Vitznau in glorious weather.
![Transport vom Verkehrshaus nach Vitznau]()
Transport vom Verkehrshaus nach Vitznau
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To ensure that the ‘old lady’ could once again carry passengers up to the ‘Queen of the Mountains’ in its anniversary year of 2021, a major restoration was required. As this involved enormous costs, the Rigi Historic Foundation launched a crowdfunding campaign to finance the restoration. Thanks to this support and the expertise of the steam engine specialists, it is now the world’s only operational rack-and-pinion steam locomotive with a vertical boiler.
![Lok 7-Fahrt auf die Rigi]()
Lok 7-Fahrt auf die Rigi – © RIGI BAHNEN AG, Fotograf Sascha Krähenbühl -
Today, Locomotive No. 7 is regularly used for exclusive special trips from Vitznau and Goldau, bringing the pioneering era of Swiss railway history back to life for visitors.
