Stationsglocke, Valendas

Stationsglocke, Valendas

If you are wondering what this “contraption” is (as I had on several visits to points along the route of
the Rhätische Bahn in Switzerland’s Canton Graubünden – and thank you, Tom, for enlightening me!)…

It is a Stationsglocke (station bells). A piece of railroading history, but still found at certain stations
along the RhB, the Stationsglocke would chime to alert passengers that a train had left the previous station
along the line, thereby giving them time to arrive at the station without breaking a sweat ;-)

This Stationsglocke was along the Rhätische Bahn, but, interestingly, not at a station.
It was discovered while photographing the rustic village of Valendas, which actually
is situated high above the tracks, along the RhB’s Vorderrhein route.

Let us hope the wee fellow atop the mailbox is not easily startled!

From a Kodak-200 color negative original.

Photo, Narrative, Design ©2011/2012 Steve Ember