There are a few places on Earth where engineering and nature meet as harmoniously as they do in Switzerland. Here, railways don’t just connect destinations. They carve paths through clouds, glaciers, and mountain valleys, turning every journey into a visual masterpiece. For photographers, each curve of track offers a new frame, a new play of light, and a new story waiting to be captured. Jane Moorman’s Top of Europe: Switzerland Alps via Cogwheel Railways celebrates this marriage of movement and beauty, bringing the viewer along on a breathtaking journey through the Alps.
Moorman’s book takes readers aboard Switzerland’s historic cogwheel trains, mechanical marvels that climb impossible slopes and reveal views once reserved for eagles. Her travels to destinations like Mount Pilatus, Jungfraujoch, known as the “Top of Europe”, and Gornergrat, with its postcard-perfect view of the Matterhorn, form the heart of her collection. Through her lens, these landscapes become more than scenery; they become a dialogue between human innovation and the raw power of nature.
What makes Switzerland’s railways so irresistible to photographers is their rhythm. Trains glide past snow-dusted peaks, shimmering lakes, and centuries-old villages that look untouched by time. Moorman captures these moments with an artist’s patience, waiting for the precise instant when sunlight hits a mountain face or a wisp of mist curls over a bridge. Her work proves that photography here isn’t about chasing perfection; it’s about being present enough to see it.
The cogwheel railways themselves are part of the allure. Built on gradients so steep they seem to defy gravity, they embody both technical brilliance and old-world charm. Moorman’s photographs highlight not just the grand landscapes but also the fine details, the mechanical gears, the rustic stations, and the quiet passengers gazing out at the world below. These details remind readers that the magic of travel lies not only in the destination but in the motion, sound, and rhythm of the journey itself.
Switzerland’s railways are a photographer’s dream because they slow time. Every ascent is an invitation to pause and see the world differently, to frame beauty in its purest, most natural form. Moorman’s Top of Europe captures that feeling perfectly, blending storytelling and imagery into a tribute to both nature’s grandeur and human creativity.
For travelers, dreamers, and photographers alike, Top of Europe: Switzerland Alps via Cogwheel Railways is a journey worth taking, one that proves sometimes the best way to explore the world is not by speeding through it, but by watching it unfold one frame at a time.
Explore Top of Europe: Switzerland Alps via Cogwheel Railways by Jane Moorman now, available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DQW9FWRR.