Bernina Express, Switzerland

The Bernina Express climbs to 2,253 meters over the Bernina Pass, making it the highest-altitude railway in the Alps without a cogwheel system. This UNESCO World Heritage route crosses the Landwasser Viaduct in a curve so dramatic it appears on Swiss tourism posters worldwide, with 55 tunnels and 196 bridges in 122 kilometers. Its panoramic cars offer 30% more window space than #7 Kandy to Ella's open-air carriages, and the journey maintains an average gradient of 7% — steeper than the typical mountain railway — without requiring mechanical assistance.