Thursday 15 August 2024

Switzerland Trip Report 5-6th August SBB (BLM)

With the impressive mountain background of the Mönch and Jungfrau mountains, BDe4/4 railcar 31 makes its short journey from Grütschalp to Mürren, complete with freight wagon carrying luggage. 05/08/2024.

BDe4/4 31 approaches the delightfully named 
middle station at Winteregg. 05/08/2024.

Introduction:

This years Swiss trip in May had some challenges- the weather was somewhat below par, but one of the biggest disappointments for me was that the meter gauge Bergbahn Lauterbrunnen–Mürren (BLM) with it's 1967 vintage railcars was closed for engineering work for the duration of the trip. I had been very keen to visit the line before the old railcars were replaced this summer, but with the line closure and introduction of the new trains set for July it looked like it was going to just be one of those things that wasn't going to happen.

When I received some information that in late summer the old railcars were still working, and with a couple of free days, a good weather forecast and some last minute flights which weren't 
extortionate a plan was hatched to give the BLM another go- having checked it was running this time! With less than 48 hours until take off a very short notice trip was hatched!


Monday 5th August:

BDe4/4 31 is again seen near Winteregg. Unlike the other railcars, 31 was built for the Oberaargau-Jura-Bahn and joined the BLM fleet in 2010. 05/08/2024.

It was an early start to drive down to Gatwick for my 06:30 flight to Geneva. Gatwick airport was running very efficiently and I managed to spend just 30 mintues in the terminal before stepping onto the plane! Despite a risk of delay on the tarmac arrival was slightly early in Geneva and after a quick passage through passport control I found I could make a slightly earlier train that I had planned. Unfortunately the train was a Twindexx as opposed to an IC2000 set which I was hoping for, but with a clear objective for the day I didn't want to hang around and headed straight for the Alps via Bern, changing to a loco set on to Interlaken. Having enjoyed a beer in the restaurant car it was a quick change onto the busy train up to Lauterbrunnen from where the BLM was finally in sight! 

The new order- Be4/6 102 'Mönch' is seen between Grütschalp and Winteregg. 05/08/2024.

At Lauterbrunnen one changes to a [very crowded] cable car up the mountain to Grütschalp to join the meter gauge train for the final journey to the car-free town of Mürren. I wasn't sure how much activity there would be from the old railcars on the line, other than a mixed service with both the old BDe4/4 and, most likely one of the new Be4/6 sets. I was therefore pretty pleased to see the cream and brown colours of BDe4/4 31 sitting in the station. I took the unit all the way through to Mürren (partly because it was too crowded to get out from my seat at the intermediate stop of Winteregg!). On the way we passed the new unit, Be4/6 102 before pulling into Mürren alongside BDe4/4 21 which pulled out upon our arrival, the line operating a 15 minute interval service for the bussiest period of the day. 

These three units would form the service for the duration of my trip, with the second new unit 101 staying within the shed at 
Grütschalp, the final BDe4/4 23 was stabled outside the shed, with the withdrawn heritage unit 11 under a tarpaulin around the back of Grütschalp station. 

During the 15 minute interval service trains would sometimes turn straight around at the termial station, while sometimes a second unit was already loaded and ready to leave. The journey along the line is timetabled to take 13 mintues giving just a 2 minute turn around at each end. Adding to the complexity of the operation is the fact that most trains convey a freight wagon at the north end which conveys most goods which required at 
Mürren which has very limited road access. Goods is lifted under the cable car and transfered to the train by a clever fork lift truck arrangement. 

In the very last of the days light before the sun dipped behind the mountains, Bed4/4 31 is seen heading downhill to Grütschalp as a herd of cows move back to their pasture. The drone showing the scale of the landscape against the diminiuitive EMU. 05/08/2024. 


To my surprise when the service thinned out to half hourly around 17:00 it was the new unit which was first to return to the shed leaving 21 and 31 to operate the evening service. Aside from around 90 minutes in the afternoon where a cloud clung to the mountainside and cast a shadow over the line it was an excellent afternoon of photography on the open section of the line between Winteregg and 
Grütschalp though as is often the case the light was lost quite early dipping behind the mountains. 

After dinner in 
Mürren it was quite a hike to my accommodation, a dormitory bed (since I had booked so late) high above the town at Sonnenburg Dormitories. While the hike was tireing there was a beer available on arrival and the views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains catching the pink light of the setting sun was quite spectacular. Sleep was delayed trying to catch some photographs of the stunning stary sky with some of my roomates.


Tuesday 6th August:

BDe4/4 21 works uphill towards Winteregg. 06/08/2024.

I woke to a beautiful morning in the mountains, with the sun popping out from behind the Jungfrau around 0700 it was time to head back to the railway. I had initially thought that if I had done well for BLM photos the day before I would head straight to some other locations, but since conditions were so good, and the service had again started with the two older railcars, it would be foolish not to spend an hour or so more in the mountains with them. 

A few more pictures in the bag, and with 102 now coming out to play, it was time to leave the BLM behind to try some other Swiss locations. There was a lot of mileage to cover today since my next spot was towards Neuchâtel on the banks of the Bielersee, travelling again by way of Interlarken, Bern and Biel. I settled on Ligerz to attempt some photography, this is the last single line section of the Southern Jura railway which is due to be by-passed by a tunnel before the end of the decade. The line is busy and also a good place to catch older SBB Re4/4 and Re6/6 working freight trains. Armed with train graphs for the route and my drone it was a case of launching when I believed a train was approaching and hoping it would appear without wasting too much of my battery! Several freight services were captured before it was time to move on again to my final location of the trip. 

An SBB Cargo Re6/6 passes Ligerz with a westbound freight. 06/08/2024.

This was the final week of a summer partial block of the Hauestein Base Tunnel between Basel and Olten which meant that some northbound trains were using the old normally unit-only line via Läufelfingen. 

A train of EW IV stock is pushed over the viaduct at Rümlingen with a diverted IC service. 06/08/2024.

Two passenger trains per hour, the IC6 from Bring and IC61 from Interlarken worked by Re460's were using the route but the real hope was to catch a diverted freight train over the viaduct at Rümlingen. First I wanted to travel over the line, which despite a 20 minute delay on my train from Biel to Olten was achieved. I then got to my location using the rail replacement bus from Sissach (the local service being withdrawn to release capacity for the diverted trains). By the time I arrived I had little over an hour to achieve my aims, and in this time saw two Intercity sets, both pushed by Re460's, but my hope of seeing a loco leading a train was at least realised by the one freight train which passed, led by more traditional traction in the shape of Re6/6 11619. I was very pleased to have achieved what I came for, and now just had to get to Basel airport for my flight home. Even if I had more time here the shadows from the hills were rapidly encroaching much earlier than I had expected. 

Re6/6 11619 crosses the viaduct at Rümlingen with a bulk freight. Graidents on this line mean that it is very unusual for freight trains to be routed this way under normal conditions. 06/08/2024.

EasyJet delievered me home less than 10 minutes late to conclude what really had been a very sucessful and enjoyable couple of days in Switzerland. 


Conclusion:

A Swiss tilting ICN set passes the vinyards on the shores of the Bielersee. 06/08/2024.


The aim of the BLM is to operate their full service with two out of the three Be4/6 units, an increased line speed allowing the turn arounds to be achieved more comfortably. Once there are two units working successfully the BDe4/4's will surely rapidly loose their work, so time really is running out to see these traditinal railcars.

It was good to try some new Swiss locations, and with orders now progressing for Cargo locos to replace the Re4/4 and Re6/6 fleets which are reaching the end of their lives I expect some future trips to focus on capturing more of these attractive locomotives.

The drone affords a view of the loco on the rear of a diverted EW IV set at Rümlingen. 06/08/2024.

Thursday 25 July 2024

Mostly Germany, Mostly Cloudy - NS, DB, SNCB Trip Report 29.06 - 04.07.2024

218 460 'Conny' leads classmate 218 341, unique in DB IC livery into Niebull with the 10:53 Westerland (Sylt) - Stuttgart during a rare patch of sunshine. 01/07/24

Introduction:

With some time available off work and a few things that various of us wanted to tick off the list in Germany this seemed the perfect basis for an early summer trip. The plan was originally to avoid flying but unfortunately due to leaving the booking too late the prefered option of taking the overnight boat from Harwich was full, and Eurostar wasn't looking much better. The original itinerary was however kept, flying via Amsterdam and still giving an afternoon in the Netherlands on the way out before picking up trains for the rest of the trip north to Westerland (for 218's). A ride on the new generation Nightjet Sleeper would take us down to Bavaria to pick up a hire car allowing us to target the class 232/233 'Ludmillas' which still work some of the diesel hauled lines west of Nuremburg (and which I still don't have a sunny picture of within Germany) as well as more 218's working the new RE2 service from Hof to Munich. Return travel would then be by way of the German high-speed network depositing us back into London by Eurostar. 
Travelling at this time of year sees long days with plenty of potential for photography- however the weather forecast was already suggesting it had other ideas. 
245 215 catches the evening light as it departs Sylt onto the Hindenburgdam towards Hamburg. 30/06/24


Saturday 29th June:

Koplopper near Barneveld Noord. 29/06/24

It was an early start for the 07:25 flight from Heathrow to Amsterdam which, as seems to be usual for all European flights, was late. Extensive queues at immigration at Schipol airport further ate into our limited time in the Netherlands meaning we missed the loco-hauled InterCity Direct train that we had hoped to be on. With reduced frequency IC Directs due to engineering works, and the next one being a new ICNG unit it was a slightly annoying start. 

I had a location near Tilburg in mind to catch some of the outgoing NS 186 hauled InterCity Direct trains (having discovered that most of the line we wanted had been fenced since my last visit) but we only got as far as S'Hergotenbosch before turning back, realising the weather was looking better further north-west and without the time to try both our locations. This may have ultimately proved to be a mistake as it resulted in wasting more time travelling only to discover that the planned shot near Barneveld Noord was overgrown. A backup location was found and some 193's captured on German Inter City trains together with some Koploppers, however the spot wasn't massively inspiring and we had yet to see a freight train anywhere in the country. 

193 936 passes on the mainline at Barneveld Noord. The NS Vectron locos replaced the 'broken nose' 1700's at the end of 2023 and are themselves a stop-gap on the route until DB's new Talgo-built ICE-L sets take over, eventually with their own Talgo locomotives. 29/06/24

Having not seen anything particularly interesting moving, we were at least able to view the line up of ex-NS 1600's now in private use at Amersfoort where we picked up supplies for our next train, the IC onwards and over the border to Osnabrück. Since last travelling this route DB have implemented compulsory reservations during the warmer months, and also removed the buffet cars. Perhaps catering will return in a few years time when the ICE-L Talgo sets replace the traditional coaches on this route?





146 118, one of a number of push-pull sets seen
on the high level at Osnabruck. 29/06/24

Our first proper German delay was encountered at Osnabrück where our onward connection to Hamburg was already showing as an hour late. The sunshine we had seen in the Netherlands was also slowly giving way to cloud cover which would be with us for most of the remainder of the trip. A visit to the station bar passed the time before we boarded the Swiss EuroCity stock to finally head north, enjoying our planned evening meal in the restaurant car. I am sure I read that these trains are due to finish this year, replaced by yet more ICE's and the loss of another loco hauled option. 

The rain has just begun to fall as 101 005 stands at Hamburg Altona. 29/06/24

A little time was clawed back by leaving the train at Hamburg Harburg, where we were staying, rather than heading into the city to come back again. It had now begun to rain and after a long day all of us were tired and could have done without being woken up overnight by thunderstorms...


Sunday 30th June:

247 909 'Anne' powers one of the 'Autozug Sylt' shuttles onto the island. A pair of these virtually silent diesel Vectrons operate virtually all of the RDC operated shuttles. 30/06/24
Dull times at Hamburg Harburg- 198 037 and 049 work 
through with an ore train. 30/06/24

I had hoped to spend some time this morning photographing the freight at Hamburg Harburg before the sun(!) came round, but the weather very much had other ideas. There was really no point getting up super early to stand in the rain, but I did manage a stint of an hour or so while the others, who were even less inspired by the weather, got up. Fortunately the rain did at least stop but as is often the case I did not attract a lot of freight activity here, certainly not for the first half hour. Things did then pick up but nothing particularly exciting was seen before it was time to pick up where we left the night before with DB 101 power into Hamburg and further north via the diesel line to Westerland. 

Rabbit arrivals - 218 497 arrives with an IC as 218 397 and 379 shunt an empty auto train. 30/06/24

PRESS 218 056 attaches to our train at Itzehoe.
30/06/24
Traction was changed at Itzehoe with blue 'Press' 418 056 (or is it 454?) taking over the train for the diesel leg. These trains split at Niebull with several coaches running through, DMU hauled to Dagbull Mole- however the information was not clear as to which portion was which. Our coach was showing 'Westerland' on the screens, and nobody had told us anything different, so I was slightly surprised to find myself being shunted while the others were photographing the loco (they were surprised too as their luggage was all still on the train!). It wasn't a huge issue to disembark over at the Niebull NEG station, but we had missed the rest of the train departing for Niebull. That left us with around an hour here to watch proceedings and wait for the next 218 hauled IC (the light wasn't going to be great for our photos anyway) which pulled in behind 218 497 in it's weird steam loco / DB IC mixed livery. 
The better end of 218 497 approaches the Hindenburgdam at Morsum, almost catching some brightness. 30/07/24
218 479 arrives at Niebull while RDC's
MaK DE2700's stands aside. 30/06/24

Finally arriving at Westerland we had a short time to  discover that the luggage lockers to store our bags did not exist, before immediately back-tracking to Morsum and beginning the walk to the Hindenburgdam for our planned photography, complete with bags. This was a slightly frustrating afternoon, with extensive cloud cover. A long awaited 'big gap' eventually appeared after most of the interesting trains had passed and lasted just long enough for not a single westbound train to appear! We did however have more luck with 218's on car trains than my previous visit with two pairs of 218's and two 245's seen in action. 

Having stuck it out and waited for the sun arrival back into Westerland was later than we had originally planned but there was just time to set foot on the beach between dropping off our bags and dinner, followed by a couple of enjoyable beers even if the establishment was a little smokey. 

245 005 crosses from the dam on to Sylt with an RE6 service bound for Westerland. DB now operate the regional services, mostly with the stock inherited from the previous operator, NOB. 30/06/24


Monday 1st July:

218 397 + 379 approach Klanxbull from the south with a Sylt Shuttle. 01/07/24

245 025 at Westerland on IC work. 01/07/24
The weather had dawned better than expected (the expectation was dull and wet all day) so plans to head to Klanxbull were re-established. First however there was time to ride a couple more IC's and take a short trip to Dagbull Mole. 245 025 was on the first departure, taken to Niebull,  with the pair of rabbits,  218 341 in IC white and 218 480 'Conny' on the next. There was just time in between the two to take the 628 unit to Dagbull Mole, to then return less than 10 minutes later having attached to the InterCity coaches that would go forward behind the 218's. By getting off at the NEG station we were still able to see the pair role in and by some sort of miracle in a patch of sunlight. After the shunting the 218 pair was picked up from Niebull and taken to Hausum where there should have been a short connection into the second northbound IC- but this is Germany and things wouldn't be that simple. The second IC we had intended to catch was cancelled, but as fortune would happen the first was just rolling in almost an hour late, so it was 218 497 again to take us back to Niebull for a local train to Klanxbull.
Crossing from the NEG line at Niebull. 01/07/24

Klanxbull almost provide some great shots, but we were not in place for a pair of 218's on cars, and the sun vanished just moments before a 218 hauled IC headed south (the late return of our earlier train). Things weren't looking to improve dramatically and anyway, we had to be on the next regional train if we wanted dinner before our next move, the overnight sleeper to Munich or Nuremburg. We still hadn't decided. 

245 202 passes the Klanxbull distant beneath threatening skies bound for Sylt. 01/07/24
Grubby 1016 015 waits departure from Hamburg Altona with
a new generation OBB nightjet to Innsbruck/Vienna. 01/07/24

An excellent sit down meal of Currywurst close to the station set us up well for what was ahead, NJ 40491 from Hamburg to Vienna / Innsbruck. This train is formed of the new Siemens NightJet stock and we were booked into three of the mini-cabins. It is fair to say these had a mixed reaction from the group! While well designed, functional and private there was the disadvantage that there was nowhere for us to enjoy a drink, or plan our next day as a group. While the cabins were not uncomfortable in their own right, they are by their nature not spacious and can feel a bit claustrophobic. On the whole I found them to be good, but anyone of a larger build or travelling in a group might not find them the best option. The ride was notably smooth.


Tuesday 2nd July:

193 934 has re-tractioned the sleeper at Nuremburg in the early hours having arrived with the portion from Amsterdam. 02/07/24

We committed overnight to alighting from the sleeper at the ungodly hour of 04:30 at Nuremburg. Going on to Munich and travelling back as planned would eat into the morning considerably, and it was looking as though the first few hours of the day were giving the highest likelihood of any sunshine for the remainder of the trip! 

102 004 waits with the days first Nuremburg - 
Munich express. 02/07/2024

There was plenty of time (but not so many places open) to grab breakfast and also photograph some of the outgoing traction here; DB 111's and the fairly new (and reportedly unreliable) Skoda 102's. The car hire opened at 0600 but we still didn't manage to be the first in line. Issues with the car which insisted it had an engine fault delayed our departure, but before long we were on the road on the hunt for Ludmilla's which work many of the freight trains on the non-electrified lines east of Nuremburg towards Marktedwitz and Cheb. Armed with some train times all we now needed was them to run.

A pair of 612 tilting DMU's round the corner at Eschenbach while waiting for Ludmillas. Another addition to my gallery of DB 612 images that turned out better than my actual target. 02/07/24
218 419 has departed Marktedwitz for Hof and is seen at Obertholau. 02/07/24

The hideous 214 443 arrives at Marktedwzitz.
As hoped the sun did come out and gave us a sizeable opportunity to get the shot we wanted- but alas, no Ludmilla. I had read that these trains may well run early, so a little while after it was due we moved location for the next pair which should run mid-morning. This time it was Neuhaus and der Pegnitz where we waited, but again, no Ludmillas. After a full morning of waiting it was time to give up and get some lunch, the weather had given up by now also. 

After a quick bakery stop picking up a 'very nice' onion based pizza amongst other things we headed to Wiesau to make the best of a poor afternoon by having a ride on the trains. With a two hourly service passing north of Marktedwitz and then with a long layover at Hof there wasn't a lot of capacity for a short move, so we settled on taking 418 433 north to Marktedwitz where we had a short wait for 418 443 in its rather garish [I hate it] tourist livery for the return trip.

Two locos in the book it was time to get back to the serious business of dull weather railway photography and a couple of spots were found around the town of Oberthölau to shoot the next pair of 218 hauled RE2's. 

218 403 crosses the viaduct at Obertholau working a Munich bound RE2. 02/07/24

It was now time to wait and see if the evening Ludmilla would turn up - we planed to stake it out at Marktedwitz and then get down the line ahead if we could. On arrival a train was already present with the unmistakable shape of a red 232/233 at the front of a long rake of auto-carriers. We wasted no time gettting back in the car to get to a spot ahead of it, but the train was never seen again. After around 2 hours in deteriorating light we called time- back to Nuremburg for dinner and a well needed proper sleep!


Wednesday 3rd July:

233 112 at Ruckersdorf. 03/07/24
We woke to a rather wet day, but got up and headed out on the Ludmilla hunt in the hire car anyway as there was some slight promise in the weather forecast- each day had tended not to have quite such bad weather as had been anticipated. In order to be well ahead of the morning train (and to avoid standing in the rain with no shelter) we stopped off at Rückersdorf. Reminiscent of UK infrastructure the tracks through the station were totally overgrown and of course it was this location where after only a short wait 233 112 turned up with a nice mixed freight train, in the rain, and on the overgrown back road. So these trains do at least exist! 




More tilty 612's at Esehcenbach. 03/07/24
The rain soon eased so we headed to our usual morning spot at Eschenbach to see if any of the other morning trains might turn up. They did not, not even the return of the one we had seen. Not wishing to waste the whole day, and with the weather forecast for the afternoon looking increasingly gloomy it was back to Nüremburg for a visit to the DB Railway Museum. Perhaps not the best use of our time with the hire car but the weather didn't matter here and the museum was very enjoyable. The current temporary exhibition on train toilets even gave me the opportunity to pick up a souvenir in the shape of a 'Sapon' soap grater which will one day take pride of place in the bathroom! 
EP5 21534 inside the DB museum at Nuremburg.

111 153 arrives at Roth. 03.07.24
After the museum it still wasn't quite time to head out for dinner so a quick fill in move was devised to net in 111 153 on a Treuchtlingen vice turn. Then time for a bit of tourism taking in the Zeppelinfeld grandstand (of Nazi party fame) and Kongresshalle as the weather became increasingly wet. After a freshen up we walked through the town, seeing a lot more of it than usually happens on these trips, and settled on a nice spot next to the city gates for a few beers sheltering under an umbrella before a nice meal. 






Thursday 4th July:

A heavily graffitied 2722 arrives at Brussels Noord with a peak hour working. 04/07/24

Wet Wurzburg tram interchange. 03/07/24
We had still not got our Ludmilla shot, so out it was again to Eschenbach even earlier than before to make sure we were in position should our train run early again. It didn't and today the weather did not improve upon the weather forecast. With the rain showing no signs of abating and no confidence that any of our sought after Ludmillas' would turn up the only sensible thing to do was to give up on this lost cause. 

We were heading home today via Brussels and the Eurostar and since the weather looked better further west it was decided to explore the option of leaving Germany early. The problem with this however was the compulsory reservation rule that DB have put on international trains. I didn't manage to get to the front of the queue at the very fancy travel center at Nüremburg Hbf to attempt to change our booking, and looking online it appeared the earlier train was full anyway. Still, there was no point staying where we were so delayed ICE's were taken to get us on our way, pausing at Würzberg (where a private Ludmilla was sat just to taunt us) and then onto Cologne. 
A Voith Maxima and a Ludmilla working for SGL
are stabled at the old Wurzburg roundhouse. 04/07/24

We had realised that the early Frankfurt - Brussels ICE, in typical German style had been altered to start at Cologne and by this point I really wanted to be on it. Both to get out of Germany and because I didn't have a good feeling about the 90 minute connection from our booked train onto the last Eurostar. 
I needn't have worried too much as the ICE was not busy (presumably a lot of its passengers were still in Frankfurt!?) and there was only slightly more interest in checking our tickets than there was in opening the BoardRestaurant which remained shut for the duration- were the catering staff in Frankfurt as well?

The weather had certainly improved as we headed towards home and by Brussels the weather was mostly sunny. Our new target here was to seek out some of the remaining SNCB 2700's which are now very much on borrowed time. We only saw a couple of the locos in our time at Brussels Noord, and the condition of them was really quite shocking- the locos were daubed with graffiti over most of their paintwork. 

1877 pauses at Brussels Noord during the evening peak. 04/07/24

2802 works an NS High-Speed service away from
Brussels Noord 04/07/24
I have said before that while there is a lot of loco hauled activity here, managing to be in the right place to photograph, or ride it with so many platforms is quite an art, and one I have not mastered! It was at least nice to see a few trains in sunshine, including what are now some quite vintage Belgian EMU's. 
Coming full circle the other stock we were able to catch here were the Dutch 186 'Traxx' locos working the Inter City Direct trains to and from Amsterdam- the ones we failed to see on day one! It was perhaps a fitting end to the trip to get a photo of one of these sets, which I doubt I will see again, before heading into the depths of Brussels Midi for a waffle and an uneventful Eurostar journey home.

186 001 leads an NS High Speed loco-hauled set into Brussels Midi. These trains are soon to be replaced by InterCity Next Generation units, finally resolving the fiasco of the vailed 'Fyra' V250's. 04/07/24


Conclusions:

245 023 rolls onto Sylt at Morsum. 30/06/24
Unfortunately this was a very challenging trip at times with adversities seeming to appear from every angle right from booking through to the trains actually turning up. Of course, there was little we could do about the weather except grumble about the disappointing photography. 

The almost total lack of 'Ludmilla' DB 232/233 action on the lines west of Nuremburg was both disappointing and surprising. There is now a page dedicated to these workings on the 'Czeck Spreadsheet'- which enabled me to get some details of the workings, and also confirm that these trains did, at least sometimes run. Maybe we were just unlucky with the days we were lineside, or could the trains have been diverted to run via Weiden rather than the Kirchenlaibach route for some reason? Either way unless I can find some much better info (and please, if you have any I'd love to hear it!) I think it rather unlikely I will attempt these trains again, especially with new traction soon set to replace them. 

I can however always be tempted back by the 218's, and would like to have a better go at photographing the RE2 operation which we ultimately barely touched. There are some nice spots to view the trains (weather permitting of course) but it really could have done with a base a bit further east. 
Having now visited the island of Sylt three times I probably don't need to return anytime soon- but it is such a nice part of the world, and with the semaphores around Niebull and Klanxbull I certainly wouldn't rule it out.

Monday 10 June 2024

SBB ZB Trip Report 23-26th May 2024

With lake Thun to one side, and the Swiss alps beyond, the spot at Einigen has to be one of the best railway views in Switzerland. Re460 078 pushes an IC set towards Spiez. 25/05/2024.

Thursday 23rd May-

The single railcar of the Le Locle - Les Brenets
railway at its destination. 23/05/2024.
Arrival into Basel was technically the previous night, but with a slight delay to the flight we were pleased to make the penultimate 50 bus from the airport to the city in the early hours.

The weather forecast for today was dreadful. Plan A had been to stand in fields photographing freight trains around Arth-Goldau, but that was quickly abandoned. It was actually something of a surprise that the day dawned dry but it certainly wasn’t going to be standing in a field weather. We made our way with 460 023 to Olten to watch the trains for a bit, at which point it did begin to rain.



Chermin de fer du Jura at Tavannes. 23/05/2024



Not particularly being number takers, this activity didn’t keep us interested for long and the decision was made to ‘colour in’ some track in areas that we had not travelled before. Heading from Olten by way of Biel to Le Choix du Fondes the target was to traverse some of the lines of Chermin de fer de Jura, but first there was a distraction as we headed further west to Le Locle, since there wasn’t immediately a Jura train. From here it was impossible to pass up the short meter gauge to Le Brenets, even though the 8 minute journey would set our Jura plan back by 2 hours due to service gaps.

We were pleased to see that the stock was a nice vintage single car unit, and that while stuck at Les Brenets a bar was available for a quick lunchtime beer. Back on the train to ride back to Le Locle we did a bit of research and realised that the line is very much under threat- due to be closed this year (or was it last?) and converted into a busway by 2025. A good use of the morning then!
Re4/4 11149 emerges into sunlight from the
depths of Zurich Hbf. It had brought in stock for
the sleeper to Budapest. 23/05/2024

Back to Le Choix du Fondes and finally onto the Jura with a unit to the junction at Le Noirmont. Here we were able to change onto one of the ‘semi-unit’ trains with nice opening window push pull coaches working with what is effectively a modern EMU power car for the run down to Tavannes. En route we passed a freight train (loaded rubbish) and another passenger service with a freight wagon on the rear. An interesting operation to potentially come back to. With tight connections I never did get a decent look at the EMU vehicle pushing the train and on arrival at Tavannes it was back onto an SBB ‘Domino’ unit to start the journey back to Biel, Basel and on to Zurich.


'Lion' Re420 216 works S19 train 19972 from Pfäffikon ZH to Dietikon past the fields at Ilnau 23/05/2024
Re420 205 departs from Ilnau. 23/05/2024

We had done well not to get very wet at all, and my weather app was showing that the evening weather in Zurich might even be quite good, so we needed to make a speedy reversion to ‘Plan A’ and tackle the evening ‘Lion’s’. The Commuter Re420’s working out of Zurich had been on my list for last May’s trip, but unfortunately, I got well and truly rained out once I arrived at my location. Today despite the dire forecast the evening had produced a nice sunny patch around the location at Ilnau on the line to Pfaffikon ZH and although we didn’t get the full sun shot for the first train, that objective was achieved before we had to leave. Frankly I couldn’t believe it. Now it was time to head down towards the Gotthard pass and our accommodation for the night, the Gusthaus Schafli right outside the bus stop at Inschi between Erstfeld and Wassen. There was no time for food, but after our pre-arranged late check-in that the hotel didn’t know about, they were thankfully still able to serve us a beer.

A pair of Re450's, trailed by 450 032 passes between Ilanu and Effretikon. 23/05/2024

 

 Friday 24th May-

Another poor weather forecast, though not as bad as Thursday, so we were all pretty excited to wake up to a clear sky! Of course it wasn’t to last and had clouded over by the end of breakfast! Undeterred we got the bus up to Wassen for a day on the Gotthard Pass- something that until the freight train de-railment in the base tunnel at the end of last year hasn’t been worth doing since 2016!

Re460 107 on the rear of a classic Swiss loco-hauled (well, pushed) set at the Wattlinger curve at Wassen. 24/05/2024
An Re4/4 hauled postal train on the mid-level at
Wassen with 420 280. The rainbow proved there
was some  sunshine- but not here! 24/05/2024

The damage to the Gotthard Base Tunnel has forced almost all passenger services back over the scenic mountain route, as well as a few freight trains (but how few we really did not know). While the line would certainly be busier than the standard one EMU an hour, I wasn’t expecting to see a lot of loco hauled activity. To my knowledge there was one turn booked for an Re460, The Re4/4 hauled ‘Gotthard Panorama Express’ and whatever little freight that might turn up. Other trains would be the usual golden Sudostbahn EMU’s and Pendolinos working the through trains to Italy.

A pair of RABe 501 'Giruno' units make their way towards Wassen on the old Gotthard mountain route. 24/05/2024
940 045 on the Watlinger curve with a single wagon in tow. 

In reality I think we did pretty well. The Panorama turned up as expected, but in the end there were at least three Re460 loco hauled sets in use on the line. In the 12 hours we spent on the line 6 freight trains were seen, plus a works trip with Aem 940 045 which ran north light engine and later returned with a wagon. This certainly isn’t much compared to pre-base tunnel levels, but is a lot more than I had expected. Of those freights, four were seen with classic Swiss RE4/4 or 6/6 traction and three of them all turned up within 5 minutes around midday, and naturally all under a massive cloud! 

Re460 046 'Rotsee' leads across the mid-level viaduct.

We did however manage to at least photograph something in each of our locations that was well lit, and the line provided sufficient entertainment. I don’t however think I will be coming back when the diversions have finished. Spectacular as it is, an hourly EMU is not worth the effort.

After a semi-successful but slightly frustrating day with the light, we retreated back to the hotel for what was my only proper sit down meal of the trip- and very nice it was too!

Holy cow! A 'proper' freight at Wassen on the Gotthard Mountain route in 2024! DB 152131 leads a classmate past the Wattinger curve. 24/05/2024

 

Saturday 25th May-

Die Zentralbahn traction at Engelburg. 25/05/2024
It was straight out after breakfast to leave the Gotthard and move on to our next target, the loco hauled operations on the Zentralbahn. There was just time for a whistlestop tour of Luzern before heading onto the Engelburg line. Again, I covered this route last May but didn’t manage the shot I wanted due to a torrential downpour. Today was looking better than that, but success was very far from guaranteed. 101 966 was taken up to Engelburg from where we dropped back to Wolfenschiessen to attempt some nice sunny photos- well the cloud did have some breaks in it.

 


ZB 101 965 heads downgrade on the rack towards Meiringen.

After our first attempt we went for a little wander and realised that only around 10 paces away was a nano-brewery the ‘Brauerei Äigèbraij‘. Even better, due to a festival in the valley it was open! We did the obvious thing and bought a beer before we got chatting to Thömu the owner who put some sausages on the BBQ for us before we were beckoned into his ‘cellar’ to taste his private barrel of Whisky! What a man and what a lovely whisky! If you are in the area and the place is open (apparently when the light outside is on) it is well worth a visit! What is more, between our beer and sausage the next train passed and the sun just about obliged as well. Wolfenschiessen had been kind to us, and now it was time to move on.


ZB 101 966 passes between Wolfenschiessen and Grafenort. 25/05/2024

 

Two older style ZB driving cars at Meiringen where the trains
reverse. Both will be pushed by Ge4/4iii's. 25/05/2024
During the summer there are two pairs of IR trains on the main route of the Zentralbahn between Luzern and Interlaken Ost, unlike all other trains on the route these are loco hauled- so had to be done. Sure enough 101 965 was waiting in the platform at Luzern with the 13:55 to Interlaken Ost which was taken throughout. Another stunningly beautiful line complete with lakes, mountains and various rack sections. As the train reversed at Meiringen it was unusual to see another loco hauled set present, with 101 968 which had reportedly been working between there and Interlaken.
The loco hauled train on the ZB connects nicely with one of the GoldenPass gauge-changing trains from Interlaken Ost to Montreaux via Zweissman, and BLS Re465 001 was duly taken to Speiz, netting a new class for all of us.
Re460 057 'Val-de-Ruz' heads west from Interlaken Ost. 

 

From here it was by bus to the popular photo spot at Einigen, where once again there was some great light, but usually not when the trains were around. We spent a good couple of hours waiting for the perfect shot, but left somewhat disappointed with only three northbound freights (plenty more heading south, the ‘wrong’ way) of which the only one with an older loco came in cloud, as did most of the loco hauled passengers!

SBB 193 462 with a rolling road passing through Einigen near Spiez. 25/05/2024

 

Back in Interlaken it was already getting fairly late. There was a food festival near the station so this became dinner and after a few beers it was time for bed.

101 965 pushes its Zentralbahn IR train through Brienzwiller. 26/05/2024.

 

Sunday 26th May-

 

A Berner Oberland Bahn departure from
Interlarken to Lauterbrunnen. 26/05/2024
The original plan for today was to ride and photograph the BLM from Lauterbrunnen to – Murren before the old railcars were replaced, but due to a badly timed week-long possession (probably to commission the new railcars) this was now disappointingly not going to happen. Fortunately all was not lost, as by chance I had stumbled upon a steam trip being run by the Brünig Steam Railway from Interlaken to Giswil over this scenic line. These trips run once a month during the summer months, and this was the first of the year. Starting from Interlaken Ost the train was led by adhesion steam loco G3/4 208 to Meiringen where it reversed and gave way to rack loco HG3/3 1068.
G 3/4 208 shunts out of the way of passing trains at Oberried am Brienzersee. 25/05/2024

 

ZB Ge4/4iii 101 964 at Luzern. 26/05/2024
There are plenty of opportunities to photograph the train as it shunts into loops to clear the way for ZB passenger services. Passenger also have the opportunity to stand on the coach end balconies, or enjoy a beer (or champagne as one guy our area was) from the bar coach. The staff were super friendly and the whole excursion was excellent. Full details of future trips are at https://bruenig-dampfbahn.ch/





HG3/3 1068 shunts the tourist train at Brunig Hasliburg. 26/05/2024

 

After leaving the train we picked up a sausage at the recommended bar across the street and made our way to photograph the return trip climbing out of Giswil. Of course, by now it had clouded over.
HG3/3 1068 climbs out of Giswil with the Brunig Dampfbhan charter back to Interlaken. 26/05/2024


HG3/3 1068 on the turntable at Giswil.
It was now time for me to start thinking about heading home, one of the usual units was taken back from Giswil to Luzern (via a beer in the restaurant car of course), and another couple of 101’s picked up on the Engleburg line before I made my way back to Basel airport- an unusually disrupted journey by Swiss accounts with my chosen train being cancelled along with several others from Luzern. It was not a bother as the next train would still give me plenty of time, only that too was late due to an ill passenger. Of course none of it mattered in the end as I got to the airport on time to find that my flight was delayed.


Intercity on the Gotthard- an SBB Re460 descends the ramp, viewed from the churchyard at Wassen. 24/05/2024