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| 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. |
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| 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:
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| 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!
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| The new order- Be4/6 102 'Mönch' is seen between Grütschalp and Winteregg. 05/08/2024. |
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.
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| 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:
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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:
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| 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.
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| The drone affords a view of the loco on the rear of a diverted EW IV set at Rümlingen. 06/08/2024. |
