Freight train street running in Zurich

[swisspeat]

Several years ago in a dismal November day I took the train from Zurich Hbf to Hardebrucke. Alighting there I walked in the direction of the Swissmill. Between the station and Swissmill there are railway tracks mixing with trams, road traffic and pedestrians. All a bit bizarre to watch SBB Cargo Am 843 locos leading a train of wagons being led by a dayglo dressed SBB personnel walking in front of the loco.

 

Apparently the trains run several times a day and I was fortunate to witness one of them.

 

Not sure if these trains would satisfy the Health and Safety provisions of the UK....

 

Ideal material for modelling an unusual layout I thought at the time which coincidentally seems to have been borne out by a modelling layout suggestion I noticed in the latest issue of Modellbahn Schweiz magazine (www.modellbahn-schweiz.net).

 

Enjoy the pictures.

 

Kind regards,

 

Peter

[Gottardo]

A couple of videos showing the street running operation.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWT58TBAdEw

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbozdxB2g_o

[5944]

https://amp.20min.ch/story/dampflok-im-kreis-5-versperrt-polizei-den-weg-201330988529

 

https://dvzo.ch/mieten/extrafahrt-zum-geburtstag/

 

And if you've got a few quid, you can hire a steam loco and coaches from DVZO and have a trip through the streets at night! 

[DGO]

On 21/12/2021 at 10:25, 5944 said:

https://amp.20min.ch/story/dampflok-im-kreis-5-versperrt-polizei-den-weg-201330988529

 

https://dvzo.ch/mieten/extrafahrt-zum-geburtstag/

 

And if you've got a few quid, you can hire a steam loco and coaches from DVZO and have a trip through the streets at night! 

Bearing in mind Swiss earnings and if we assume 30 people to each coach for 150 people in total it comes in at about £50 per head but throw in Swiss earnings and costs and it would be roughly the equivalent to someone in the UK paying £20 per head (I think it safe to say that the Birthday boy was not on a minimum wage job) 

[swisspeat]

I thought folks might like to see what the layout turned out to look like after a few months work. Sample photo attached.

 

I still want to add the flashing lights between the rails in the next month or so.

 

Hope everyone is keeping well.

 

Peter

[swisspeat]

Thanks for all your thumbs up.

 

Here are another 3 photos.

 

In real life the cafe tables are literally 2 metres from where the train passes.  

 

The Am 842 is by ESU. The 232 is by Mabar. Wagons by NME and Roco.

[Frutigen]

That is so well observed and beautifully done.