Mont Blanc Express to Martigny in 1998.

[45669]

Evening All,

 

Part Two of my 1998 trip on the Mont Blanc Express is now on YouTube.  It covers the journey down to the Rhône Valley to Martigny:

 

 

Part One is here if you missed it:  

 

 

TTFN,

 

Ron.

[zarniwhoop]

Thanks for those clips Ron. They bring back a few memories - in 1975 (I think) I went on a school trip to Les Marécottes. In those days the Swiss part was just called the Martigny-Châtelard-Chamonix, with red and cream livery - the older railcars and trailers in your clips. I guess the French part was just branded SNCF at that time, and I suspect you had to change at Chamonix for onward travel.

 

I can recall seeing an old railcar down in the valley one day (the hotel was way above the railway), pulling a few 2-axle wagons with milk churns, rather like the old Eggerbahn wagons.

 

But memory plays tricks - until I watched your pictures I thought that the ascent started immediately after leaving Martigny.

 

ĸen

[Gordonwis]

On 20/11/2021 at 02:08, zarniwhoop said:

. In those days the Swiss part was just called the Martigny-Châtelard-Chamonix, with red and cream livery - the older railcars and trailers in your clips. I guess the French part was just branded SNCF at that time, and I suspect you had to change at Chamonix for onward travel.

 

 

 

or even just Martigny - Chatelard, although the 'Hollywood' type sign on the hillside read Martigny - Chamonix. In fact most train changes took place at Vallorcine. The 'frontier' between the two administrations being between Le Chatelard and Vallorcine

Edited November 23, 2021 by Gordonwis

[45669]

On 20/11/2021 at 02:08, zarniwhoop said:

Thanks for those clips Ron. They bring back a few memories - in 1975 (I think) I went on a school trip to Les Marécottes. In those days the Swiss part was just called the Martigny-Châtelard-Chamonix, with red and cream livery - the older railcars and trailers in your clips. I guess the French part was just branded SNCF at that time, and I suspect you had to change at Chamonix for onward travel.

 

I can recall seeing an old railcar down in the valley one day (the hotel was way above the railway), pulling a few 2-axle wagons with milk churns, rather like the old Eggerbahn wagons.

 

But memory plays tricks - until I watched your pictures I thought that the ascent started immediately after leaving Martigny.

 

ĸen

 

On that occasion it was a through train in both directions, so no changes were needed.  On another occasion though, we did have to change at Le Châtelard Frontière.

[45669]

Here's the third and final part of my 1998 video; it covers the return journey as far as Chamonix.

 

 

TTFN,

 

Ron.

[45669]

I've just put a short two minute video on YouTube that I shot at Le Châtelard if anyone would like to have a look (and apologies in advance for the mis-spelling of Valais!  Once I've hit save I can't go back and amend any errors.)

 

 

 

TTFN,

 

Ron.

Edited December 8, 2021 by 45669