JAMIE'S RANDOM EUROPEAN AND REST OF THE WORLD RAILWAY PHOTOS.

[jamie92208]

Good moaning from a sunny Bournemouth.  Here we are on the MGB heading east towards the Furka base tunnel on the 25th May 2022. In yesterdays last photo we were about to enter a spiral tunnel.  This was the view west as we exited with the site of the last photo below us.

We continued winding around and climbing.

Passing a westbound.

Then into Oberwald at the entrance to the base tunnel.

Before arriving at Andermatt where there is quite a large depot and this lovely little loco was around.

Our train departed and we changed to a train down to Goschenen on the Gotthard main line.Jamie

[DaveF]

 

 

Jamie, once again your photos are bringing back a lot of happy memories, I lok forward to my daily "fix"

 

David

[Re6/6]

Lovely, lovely pictures Jamie. My favourite Swiss line!

 

Many moons ago after a visit to Andermatt I started to scratchbuild a Deh 4/4 in 1:43 scale to go with my Fama FO stock which was never finished! .......Perhaps one day!

 

[jamie92208]

Good moaning from Bournemouth.  The time machine is still in Andermatt on 25th May 2022. Another rather nice looking MGB machine was in the station.

Then off down the incredibly steep branch to Goschenen.  A very helpful guard told us to look out for these spectacular bridges.

Then coming into the main line station.

Where this lovely was sitting outside the shed.

On the station we sat and waited for out=r train to the south.  This SOB Traverso unit in the distinctive copper coloured livery was heading in.

Then through the Gotthard tunnel and down the south ramp to Belinzona.  Here Andy and I went for a walk to look round the works.  He had told me about a place that he called 'The Secret Garden'.  This is what he showed me at the back of the works next to a car park.  What can only be described as a cornucopia of trains.

That's it for today folks we are heading back to France tonight so there won't be an update tomorrow morning.

 

Jamie

 

[eastwestdivide]

13 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

A very helpful guard told us to look out for these spectacular bridges

Teufelsbrücke/Devil's Bridge. One of many places of that name with a devilish myth attached to it.

See also https://www.andermatt.ch/en/attractions/devils-bridge-906fdef383

[EddieB]

2 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

Then off down the incredibly steep branch to Goschenen...  

Where this lovely was sitting outside the shed.

 

 

Under restoration at Goschenen, it's a rack+adhesion Bo-Bo class HGe4/4 built for the Visp-Zermatt railway in 1929 (SLM 3340).  As you say, a beauty!

[Erichill16]

I hope you dont mind me posting this on here but is one of my favourite pictures AND taken from the Devils Bridge. (September 2016)

Pauline and myself were staying in Andermatt and walked all the way Wassen on this particular day and got some fabulous pictures. 

Almost looks like a model.

 

[jamie92208]

Good afternoon from a sweltering Charente.   39 degrees so we are inside with the shutters partially shut and a fan on.  The tardis though is still in Belinzona on the 25th May. Another shot of the secret garden collection. I do like the Re 6/6's.

Then down through the beautiful lake country to Chiasso where this TRAX?? was hiding in the yard along with a lot of other foreign power.

Then back to Belinzona and then Art Goldau via the base tunnel on a 500 class set.  A Rigibahn set was in the sidings.

And another se, neither of them identifiable.

Then onto another SOB 526 Traverso for a ride up the north ramp to Goschenen.  I'm glad that Robert mentioned Wassen.   I missed the shot of the church on the first pass but this is on the second pass after the first spiral when we are heading north.

Then through the 2nd spiral and see it again from above as we headed south.

What a fabulous ascent.

 

Jamie

 

[brushman47544]

No it’s not an Alstom TRAXX loco in the Chiasso photo, it’s a Siemens Eurosprinter ES64 F4 - 089 operated by MRCE dispoloc. Originally in yellow/grey livery it’s now in the MRCE black.

Edited June 19, 2022 by brushman47544

[jamie92208]

Thanks for the correction.  I can just about recognise a Vectron.

 

Anyway the tour continues and the tardis is still in Goschenen on 25th May 2022. This one got missed yesterday. Steam era equipment with the tunnel mouths behind.  Apparently there are still steam specials.

I was very impressed with the coordination of public transport.  The shuttle from Andermatt was timed to meet the SOB trains n the main line and a  bus appeared and connected as well, i think till about 9.30pm.

The next morning we headed down to Art Goldau and the Rigibahn looked busy. It was Ascension day and the trains, on oth gauges, were busy with groups of walkers of all ages.

Near the platform was this impressive track maintenance machine.  I think connected with tunnel cleaning.

then a bathtub, sorry 460, n advertising livery came in.

there was quite a bit of freight activity with this class 193 heading for Erstfeld and the base tunnel.

At Goschenen we saw no freight at all and the whole railway over the old route is very quiet.  All freight seems to be through the base tunnel.  Whilst waiting for our train I got this study of two different noses waiting to head south.

 

Jamie

 

[jamie92208]

Good moaning from a rather warm and sticky Charente.  The tardis though is still in Switzerland on 26th May 2022. We are still at Arth Goldau.  This freight behind a class 193 came through.

Closely followed by another behind a Railpool 187.

Then it was time to catch a train to Luzern where we met up with the Zentralbahn that would take us over the Brunig pass to Interlaken. Their commuter services to Engleberg ar often operated by these nice looking class 101 electric locos.

Then our rack equipped class 150 EMU that was going to be our train.

Initially we ran our along side a rather nice lake.

Then the serious climbing started as we headed up the Brunig.

Jamie

 

[jamie92208]

Good evening from the Charente. The tardis is still on the Brunig pass, 26th May 2022. This was at their main workshop at Meringen. Another loco.

And one of their shunters.

Trains to Interlaken reverse here but the line continues up the valley, I think to a power station.  This is operated by a separate undertaking at a different voltage. My Swiss book has gone walkabout so I can't tell you the name. However this unit was in the platform.  No trace of it in the platform 5 book.  Any suggestions?

Then we were away down the valley towards Interlaken.  The Bernese Oberland started to appear.

And I was informed by Andy that the peak on the left is the Eiger with it's north face in shadow.

as we ran along the south side of the lake we passed another rack line, the BRB which is still mostly steam operated. There is a steam loco just partially visible to the right of the hut in the photo.

On towards Interlaken,

 

Jamie

 

 

[eastwestdivide]

18 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

the line continues up the valley, I think to a power station.  This is operated by a separate undertaking

MIB, Meiringen-Innertkirchen Bahn. Built for the power station, but with a passenger service now providing most if not all of the traffic. It has an unusual station in a tunnel at a beauty spot, a gorge, with a narrow platform which they don’t let you on until the train has arrived. 
It also has a station close by the Reichenbach Falls of Sherlock Holmes fame. 

Edited June 21, 2022 by eastwestdivide
More info

[jamie92208]

Good moaning from a wet and thundery Charente.  Eclair et Grandisment according to my hairdresser yesterday.  Anyway the tardis is near Interlaken and it's the 26th of May 2022. We were still on a Zentralbahn train heading for Interlaken Ost.  This photo definitely includes the Eiger and other Bernese Oberland peaks in it.

All too soon we were at Interlaken where this train from the BOB, Berner Obeland Bahn, was waiting in the platform.  Sadly our schedule didn't give us time for a ride on any of the fabled network.  

There had been much discussion as to where i wold be able to buy a suitable present for my long suffering other half, aka Beth.  I was under strict instructions not to take her and F,ing cuckoo clock.  Andy and I had tried to work out where to buy something. A new plan was quickly made and instead of half an hour on Ost station we hopped on an Intercity for the short ride to West Station.  I then headed into town and found a souvenier shop.  This wall display caught my eye bt I resisted the temptation.

Instead I bought a rather nice Cow Bell, as well as a small one for my granddaughter.  Then it was onto another train for the trip to Spiez.   Here it is definitely BLS country. These locos were parked at the east end of the station. a BLS class 486 no 507 and 185 114.

We then waked along towards the BLS depot which is just east of the station.

A double headed freight came through with 465 004 and 193 714 hauling a long train of swap-bodies lettered for Ambrogio.  For some reason I couldn't get Ambrosia creamed rice out of my head.  A nightmare for me as I hate the stuff.

As we walked back from the spot I couldn't help wondering if a view like this is probably one of the best backdrops to a loco shed in existence. It certainly doesn't look like Rose Grove did in 1968. 

Jamie

 

[5944]

On 19/06/2022 at 13:04, jamie92208 said:

Near the platform was this impressive track maintenance machine.  I think connected with tunnel cleaning.

 

Actually a tunnel fire and rescue train. Pretty impressive in action.

 

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/502714377145254015/

 

[jamie92208]

Good morning from a sunny Charente.  The tardis though is in Spiez and it's the 26th May 2022. As we came back from the depot I headed along the north side of the station to try and identify a group of three locos parked over there.  Fortunately there is another entrance with lifts to a footbridge that provided a viewpoint.  Here was 425 184 in the old livery, 465 013 and a newish shunter 832 002. 

I do like the 425's and got this photo once I got over the other side and rejoined Andy.

Then it was off to Olten where we booked into our hotel and this was the view from the room.  Not bad with a double headed intermodal going past.

After dinner we went back on the station where there was  a lot of activity.

Then after a good night's sleep we caught  train to Zurich to sample the S Bahn.  This of course is ruled by the single ended class 450's with their fixed rakes of three coaches attached.

A brilliant station with trams running down both sides.  Here is one on what I think is the south side.

Jamie

 

[brushman47544]

Those are the first photos I've seen of the BLS 465s in the lime green livery. Definitely prefer the original blue.

[jamie92208]

43 minutes ago, brushman47544 said:

Those are the first photos I've seen of the BLS 465s in the lime green livery. Definitely prefer the original blue.

I quite like the Lime Green it sems to make it look less like an upside down bathtub.  However my boss assures me that I have no sense of colour.

 

Jamie

[Re6/6]

14 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

 it seems to make it look less like an upside down bathtub.

 

You're talking about my favourite Swiss engine Jamie........apart from an Re 6/6 of course!🤣

Edited June 23, 2022 by Re6/6

[jamie92208]

Good moaning from a rather maritime Charente.   The tardis though is still in Zurich, Switzerland on 27th May 2022. The tram service was frequent with different varieties around.

Then back onto the concourse where and SOB FLIRT I think class 526, was in the platform.

On the other side of the station there were more trams.

More variety with an SOB Traverso and an SBB unit.

Then a class 430 at the head of a sleeper train.

The loco was about to be uncoupled and draw forward to release the stock.   The stock was from several different operators.  Including this one.  I have no idea which country owns this sleeper.  However it was good to see a proper international sleeper train.

That's it for today folks.

 

Jamie

 

[Moxy]

44 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

 I have no idea which country owns this sleeper.  However it was good to see a proper international sleeper train.

That's it for today folks.

 

Jamie

 

 

HZPP is Croatia.  That is an international train!

[jamie92208]

39 minutes ago, Moxy said:

 

HZPP is Croatia.  That is an international train!

I can't remember  what the other coaches were but I think there were at least 4 different operators. I'll have to try and find out where the service had come from. From what I saw it had been heavily loaded.  There was another 420 waiting to take the stock away.

 

Jamie

[jamie92208]

Good moaning from a sunny but coolish Charente.  The tardis though is still in Zurich on 27th May 2022. From the underground platforms at Zurich we sampled the s Bahn with first a trip out to Winterthur where this Thurbo 526 unit was working in.

I also found that inflation in Switzerland is high as I needs to use the gents which cost me CHF 1.50.  I did however discover that the Swiss german word for urinal is Pissoir.  In letters 6" high in the spotlessly clean conveniences.  Then it was back n the train to Stadthofen and back out to Rapenswill where this nice little shunter was sitting in the station.

Shortly after it set off with a trip freight.

Then it was back to Zurich along the lake shore.

Then off to Basel where this ICE was working in.

The tram network was also running and is integrated into the station.  I now see how Flavio was able to make an easy change to get home after he caught the train to Basel from Brigg.

And a 460 in the station.

Jamie

 

[Redkiterail]

On 25/06/2022 at 08:42, jamie92208 said:

I can't remember  what the other coaches were but I think there were at least 4 different operators. I'll have to try and find out where the service had come from. From what I saw it had been heavily loaded.  There was another 420 waiting to take the stock away.

 

Jamie

Zagreb to Zurich via Villach still runs possible other operators where cd for Zurich to Prague, obb for Zurich to Vienna, DB Citynightline to Amsterdam 

[jamie92208]

Good morning from a sunny Charente.   The tardis though is in Basel on 27th May 2022.   I do like the way that the public transport is so well integrated with the trams running through the station.

I think that the yellow livery is for the canton, here a 521 comes into the station.

And a Vossloh class 843 came through shuffling some coaches around.

Plus a TGV Lyria, that I needed to see.

All too soon we boarded a class 500 for our return to Geneva. This took us past Yverdon works and in and out of the French speaking cantons.  Each time the displays in the coaches changed language.   Then through Morges where one of the MBC standard gauge shunters was in the yard.

And a rather snatched and poor photos of the rolleblocks actually in use to take standard gauge wagons up the narrow gauge line.

Then into Geneva and a lengthy search for the SNCF platforms.  We needed to go out onto the street so I got a shot of a tram about to go under the station.

Then one final shot of a Swiss loco, a 460, in the evening sun.    I don't like the styling but it was good to see so many loco hauled trains.   I saw over 60% of the 460's in the four days.

Then off back to Bellegarde.  That part of the trip and the final journey across France is recorded in my French thread (Moves at Limoges).

 

What a fabulous 4 days and what a great introduction to Swiss railways.  Andy had planned the Swiss part and did a great job.  I certainly hope to go back.  Meantime this thread will return to it's slumbers until I get another chance to travel.   I hope that readers have enjoyed it.

 

Jamie