Roaming the railways of Romandie and beyond - Geneva/Genève/Genf

[ruggedpeak]

Been a busy few months so I've not had a chance to update but there is a back catalogue of photos to upload from my wanderings. Pending uploading those, I have a weekend of peace but the forecast was for rain and then thunderstorms, so I opted for a day ticket around Geneva Zone 10 to see what was happening on the rails rather than dodge lightning in the Jura!

 

Starting at Cornavin it was off towards Annemasse, changing at Chene-Bourg, the last Swiss station on the SL3 towards St Gervais Les Bains, courtesy of SNCF

 

 

Back through Cornavin to the north end of Zone 10 at Port Ceard and Versoix, not much happening at that end of Zone 10. Here's an SL4 for Annemasse leaving a soggy Versoix.

 

 

On this section of the mainline along the side of Lake Geneva/Lac Leman the slow line is a single track bi-directional line that runs on the lake side of the double track main. Here a northbound SL4 to Coppet is departing Versoix, and both its and the northbound fast routes are set. What I noticed is that the 'ground signals' (the ground mounted double yellows) changed with the main aspects on both lines. No doubt the experts will explain that they are something other than ground signals, presumably repeaters - they are vertical on green and horizontal on red.

 

 

 

 

Back at Cornavin the remodelling works are ongoing, with the track at platform 4 having been lifted and concrete slab laid. New bases for catenary posts are also being put in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And a French line up:

 

 

 

Then the fun began. Took an express to the airport for the short run, and got the 1501 hours Geneva Airport to Brig service back to Cornavin, a push/pull powered by a Re 460 at the airport/southern end.

Shortly after joining the mainline from the airport spur the train stopped. Power was lost to the coaches and we sat there. After several nudges from coupling and uncoupling and an hour they announced that we would be at Cornavin in 5 minutes. Forgot to say "thirty" before the five! Guessing they were struggling to get the brakes off as several times we moved off and then stopped. I was curious to see what they used as a 'thunderbird' given that SBB has a major depot just the other side of Cornavin. Eventually we moved towards Cornavin, and as we rounded the bend on the approach I was pleased to see that we were being rescued by the rescue train! Different one from the one above, livery was much darker red and none of the Geneva logos, but another Windhoff rescue train 😁. This time it wasn't moving so I could get some more photos!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looks like Re 460 080 Tre Valli seems to have died. As the Rescue train pulled out of Cornavin my view from the opposite platform was obscured by a departing express....caught the dead 460 on the tail of the train, pant down. As it left the overhead line power was switched back on again, having been isolated.  Switchgear on the platform switched over.

 

 

After that it was off to Meyrin to try and catch a shot of the elusive Unimog shunter at Tamoil but it was obscured again....

 

Edited July 30, 2023 by ruggedpeak
typos

[Gordonwis]

5 hours ago, ruggedpeak said:

. What I noticed is that the 'ground signals' (the ground mounted double yellows) changed with the main aspects on both lines. No doubt the experts will explain that they are something other than ground signals, presumably repeaters - they are vertical on green and horizontal on red.

 

 

 

 

No the 'ground signals' are a combined point indicator/route indicator/signal, not pure signal repeaters as such. Next time you are out and about look for signals on plain line away from any turnouts, then look at some pointwork, you will see the difference.

 

Here's a shot (one of hundreds of course!)  I took on my Swiss trip this year which shows them well. A train is still passing the point indicator which is still therefore at 'clear' for the route set, but the train is already passing the signal ahead which has already turned back to red

Edited July 29, 2023 by Gordonwis

[Gordonwis]

[Gordonwis]

Here at Chambesy you can see signals without ground indicators, but where the point are on the right you can see the dwarf signals

[chb2488]

Hello Tony

 

That looks like a busy day! The rescue train is an LRZ 08, number 001 is a reserve unit. Geneva usually has an LRZ 18 (number 014 in your previous post).

 

Best regards

 

Christian

 

 

 

[chb2488]

13 hours ago, Gordonwis said:

Here's a shot (one of hundreds of course!)  I took on my Swiss trip this year which shows them well. A train is still passing the point indicator which is still therefore at 'clear' for the route set, but the train is already passing the signal ahead which has already turned back to red

 

A dwarf signal isn't a point indicator as such, other than showing that a shunting itinerary has been set up for you and therefore the points are set along your path. Dwarf signals retain their aspect for a few seconds after the end of a train has passed, while most train signals switch back to Stop after the front of a train has passed.

[chb2488]

This illustration here goes some way to show the function of dwarf signals:

 

https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zwergsignal#/media/Datei%3AZs-beispiel1.png

 

The shunting itinerary from 4 to 34 starts with „proceed“ (dwarf signal 17) , followed by „proceed with caution“ (dwarf signal 14) and stops before the closed dwarf signal 14.

[Re6/6]

Just found this thread. Lovely stuff Tony and Gordon.

[ruggedpeak]

Thanks Christian, great to get more info on the rescue train.

 

Better weather today so off to Nyon and then to La Cure via the narrow gauge NStCM, for a hike up Le Noirmont and return via La Givrine.

 

Nyon, ABe 4/8 sat in platform 21, my train was in 22.

 

 

An overcast La Cure, end of the line with the cloud coming in from the west this morning. Be 4/4 204 and another 4/4 along side the ABe 4/8.

 

 

A much brighter La Givrine. There is a rather good little farm fromagerie just up the hill from the station, with cheese made from their own cows. Bought some Givrine cheese on the way down to the station.

 

 

Edited July 30, 2023 by ruggedpeak

[ruggedpeak]

Going back a number of weeks here's a few random photos.

 

Whilst searching the Unimog at the fuel depot on Route de Vernier in Geneva I passed the ready mixed concrete depot, which is next door to the fuel depot. They have sidings which are accessed the same way as the fuel depot from the mainline at Vernier. The sidings end sitting on top of what is either offices or a store room. A few yards beyond that is Rte de Vernier so overshooting the buffer stop would be interesting.....there is also a disused siding that goes across Rte de Vernier as well. This image has some interesting modelling potential (03/06/2023).

 

 

At the bottom of Rte de Vernier is a major road junction and the Viaduc de l'Ecu, in Chatelaine. It is a good spot to see the mainline towards the airport and France. Straight line view is on the airport side, the nice curve with separating lines is on the Cornavin side (03/06/2023). The tunnel is the spur towards Viaduc de la Junction, Lancy-Pont-Rouge station and the freight yard at La Praille.

 

 

 

 

 

(if anyone knows how to stop RMWeb rotating portrait pics do let me know!)

 

 

Edited August 1, 2023 by ruggedpeak
update details

[Gordonwis]

For comparison, my pictures of NStCM in December 1985...

 

I have to say I thought the decision to put the Nyon terminus into a concrete bunker/dungeon was wrong. It is one on my list of the 'Swiss light railway conundrum' - by that I mean I can never really get the Swiss pysche that puts odd bits of 'light railway' out of the way to get them off the street, whilst at the same time having hundreds of kilometres of on-street city tram track

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And going back a bit further - La Givrine circa 1973:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pralies Telesiege halt on the same afternoon

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 1, 2023 by Gordonwis

[Gordonwis]

On 30/07/2023 at 14:23, chb2488 said:

 

A dwarf signal isn't a point indicator as such, 

 

By 'point indicator' I meant more 'an indicator situated adjacent to pointwork'. I just couldn't think of a better phrase at that moment

[Gordonwis]

Just to add to the mix - a bit of geography - aka an excuse for me to post this nice pic of a pair of 'Secheron' Ae4/7s crossing the Pont de la Jonction in 1990, when the line was freight only. It is now traversed by hundreds of passengers trains a day on the 'CEVA' route.

 

Also, it's a 'peg' to ask Tony if he is aware of the history of the other high bridge in Geneva - the Pont Butin?

 

 

.

Edited July 31, 2023 by Gordonwis

[ruggedpeak]

9 hours ago, Gordonwis said:

Just to add to the mix - a bit of geography - aka an excuse for me to post this nice pic of a pair of 'Secheron' Ae4/7s crossing the Pont de la Jonction in 1990, when the line was freight only. It is now traversed by hundreds of passengers trains a day on the 'CEVA' route.

 

Also, it's a 'peg' to ask Tony if he is aware of the history of the other high bridge in Geneva - the Pont Butin?

The Viaduc de la Jonction is a short walk from my flat, definitely worth a visit for anyone coming to Geneva as you get to walk alongside the railway and see where Rhone and Arve rivers meet, and there are woods, park and cafes on the south side of the bridge. For those with kids there is a pataugeoire (paddling pool) and playpark with a giant rubber duck and death slide just north of Viadic where the spur from the Airport/Lyon line comes out of its tunnel to join the CEVA line, so good spot to watch the trains whilst the kids play!

 

Not familiar with the detailed history of Pont Butin, but know that it has a wind tunnel installed in the unfinished rail tunnel. Somewhere I'd like to get into.

 

Happy Swiss National Day!

 

Edited August 1, 2023 by ruggedpeak

[ruggedpeak]

Went walkabout yesterday (31 July) during my lunch break.

North of Cornavin station at Montbrillant is the large depot complex that includes loco and carriage cleaning and maintenance, permanent way depot, rescue base and extensive carriage sidings. Parts of it are visible from the Avenue de France road/tram bridge over the railway. Late at night it is a good spot to watch the passenger trains and locos being serviced and moved around. Less busy in the day time but still things going on. Unfortunately the extensive OHL obscures a lot of the view. Here's some views from the road bridge towards Cornavin, from right to left as you look south.

 

Note the carriage wash shed on siding 515 and the Swiss Post siding at 517. Main running lines are to the left of the H11.

 

 

 

 

Close up of the loco/MU shed

 

 

Carriage wash shed, kept busy overnight, and the La Poste parcels depot.

 

 

Faciong north away from Cornavin is the lines up Lake Geneva and more sidings. Genève-Sécheron station is in the middle of mass of sidings and OHL!

 

 

A friendly wave from the driver of an unidentified SBB RABDe 500 (bottom left) as they came off the mainline at Genève-Sécheron to enter the depot. They gave a thumbs up when I waved back 😊 No tones though 😪

 

 

The 500 then disappeared into the carriage sidings behind the H13 sign.

 

 

Details of the more interesting bits of the depot to follow.....

Edited August 1, 2023 by ruggedpeak

[ruggedpeak]

There is a patio area in the office block to the west of Montbrillant depot that overlooks the carriage sidings. The Jet D'eau and Alps are in the background. Cornavin just off to the right. All photos taken 31/07/2023.

 

 

Looking north towards Avenue de France and Genève-Sécheron station.

 

 

In the above photo there are more sidings going off to the left with various features like the old turntable below.

 

 

TM 232 307 about to push a carriage through the shed.

 

 

 

Before anyone suggests I was trespassing the camera was pressed up against the security fence!!

 

 

SBB Fire Skodas....

 

 

And there is Saturday's saviour parked up, LRZ 08 number 001.

 

 

To the left of the Rescue train are various buildings and what appears to be new inspection pits being installed.

 

 

Ever wondered what goes into an inspection pit? A lot of vertical steels to hold up the rails by the look of it...

 

 

Continuing to the left is the PW stores and sidings. Very tidy and well kept...

 

 

 

In terms of location this map (from the free Swiss Topo website https://www.swisstopo.admin.ch and https://www.swisstopo.admin.ch/en/maps-data-online/maps-geodata-online/mapviewer.html ) shows Cornavin (marked as Genève) at the bottom and Genève-Sécheron at the top. The blue star is Avenue de France bridge that the photos in the previous post were taken from. The Montbrillant depot and yard is visible between the two stations, and the photos above of the turntable, PW depot etc are all in the area around the 396m spot height. Lake Geneva is on the right. All photos taken from publicly accessible areas.

 

 

(Copyright Swiss Federal Office of Topography)

Edited August 1, 2023 by ruggedpeak

[ruggedpeak]

Schaffhausen on Bank Holiday weekend 1st May 2023. Lots of rail works around the Swiss and German border. Most if not all services were starting and terminating at Schaffhausen rather than running through as normal. Possession in place for the weekend but not a rail worker to be seen.
 

Looking into Switzerland and towards Rheinfall

 

 

SBB Infrastructure Aem 940 026, diesel and electric loco in the possession for track work and platform extension.
 

 

 

All cross border services stopped here. DB 245 006 and train.

 

 

The indicator on platform 3 indicates Zurich but the approaching service terminated here. We were travelling onto Zurich but with the board saying Zurich lots of people got on only to have to get off again when a SBB train appeared. I think a few people nearly ended up in the carriage sidings. Was strangely reminiscent of rail diversions in the UK.........

[ruggedpeak]

A bus now. On the west side of Cornavin station is this bus. It appears it gets repainted periodically. It has a very interesting history, starting life in service in Scotland but has been in Geneva since at least 2006. Lots of history here http://www.old-bus-photos.co.uk/wp-content/themes/Old-Bus-Photos/galleries/geneva_2012/geneva_2012.php

Apparently it is a "Leyland Titan PD3/3C with an Alexander L35/32R body built in 1961 but here is the interesting bit the chassis were older Leyland Tigers".

 

Late afternoon on 3rd June 2023 showing the bus relative to Cornavin, with the 14 tram about to turn right and stop under Cornavin.

 

 

Better photos 31st July 2023

 

 

 

 

 

[ruggedpeak]

Details of the area around Vernier station on the La Plaine/Lyon line. The station has one of the Geneva freight branches behind it, which leads to the fuel depot and cement works referred to previously. It is also right next to Ikea, which has its own siding although I have yet to see any wagons there so assume it is disused. The construction merchant has a siding that is in use.

 

Looking towards La Plaine with temp speed restriction sign. SL5 Leman Express is La Plaine bound.

 

 

Construction  merchant siding

 

 

Ikea with points into construction merchant siding

 

 

Point lever

 

 

Looking towards Cornavin and the branch into the fuel depot and cement works, Ikea siding on the right.

 

 

 

[Re6/6]

As ever, brilliant stuff Tony. Thanks.

[ruggedpeak]

3 hours ago, Re6/6 said:

As ever, brilliant stuff Tony. Thanks.

Thanks John, appreciate the feedback. Glad the photos are of interest 😊.

[DGO]

On 30/07/2023 at 19:31, ruggedpeak said:

 

(if anyone knows how to stop RMWeb rotating portrait pics do let me know!)

 

 

It's almost certainly data stored in the image, most commonly found in pictures taken via mobile phone or tablet, edit it in a photo editing package and when you safe as a .jpg do not save the EXIF Data, it should then import correctly 

 

 

[ruggedpeak]

A contact on FB sent me a link to more info on the rescue train. The SBB page has PDF's (in French) with technical specs and drawings of the Windhoff vehicles.

 

 

https://company.sbb.ch/fr/entreprise/responsabilites/clients/les-cff-et-la-securite/intervention.html

[ruggedpeak]

Another SBB video. This is the wash plant at Montbrillant in the post above, interesting how they put an electric train through the wash! In French.

 

 

[ruggedpeak]

Been a busy few months with work and family, still been taking photos but not had time to post. Hopefully back in the saddle now, we went to Bern last weekend for a couple of days.

 

Bern is a beautiful city, definitely somewhere to go back to. Took the train to Bern from Geneva. The following day, 27/10/2023, we took the Chocolat Express to Maison Cailler, a big chocolate factory in Broc, in the Gruyere (as in cheese) region. As part of promoting this as a day out SBB and Cailler have collaborated to make one of SBB's RBDe 560 EMU's (560 235) a Cailler chocolate train inside and out. We took the Express from Bern to the factory at Broc Fabrique via Freibourg and Bulle, and then enjoyed the factory tour. Well worth it, and lots of chocolate to try.

 

We then did Les Gorges de la Jogne, a gorge walk just above the factory, which was beautiful. For more about the Chocolat Express including train times and other local attractions see www.chocolatexpress.ch - note that there is 50% of the combined travel and museum for the month of November 2023. The factory was rail served, but looked like the station had been rebuilt recently and the link to the factory tarmaced over very recently (the tarmac machine was still parked by the station!). An electric shunter and wagons are part of the exhibits at Cailler.

 

RBDe 560 235 waiting to change platforms at Bern for the 0909 departure:

 

 

Waiting to depart from Bulle

 

 

 

 

Detail of the exterior

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interior

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arrived at Broc Fabrique, sat alongside RBDe 560 238 in the rain...

 

 

Model railway in the Maison Cailler tour

 

 

 

 

On the way back to Geneva we changed at Rormont, a water wagon in a siding at the station

 

 

And as it is Switzerland and autumn a few shots from the Gorge. All this and a trip up the Funicular railway at Bern were done in 2 days and all by public transport. If anyone likes steak, there is an excellent steak house in Bern called 'The Beef'.

 

 

 

 

Normal trains to follow!!!