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

[Mol_PMB]

1 hour ago, chb2488 said:

@Mol_PMB: The few pictures on flickr look brilliant! Any chance that you present your models in a thread?

Best regards

Christian

 

Thanks Christian!

 

The Broc branch model in 0m is a big project I started about 15 years ago, it was probably too ambitious, and I have never finished it. But maybe one day!

It still exists in a part-completed form, perhaps 80% of the baseboards are built, and one small area around Les Marches has most of the scenery and the track, points and overhead are installed and probably still working. It is built in my garage which is about 10m long, 2.6m wide, and the model was intended to represent the entire branch from Bulle to Broc-Fabrique, but with some simplifications at both ends to fit in the space available. There is also a fiddle yard representing the line to Gruyere and Montbovon. The fiddle yard is at the lowest level, climbing up to Bulle. Changing direction back towards Broc, the line climbs steadily along the full length of the building, passing over the fiddle yard. It then loops round the end and keeps climbing through Les Marches and then bridges over the central operating walkway on the big viaduct. Still climbing it enters Broc-Village which is the highest point, and on the model is directly above La Tour-de-Treme. Then it curves round the end of the building on a descending gradient to Broc-Fabrique which is directly above Bulle. I need to try and find and post my detailed plan for this to make sense!

 

I also have a reasonable amount of rolling stock, both GFM and MOB, though again there are many unfinished projects. Some is scratchbuilt, some converted from plastic models by Alpinline or Kiss, and there are also some expensive brass models acquired secondhand (e.g. Fulgurex MOB locos and coaches).

The date is loosely set in the 1980s with standard-gauge freight on rollwagons rather than rollbocks, vacuum brakes, and a mix of green and orange/silver liveries on the GFM stock.

 

Scratchbuilt GFM 111 with a few wagons is typical of the normal trains on the branch, though Fulgurex MOB 2002 has been known to make an appearance with special trains from Montreux. Here's a long-exposure shot of 111 at night showing the interior:

 

I could do a thread to describe the layout and stock as it is. I'm not promising to re-start work on it though as I have plenty of other projects on the go. Would people be interested in a thread like that?

Mol

 

 

[ruggedpeak]

7 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said:

I could do a thread to describe the layout and stock as it is. I'm not promising to re-start work on it though as I have plenty of other projects on the go. Would people be interested in a thread like that?

Mol

It's a big yes from me!

[MOB 2002]

A massive yes please from me too! 
 

Always keen to see Swiss narrow gauge modelling of a non-RhB subject, as much as I love the RhB. 

 

Mark

[Mol_PMB]

OK, will do! Give me a week or two before I start though, as it'll take me a while to find the plans etc.

In the meantime I look forward to hearing more of the present-day developments in the region on this thread.

Cheers,

Mol

[Mol_PMB]

Just to give you a flavour, I've taken some quick and dreadful snaps, warts and all. As you can see it has become a dumping ground for empty cardboard boxes and bags...

 

Looking from the middle of the room, Les Marches on the right and the Sarine viaduct would/will cross right in front of the camera. Fiddle yard very bottom left, Epagny middle left.

 

Looking from the end seen above, back along the room. Les Marches on the left and the viaduct would cross the middle of this view. Personnel access door on the left, the idea is that everything can be operated from the main part and you would only need to duck under the viaduct to access this end if something gets stuck.

Broc-Village top right, La Tour-de-Treme middle right. The toolbox, table and radiator are where Bulle would be at the lower level, with Broc-Fabrique at the upper level. I never got as far as building that section, though I have the wood in stock for it.

 

Looking from the Bulle and Broc-Fabrique end (not built) along the full length of the room. Sorry about the mess! Broc-village top left, La Tour-de-Treme below.

 

Some toys, including @MOB 2002 's namesake. The expensive brass manufacturers made the famous trains but none of the normal day-to-day ones (same story these days!) but it was all a long time ago and they're hard to find now, it's a case of grab it when you see it (if you can afford it!). A few RhB accidents that I really ought to sell on. As you can see there's really an excess of MOB stock too (some of it Alpinline plastic), but at least they did run through to Bulle and Broc from time to time. The bottom shelf is more normal stock for the branch in my period, but also needs a load of rollwagons. I had plans to do a GFM 13x railcar and a GFM 15x EMU too.

 

The two short rollwagons I've modelled so far are on the top shelf, with appropriate loads. The panorama cars were planned for a repaint into MOB colours to go with the bar car in the photo above. More rollwagons are needed to give all the standard gauge vans somewhere to sit; they are all types which actually ran to Broc.

 

One of a batch of 4 of the GFM's large rollwagons, which I started scratchbuilding. These will each take a long-wheelbase 4-wheel van, but the bogie van needs a pair of rollwagons!

 

It's possible that in a few years time I'll get back to this, I started about 15 years ago but it's been dormant for about 8 years now. I had about 5 years of doing no modelling at all, and then restarted with more modest ambitions in UK industrial O gauge.

 

Mol

[ruggedpeak]

Fab to have all that space even if needs a bit of tidying! I'm modelling on Ikea Mosslanda shelves at the moment!

 

 

[ruggedpeak]

Took a trip to the big Hornbach DIY store at Etoy on 26.01.2024, followed by an explore on the MBC from Morges for possible Jura hiking start points. The MBC (formerly BAM) is a metre gauge from Morges in Vaud. A brief history is here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bière–Apples–Morges_railway

 

The line starts in the standard gauge station at Morges, on Platform 5. Between it and the main road are mixed gauge sidings and a gauge transfer ramp. Standard gauge freight wagonss are put onto metre gauge 'trucks' and taken up the MBC. When I was there loaded spoil wagons left, heading towards Apples. Several hours later they were back at Morges to be taken off their trucks and returned to the standard gauge. There were 3 or 4 sets of spoil wagons. Apparently a cement works and army base are supplied the same way, with military vehicles being taken along the line.

 

The gauge transfer is a mechanical process using a ramp, standard gauge wagons are shunted up a ramp, inside the ramp is metre gauge track with the trucks on. There is a mechanism on the trucks that allows the standard gauge bogies to drop into place. Similarly they lift off the trucks as they climb the ramp, and I was able to film this process. The MBC locos push most of the wagons along the ramp and then stops short, before hitting the ramp! The standard gauge MBC shunter then hooks on and drags them so they are entirely off the trucks. It is a noisy but effective process! You can watch it from the platform. The action is mainly as the bogie rises up the ramp, you can see the wheels life out the bogie.

 

 

As the bogie rises up the ramp you can see where it departs from the truck, and the truck stops moving, there is a trip cock or similar on the truck that then gets caught by the trailing/second wheel of the bogie and knocks the truck along. I would guess the locos are attached to the wagons and not the trucks at this point.

Spoil train waiting to depart up the single line as the service from Biere arrives at Morges

 

 

MBC Ge 4/4 numbers 21 La Morges and 22 La Venoge provide the traction:

 

 

 

Detail of the trucks:

 

 

 

 

 

The shed for the trucks - there are far too many trucks, they need a bigger shed!

 

 

Detail of the ramp, metre gauge at ground level coming in from left:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Impressive to watch as a normal part of freight operations.

Edited January 30 by ruggedpeak

[ruggedpeak]

A spoil train for the MBC was brought in by Re 421 387, here seen following its consist which has been taken into the exchange sidings by a shunter.

 

 

 

on its way to the sidings to collect empty spoil wagons for the return trip, if you look closely at the green hopper wagons just beyond the end of platform 5 you can see the standard gauge track overlaps with the metre gauge. The hoppers are standard gauge. Just a yellow bar on the track prevents overrun.

 

 

Close up:

 

Edited January 30 by ruggedpeak

[ruggedpeak]

Taking the MBC up to L'Isle means travelling through a very different landscape to that of the Nyon to La Cure line, here it is flattish plateau above the lake before the Jura rise out of it. To get to L'Isle, a pretty village with a chateau in the centre and waterfalls and a spring at the edge of the village, you have to change at Apples. The connecting service was a 2 car EMU, comprising a current generation Stadler driving unit at one end and an older but modernised Bt driving car at the other. This is quite common on the MBC and the units are compatible and sometimes run in a 3 car configuation with a Stadler centre car as well.

 

Seen at L'Isle on 26/01/2024:

 

 

 

 

 

The village pond by the station:

 

 

The Laiterie still operates, and the station is immediately behind it:

 

Edited January 30 by ruggedpeak

[ruggedpeak]

After the MBC trip, today was an hour long TPG bus trip from Cornavin over the border to Gex in France for the Exposition-Vente Lego Gex 2024. This is one of two locations that the 'Les Briques du Leman' run their events, the other being Evian-les-bains - https://www.lesbriquesduleman.fr/fr/

 

One of the Lego train layouts had an excellent selection of SBB trains running, including a 460 with a cattle train (!), push pull set and PW train. I'm always impressed with what the Lego fraternity can do, here's some photos and videos. The SBB trains were modelled by LE LUG.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They take Lego pretty seriously in this part of the world.

 

I was in Evian a few days after their event there in September 2023, and on at least 2 of the roundabouts in the town were 2 giant Lego figures. I haven't reported on that trip, from Geneva to Bellegarde then on the French side up to Evian-les-bains, as it was mostly French but Evian is an interesting station. Will do a post on it in due course as SBB operate there.

Edited February 10 by ruggedpeak
update

[ruggedpeak]

It occurred to me that many of my photos and excursions around Swiss railways are the more mundane, day to day aspects, whereas popular perception is probably of the mountains and snow and stunning scenery. I recently travelled the Golden Pass route from Montreux to Lucerne, which was stunning if very short of snow, and will post pics once I have resovled the rotating picture issue! [now done - see below]

 

I recently discovered a footpath right next to the Geneva-Lausanne mainline just south of Rolle, probably a bit too close for good photography especially with low sun but it is right by the track. Yesterday (07/03/2024) 234 435 Bautracktor was running backwards moving a Kirow crane, running towards Geneva.

 

 

 

Shortly after Re 420 283 hauls a mixed and heavily graffitied freight service towards Rolle from Geneva. A real mixed bag of wagons, including ballast cleaners (?), track panel carriers, skip wagons and the usual covered wagons:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile at Nyon there is an array of PW equipment and shunters and freight locos that have been operating for several weeks there. Here Re 460 081 departs Nyon northbound as a sister loco arrives pushing a Geneva airport service:

 

 

Edited March 8 by ruggedpeak

[ruggedpeak]

I have noticed interesting loco hauled passenger service consists with the Re 460's, not sure if this is normal. There appear to be some services originating at Geneva airport which have 2 loco hauled sets (with loco) joined together, to presume split further up the line. However I grabbed some shots of this combo with the 460 and double decker set also have a single decker DVT passenger control car on the front at Cornavin 05/03/2024.

 

 

Back at Rolle on 28/02/2024 Re 420 387 heads north with a short freight:

 

 

 

 

Edited March 9 by ruggedpeak
update

[Mol_PMB]

Thanks for the nice photos and it's good to see the current developments in the area.

 

Do you know which of the narrow-gauge railways still carry freight on rollbocken? I think you have already featured the MBC with gravel and military trains. Do they run daily or just occasionally?

 

Is there still any seasonal sugar beet traffic on the narrow gauge?

Have you ventured as far as the Yverdon-Ste_Croix? Last time I went there (over 10 years ago) there was timber traffic on rollbocken.

 

Any news would be welcome, I'm thinking about a visit and would like to see some rollbocken freight on the narrow gauge where it still exists.

 

Cheers,

Mol

[ruggedpeak]

9 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

Thanks for the nice photos and it's good to see the current developments in the area.

 

Do you know which of the narrow-gauge railways still carry freight on rollbocken? I think you have already featured the MBC with gravel and military trains. Do they run daily or just occasionally?

 

Is there still any seasonal sugar beet traffic on the narrow gauge?

Have you ventured as far as the Yverdon-Ste_Croix? Last time I went there (over 10 years ago) there was timber traffic on rollbocken.

 

Any news would be welcome, I'm thinking about a visit and would like to see some rollbocken freight on the narrow gauge where it still exists.

 

Cheers,

Mol

Hi Mol

 

I wish I could answer your questions, I still have a lot to learn about how Swiss trains operate and so far it appears finding information is not as easy as the UK. My trips are sporadic and fitted around work, family and other commitments so a bit ad hoc.

 

I think it is safe to say that at Morges the MBC is pretty busy. However whether it is every day I can't say, but the sheer number of rollbocken sets at Morges suggest it is regular. I am piecing together movements, so the MBC train above with 11387 and the green hoppers (note Jouet Bollet in Geneva have a double pack of them in HO in their window if anyone wants some!) appears to originate in the factory sidings at Gland and then I assume gets taken up the MBC. Hope to get to Gland to find out more.

 

Responses on FB suggest military trains still operate but I would assume they are rare for moving large amounts of armoured vehicles etc. As an aside whilst wandering through Rolle I saw several  learner drivers in 6 wheel APC's which I think were MOWAG Piranhas - they had special glass boxes on the top of the turret for the instructor to keep an eye on things. When you are at a zebra crossing outside the supermarket and one of those coming down the hill from the station with L plates on, it gives crossing the road an extra degree of excitement!!

 

So far my conclusion is that I need to spend a day somewhere on the mainline between Geneva and Morges and observe as there is loads going on. I am going to a local model railway club tomorrow so I will see if I can find out more on how to get more info.

 

Best.

 

Tony

[ruggedpeak]

Half term was a couple of weeks ago, and the Coop supermarket here periodically do a special offer on SBB Day Passes, CHF49 for a day pass with unlimited use of SBB services and buses, plus reductions on non-SBB services, cable cars etc. If you already have a SwissPass/Half Pass then you need to be careful to get your money's worth and travel a long way to make it worthwhile.

 

We planned a 2 day trip at the end of half term week. Whilst my preference for a 20 hour day of train rides was not shared by the others (!) we agreed to go to Montreux and get the Golden Pass all the way to Lucerne. What is not advertised IIRC by Coop but included with the day pass is an offer to upgrade to First Class for CHF20. That makes it a bargain, especially as the 2nd class Panorama car was booked out on the Golden Pass, thus making the upgrade to First Class a no-brainer!

 

Trip to Montreux was the usual Lake Leman trip up the mainline. Once the MOB left Montreux it was an incredibly steep and winding climb up the mountainside. So almost immediately stunning veiws of Lake Leman and the Rhone valley:

 

 

Not bad for a start! First leg was to Zweisimmen, pausing at Montbovon.

 

Note the stacking of rails by the track:

 

 

 

At Montbovon:

 

 

Rear DVT

 

 

 

In the vicinity of Gstaad, lots of well dressed rich types but not much snow! Most pistes were only operating due to snow cannon.

 

 

Passing the opposing service at Chateau D-Oex:

 

 

In true Swiss rail efficiency style, we had 4 minutes to change trains at Zweisimmen for the next service to Spiez, so hardly any time for photos. This is on the run into Zweisimmen, note the Beilhack style snowplough:

 

 

Taken through the coach window as I was getting off the train, spot the well camouflaged loco......

 

 

The GP route has plenty of variety in locos and rolling stock, this was on the other side:

 

 

More time at Speiz, the view from the front of the station:

 

 

Some tasty motive power sitting around at Speiz:

 

 

 

 

 

Then onto Interlaken. I'd recommend getting off at Interlaken West and walking to Interlaken Ost if you have time and the weather is good. Just by the river at West is a lovely bakery where you can sit outside under blankets for lunch, then follow the river to Ost. You have a choice then of following the railway line, the river, or walking into the centre of Interlaken. Here's a service departing West for Ost. In the foreground is a group having fondue on an inflatable raft......

 

 

Immediately to the left the river path meets the railway and is a good photo stop. This is the rear of the same train with Re 460 010 pushing in its 'Swisstainable' livery https://company.sbb.ch/en/the-company/responsibility-society-environment/sustainability/swisstainable.html Focus is a bit off as I was playing with the settings on the camera due to the low winter sun and juggling lenses! Go left and follow the railway here or carry straight under the railway to follow the river.

 

 

Golden Pass Express DVT (don't know what the Swiss call them..) approaches Ost from West, pushed by BLS 460 012

 

 

 

Then it was onto Lucerne, which is stunning. Weather turned a bit after leaving Interlaken but still a great trip:

 

 

The train goes past lots of interesting scenery and the famous Meiringen airbase, where F18's live in caverns inside the mountain, and the runway has public roads across it that they have to close for takeoff and landing. At Meiringen the train reverses to take the line to Lucerne, which is partially rack and pinion so a rack and pinion equipped EMU was attached to the front, and there is a very steep climb as soon as we left Meiringen. ZB HGe 4/4 101 966 at Meiringen.

 

 

Lucerne has a huge station, a huge transport museum and much more. At one of the small hydro plants on the river there is a short railway....

 

 

 

We spent the following day exploring Lucerne and the Transport Museum then a direct train back to Geneva.

Edited March 8 by ruggedpeak

[ruggedpeak]

Can't resist a graffiti'd wagon, assume this is a cripple, sat in a siding at Nyon today. Nice work on the vegetation!!

 

 

 

 

[ruggedpeak]

Going far off piste with some actual models now 😲, myself and my daughter took the opportunity to visit one of Geneva's model railway clubs this morning.

 

CEDEG are based in Petit Lancy and have coffee and croissant mornings, so we popped over. A friendly club, the Club Secretary provided a tour and information on the club in English due to my less than satisfactory French. They have a large layout that has HO analogue and DCC, HOm and Marklin circuits. The current layout is being retired and a brand new layout is being custom built and installed later in the year, funded by the proceeds of a bequest of a deceased member. The club room is in a basement and has the layout, a bar, library and numerous exhibits. They also do train trips in Switzerland and Europe and site visits, with a private depot visit planned for later in the year.

 

Their new website is being upgraded but can be found at http://www.cefeg.ch/, and they are on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CeFeGCH

 

Coffee and croissant mornings on a Saturday are regular throughout the year and they meet on a Wednesday evening as well https://www.cefeg.ch/evenements/. I am seriously considering joining, work permitting. If anyone is around or visiting Geneva I'd definitely recommend a visit, drop them an email first as finding the club room is not easy and you will need the door code!

 

 

 

 

 

Open house on 21st April 2024:

 

 

 

 

Edited March 9 by ruggedpeak
typo

[ruggedpeak]

A petition has been started for a direct London to Geneva train service, I've signed as it would be good idea, even if flights from Geneva are quick and cheap!

 

https://chng.it/b7vQvkR65n

 

[Mol_PMB]

6 minutes ago, ruggedpeak said:

A petition has been started for a direct London to Geneva train service, I've signed as it would be good idea, even if flights from Geneva are quick and cheap!

 

https://chng.it/b7vQvkR65n

 

Interestingly, the petition implies that there is already a plan for a direct London-Basel train service.

[ruggedpeak]

A Member of the National Council in Switzerland made a formal proposal for a London Basel train last year and SBB are looking at it, but it is the same issue that SBB need agreement from all the other rail companies etc.

 

https://www.iamexpat.ch/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/sbb-planning-new-direct-train-switzerland-london

 

[MOB 2002]

I’m not even sure it needs to be direct, just avoid the complications of a cross Paris connection. A simple cross platform change somewhere and I’d be sold.
 

Given that year-round Newcastle - Geneva flights are no longer a thing, it’s only the time lost and aggro involved in the current connections that tips the balance towards flying for me now.

 

Mark

[Mol_PMB]

Any rail service will struggle to compete with the flights at current prices though. Living in Manchester, we have regular direct flights to Geneva at much less than the cost of a train ticket from Manchester to London!

[MOB 2002]

1 minute ago, Mol_PMB said:

Any rail service will struggle to compete with the flights at current prices though. Living in Manchester, we have regular direct flights to Geneva at much less than the cost of a train ticket from Manchester to London!

The actual ticket is only one element though … I paid more for parking at the airport than I did the return flights last year, then there’s the time penalty of insane check in requirements and in most cases exorbitant additional costs if you want to take a decent sized bag - it all adds up.

 

Mark

[pb_devon]

This subject was discussed on the Swiss Railways groups.io forum in January.

Essential reading is this in-depth analysis https://jonworth.eu/the-future-of-long-distance-train-services-through-the-channel-tunnel/

In summary…it’s wishful thinking!!

[ruggedpeak]

Not wishing to get into politics or take my own thread off topic, but the Swiss are looking to restart negotiations with the EU after they were abandoned in 2019. One of the issues on the table is the Swiss maintaining full control of what runs over their rail network.

 

On flights, during ski season they can be very cheap. I just had a long weekend back in the UK using Jet2 from Gva to Stansted and back for CHF 61 all in. Prices were discounted slightly, presumably due to the lack of snow.

 

Back to Swiss trains and I'm using up my Coop discounted SBB day passes over the weekend, taking the scenic route to Chur then touring the RhB. Unlimited first class travel CHF 69 per day. Main issue is avalanche risk due to sudden rise in temperatures!