esngblog

Day 8

By Allan…..

Sitting here on a lovely sunny Sunday afternoon watching trains.  Sitting in platform one is the Gothard Panoramic Express. Or us old farts remember it as the William Tell train. You start your journey in Luzern on a paddle boat then you change at Fluelen to the train over the Gothard.

When the five coach train left today you could have got every one in one coach.  Todays paddle boat for the trip was Stadt Luzern, the flagship of the fleet. She will be withdrawn at the end of the year for major work. They hope to have her back in service in 2021.

Have included a photo of one of the paddle boats as I didn’t see Stadt Luzern today.

And by Ron…. (hope they agree where they’d been)

Another hot day.

Caught bus to Kussnacht only to see our connecting train to Arth Goldau standing in the platform. By the time we got onto the platform the train had left. We had to wait 30 minutes for next train and luckily on arrival we got an immediate connection on train through the Gotthard Base Tunnel to Bellinzona. We then returned over the old Gotthard route to Fluelen with a change at Erstfeld. We left Fluelen on boat back to Vitznau.

Fluelen

Bauen

Schiller Stone

Tribe

M&S Weggis leaving Beckenreid

Beckenreid

Day 7

Another hotel – moved from Lauterbrunnen to Vitznau by train via Interlaken to Luzern and then boat to Vitznau. Having put our cases in our room we caught bus to Brunnen. Returning an hour later by train to Kussnacht via Arth Goldau for bus back to hotel where we watched most of the second half of the England game in the bar.

Luzern

Brunnen

Female alpenhorn player. Hotel Terasse Vitznau. [Just what you need to brighten up your day? Ed.]

Sunset photos over Lake Lucerne.

Last boat of the day coming into Vitznau.

Our hotel in Vitznau.

Day 6

Good evening from a wet Lauterbrunnen. Our first wet day but we only got wet walking back from station to hotel.

Today we travelled via Interlaken, Bern and Fribourg to Neuchatel. Where we took the funicular and trolleybus into the centre for a return journey on their only train line which runs along the lakeside before heading inland. There were only 3 trams running on the whole route. We then took trolleybus back to station for direct train to Bern. Here Allan did some grieving [????? Ed. Must have been the day when Switzerland exited the World Cup] while Ron did some shopping in town. We then returned via Interlaken to hotel.

Neuchatel

Bern

Just walking by hotel. [Not sure what is going on here! Even zooming into the photo leaves me lost.  Greek Urn Formation Marchers???? Ed.  Please put your answers on a postcard and send them to any blog except this one…]

Back in the UK Simon got as far north as York without a visa….

Meanwhile, back in Earlswood, it was a boiling hot afternoon, and perhaps not ideal for playing trains.  However, we got a large circuit up and running, including Paul’s modules – then had a little rest.  Though no-one (except Phil) could face a curry afterwards.

High level bullets….

And Graham’s locomotive had a most realistic accident!

And in Switzerland…..

Day 5

Rather mixed today it has been overcast, rainy and hot and sunny.

Had a day travelling around today so not many photos today. Took train via Interlaken to Thun where we took a train through the Emmental to Solothurn. We then headed South to Lausanne where we took a round trip on the metro to Ouchy on the shore of Lake Geneva. The ships were like London Buses none for ages and then 3 came in within 5 minutes. We returned from Lausanne changing at Bern, Spiez and Interlaken.

Views of the Emmental taken through train windows.

Ouchy on Lake Geneva.

A wet evening in Lauterbrunnen.

Day 4

Left hotel this morning in heavy drizzle but within a few hours it turned into another hot day. We travelled by train via Interlaken to Meiringen. From there we took postbus over the Grimsel Pass, where we had a 30 minute break, to Oberwald. We then returned by train to Brig for train over original Lotschberg route to Spied and then back to hotel via Interlaken.

ZB train at Meiringen

Meiringen Postbus station

Grimsel Pass

Oberwald station

Glacier Express at Brig Bahnhofplatz

Who said Swiss trains always run on time

These new platform displays are very good as they change between the two displays at a very slow & readable speed.

Allan’s views on, and photos of, the Swiss Vapour Parc….

Had a trip over to Swiss Vapour Parc (This is the correct spelling Jon), which is at La Bouveret on Lake Geneva.
Turned out to be a hot sunny day. A great place to take kids of any age (3-80+).

It’s set in 18,000 m2 of park with over 1.5km of track. There were a number of trains going round on about 3 different routes. One was a rack fitted machine that went over a hill with rack track. There are a number of different bridges that the trains go over, as well as a section of double track. (The second track is the return track). Great fun seeing a train passing you as you go round.

There is a lager restaurant, a Crêperie and snack bar where you can sit and watch trains go by. So make sure you take a ride so you can spot the best place to take photos later. This has got to be one of the best miniature railway I have been to.

As we were leaving we spotted a lake paddle boat heading into the pier. So we headed that way, past a lovey war memorial to a Lancaster that crashed in the hill behind. No one survived and they are buried in the war grave cemetery in Lausanne.

What a end to a lovely day – a trip on a paddle boat M/S Italie. (Sorry no photo. But here is one of sister boat S/S Simplon.)

Wasn’t it Thomas the TT who called snow, “Silly soft stuff”.  But this is what it can do to your track…..

On return to Breinze saw this on the station. Hope you can read the words on the poster about this incident.

The next instalment – Day 3….

Following last night’s thunderstorms it was slightly colder this morning. Today we went to Swiss Vapour Park in Le Bouveret on the south east corner of Lake Geneva. We travelled out by train changing at Interlaken, Spied and Visp. On leaving the park we heard a ship’s whistle and saw a paddle steamer approach. We rushed to the pier to get abroad. We sailed across the lake to Montreux and came up by train changing at Zweisimmen, Spied and Interlaken. Writing this have heard a couple of rolls of thunder.

MOB train for Zermattbin Visp Station.

MOB train in Martigny Station

Le Bouveret harbour

Swiss Vapour Park.  We rode round behind the black and white engine in the photos. As you can imagine we had problems getting in and out of the carriages.  (Ed: Says Ron – Allan denied this on the phone!)

Meanwhile, at Thursday’s ESNG meeting we had just the six members.  But we got some trains running, and sat and talked and watched them go by.  A pleasant time was had by all.

A little more from Allan on their trip on the BRB (edited with Allan’s photos and added text that got lost first time around)….

Was just another day on the Breinze Rothorn Bahn.

On Monday had a wonderful trip up the Rothorn with locomotive No.12 doing all the work. We arrived and bought our ticket. We were greeted by the sight of two steam locomotives Nos 2 & 12. Was lucky enough to get on No 12’s train. This is the first time for quite a few years that we have had the pleasure of this locomotive.

We first met her on the day she was named and launched by the BRB some years ago. I was lucky to turn up on that day. Publicity for it was all over the Interlaken area, but I don’t think they were aware of how many people would turn up. One of the few times the Swiss didn’t get it right. Too many people, not enough trains and poor to no catering. It was all right if you were an envied guest.

Great trip up the Rothorn and even found their tree that they hang up all the lost baby dummys etc. After a break for a beer in a packed restaurant, we made our way back to the trains and again got on No.12’s train. We were talking with a couple about the loco on the trip up. By luck this was also our loco for the trip down….

It started as a normal run. On the way down we stopped and took water at the first passing loop with the help from the guard and the driver of an up train. This was unusual. After the up train passed, our train set off with locomotive No.12 and her train following. Also, one of their diesel locomotive and a waggon brought up the rear. Thought something was not right….

Just before the main passing and water stop (for the way up) we came to a stop. After a few minutes, we continued our descent after the three down trains had got into the loop. (Loco No 2 with its coach and diesel No. 8 with one waggon). Just before the main passing and water stop (for up trains) Planalp, we stopped and the driver got out and started to look inside the frame of the locomotive. By now the following two trains had stopped behind us. After a while we set off again. On reaching Planalp we entered the loop and stopped just into the loop. The following two trains went in the up road. The steamer took water as usual. It seemed that PW personal were turning up out of nowhere. We were asked by the Guard if we would like to get out but as there was very little shade we stayed in the coach. Sometime later we were asked to leave the coach as she said the loco is Kaput!!! Was told that they would be sending another locomotive up to take us down.

While this was going on the other steam loco had taken water and carried on down. The diesel and it’s one wagon had gone through the station and come back in to the loop in front our train. An up train came in and took water and carried on up. We were then entertained by the staff as they swapped over the locomotives.

As we sat at the station watching the going-ons, with everyone using their phone at times. Another up train came through the station. The guard bless her keep us well informed and kept apologizing. She said they were going to put the diesel on to the carriages so we could get back to Breinze.

We then set off nearly an hour later to finish the trip down to Breinze.

Another fun day on the BREINZE ROTHORN BAHN.

Well, the Bartlett’s have done Berlin, so it’s time for Allan and Ron to head for the hills of Switzerland.  You can almost set your watch by them.  So, I’ll ease back into the blog with their holiday reports. We may even get some train photographs if we are lucky….

Day 1

Flew out today.  We landed 2 hours late at Basle due to technical problems before onward flight to Gatwick and then problem agreeing baggage with customers.  We therefore arrived in Lauterbrunnen at 8pm local time.  SBB app told us next train was at 1750 but we caught one at 1720 changing at Spiez for Interlaken.  Attached are photos taken from our hotel balcony.

Day 2

A hot and eventful day. Set off this morning for Interlaken Ost and took first boat to Brienz for trip on Brienz Rothorn Bahn. Journey up went well but on way down our steam loco stopped halfway for a while and then stopped at Planalp and let train following us and a diesel hauled works train to pass us. We were told to leave the train as the loco had failed. The diesel pushed its wagon in front of us whilst our steamer pushed the empty carriages up out of the passing loop and then eased back towards the wagon. The diesel then ran round to collect our carriages and bring them back into station to pick us up and take us down to Brienz.

We then took train back to Interlaken for connection back to Lauterbrunnen. Now sitting on our balcony listening to rumbles of thunder. Expecting lightning and rain to follow soon.

D’S Lotschberg moored at Interlaken Ost

Giesbach Falls

Train arriving into Lauterbrunnen

Niederreid

Iseltwald

Steam loco at Rothorn

Broken down train at Planalp

View from Rothorn

View over Brienzersee

Sign in carriage. Excuse Allan’s knee. (Just this once…..)