Allan chips in on the Stoos trip….
Here are some extra photos from yesterday trip to Stoos. The cabins stay horizontal as you go up the track which is said to be a gradient of 110%.
One photo is taken looking under the next cabin.
Don’t think I’d want to do this one immediately after lunch! It looks more like a ski jump than a railway…
Day 9
Another very hot day. Set off by bus to Rotkreuz changing at Kussnacht. We then took train to Zurich and following a couple of train journeys we took a boat down Lake Zurich to Rapperswil for train back to Kussnacht.
Drama on the journey back. We saw a man lying on his back by a level crossing and then the train came to a stop. The driver and guard walked down the outside of the train before extracting a mangled bike from under the train. The train then continued on its way. We were late into Kussnacht and were pleased to seen our connecting bus waiting for us.
Zurich
Kussnacht on Lake Zurich
Rapperswil
Day 10
Still no rain but overcast today and breezy on Lake Lucerne.
First thing today we headed by bus via Schwyz to the recently reopened Stoosbahn, which is the steepest funicular in the world. It was an experience! Shortly after leaving the valley station it is like going up a wall in an outside lift. After visiting Stoos we descended and caught a bus to Schwyz Bahnhof for trains to Luzern charging at Arth Goldau. In Luzern Allan settled down to do some grieving [not more grieving? Ed.] whilst Ron went into town to walk round. We returned to Vitznau by boat. Now have to repack our cases for transfer tomorrow to Filisur.
Stoosbahn
Stoos
More pictures of the Stoosbahn next time, from Allan.
Luzern
Our AGM was last night, and 10 hardy souls came along to enjoy the highlight(?) of the year. At least we don’t charge subs for this meeting!
Still, it was a useful and laid back time. The committee got elected back again, despite attempts to promote Graham as Chairman. Perhaps he needs to improve his tea making ability to really qualify for the post? I keep threatening to resign as exhibition manager, but the only way out seems to be a large loss at a show!
A few useful discussions (between the backchat) did occur. I think that we now have the general structure for the Open Day in October, and I need to get some publicity out fast. Stuttgart and next years NGSE show seem to be moderately under control. It was suggested that we invest in some modelling tools such as a static grass applicator, to be shared between members. We’ll look at this one, and work out how to manage the loan system, so things don’t go walkies. It’s usually not deliberate, but us aging modellers have terrible memories….
So onward (but not necessarily upward) into another year…..
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.
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