Thursday 9 October - Sugar beet and lunch at Baulmes

A train of three sugar beet wagons arrives at Yverdon les Bains

 On the way through Yverdon les Bains yesterday we noticed three standard gauge open cars on narrow gauge skates. The Yverdon to Ste, Croix railway was obviously moving sugar beet so we returned early to Yverdon this morning. Shortly after we arrived a train of three open cars on skates arrived behind one of the older passenger motors. The small wheels made quite a noise as it entered the yard. The crew set to work and we were able to see the complete transfer between gauges from the safety of the SBB platform and right close up. The operation was carried out on the track next to the platform and we weren't trespassing.
First, the crew uncoupled the air brake hoses between each skate and released the brakes. The motor then pushed the train so that the open cars ran up a standard gauge ramp while the skids were pushed underneath at ground level. The motor was replaced by the "crocodile" and an SBB diesel arrived with three empties. The SBB removed the loads and pushed the empties in over the train of skids. When each wheel dropped down the ramp it engaged a skid and released it to roll forward.  The following skid was held back until the next wheel dropped on to it when it, too was released by the action of the wheel. The crocodile then pulled the train of empties back and propelled it on to the motor which was coupled with a bar coupling. The air brake hoses were then attached and the empties left, after a brake test, about half an hour after arriving.

The loads are removed.

A skid, there is one for each standard gauge wheel set

The empties are pushed over the train of skids

Two skids support adjacent wheels and the air hoses have been coupled up.

The empties are being readied for departure with the motor on the far end and the crocodile at this end.  The crew are coupling the air brake hoses

To see pictures of the Yverdon Ste. Croix railway including the transfer click here
We then rode the next service train to Ste. Croix and passed the motor in a siding where it had picked up three loads and the three empties were being loaded. The climb up to Ste. Croix is spectacular with  views over lake Neuchatel.  The final part is through a steep sided valley.  We returned to Baulmes. Last time we were here we had regretted not having lunch at the hotel. This time we went straight to the hotel bar and asked if we could come back for dejeuner. The answer was yes but it was civet de chevreuil which was fine by us. This gave us about 20 minutes to look around the village which has an enormous hotel de ville and a large number of horse troughs all dating to about 1869. We were inspected by a large number of cats.

Baulmes with an enormous hotel de ville behind

Back at the restaurant there was a group of 13 retirees who meet here every other Thursday. They were having the same as us. The meal was great and we had half a bottle of the wine from this area which the proprietor proudly displayed for us. Everybody had a good time. The lady of the house came out to ask if we had enjoyed it and wondered if we wanted seconds! We were sorry to leave but we had a train to catch. We had been in Baulmes for just an hour.

Civet de chevreuil

Lunchtime crowd

The Hotel du Jura

Out third objective today was to ride the Fribourg funicular which was closed when we were here last. We took the train to Fribourg and quickly found the funicular. It is powered by filtered waste water. The tank in the top car is filled and this hauls the lower car up. It us the only funicular of this type. The speed is controlled by the Riggenbach rack.
To see all pictures of the Fribourg Funicular click here

 

Fribourg

We had a pleasant walk around the lower area, caught the funicular back and took a Fribourgois train to Ins where we took the Aare Seeland mobile train through very pleasant arable country with woods and lakes to Biel/Bienne. A tilting train brought us back to Neuchatel past the two lakes with a wonderful backdrop of mountains.
Rabbit and hare for supper.

The view of the mountains from my hotel room

Wednesday 8 October - Biere, Apples and St. Cergue

It was just finishing raining as we took the tilting train to Lausanne and a local train to Morges.
The narrow gauge line to Biere has nicely painted trains and stations. There is a feeling of prosperity about the line. The countryside is very rich agriculturally with sugar beet, vineyards, market gardening, sunflowers, corn and greenhouses. 

Biere

Apples

One of two freight locomotives on the line - at Biere

 The ride was pleasant rising gently to Biere. This is a small community but the railway serves s local army camp and firing could be heard on the range. The two locomotives on the line, similar to Rhaetian Railway were at Biere.
We took the next train back to Apples where there is a junction to L'Isle Mont La Ville. The branch train makes connections with trains to Biere and Morges.

Train to L'Isle at Apples - painted in the old colors still

L'Isle

L'Isle is a pleasant little place with a big laiterie and a river with plenty of ducks.
We returned to Apples and made the connection back to Morges. It was lunchtime and the train was full of kids making lots of noise.
At several places sugar beet was piled up at line side. There was a notice indicating that certain sections of the line would be closed next week for the sugar beet harvest. Replacement buses would be run.

Near Apples

Click here to see all pictures taken on the Biere Apples Morges Bahn

At Morges we watched the narrow gauge switcher negotiate a train of skids and then caught the train to Nyon.
The narrow gauge to St. Cergue and La Cure starts from an underground terminus close to the SBB. It has a different character to the Biere Apples line, other than it also carries a lot of noisy school kids. The country is mixed arable and pastoral but there is not the varied crops nor the vineyards. It climbs through woodland and terminates close to the border with France. There were wonderful views over Lac Leman and the mountains behind as we climbed higher and higher into the hills. At one time the line continued into France but this part was closed many years ago. Most of the kids were going to St. Cergue and there was a lady with them whom we thought was a teacher as she obviously knew them and was helping them with their homework. Turns out she was doing a survey of passengers and their tickets for the railway. She had been doing this since April. The kids must have been delighted with this assistance.

La Cure

A narrow gauge locomotive is bouncing along the transporter skips at Nyon

Transporter skids at Nyon

We came back to Lausanne for some train watching and a beer.
This evening we had a meal in the old part of Neuchatel. It is a great pedestrian area with some interesting architecture.

Neuchatel old town

Tuesday 7 October - Basel and Berne

Sunrise from my hotel room

 It was raining first thing but there were patches of blue sky. We took a tilting train to Basel and a tram to the Market which has the red Rathaus. 

Basel Rathaus

The smoky Basel concourse

 There was a visit to a model shop (no sale), tram back to the station then another model shop (no sale). The booking hall here is beautiful but SBB allows smoking which makes it somewhat unpleasant.
We wanted to see the Waldenburger bahn again but chose a different way to get to Bern. The suburban train to Liestal  was held outside the station and we only just made the Waldenburg train - 750 mm gauge, roadside tramway. A lady was gaily chatting away to us in German. We smiled politely not understanding a word. 

Waldenburg

Waldenburg

 At Waldenburg we caught a post bus to Balsthal. This was a pleasant ride through several small villages and through hilly green fields.

At Balsthal they don't even use the SBB clock

 We caught the Oensingen Balsthal Bahn train to Oensingen. This railway has a collection of exotic equipment. We saw some small locomotives which were over 100 years old but dod not see the crockodile or Churchill railcar.  At Oensingen we transferred to the narrow gauge Aare Seeland Mobil train to Solothurn. 

Aare Seeland mobile train at Solothurn

The Regional Verkehr Bern Solothurn train took us to Bern. This is a narrow gauge company that provides some suburban services in Bern.  Even with the smaller out of the way operations everything runs to time. This complicated journey turned out exactly as planned.
Quite a trip with good scenery although cloudy.
In Bern we walked down the historic quarter and took a look at the bears who seem quite happy in their large quarters. Bern is a good place to wander around. There was a break in the clouds and the snow covered mountains provided a spectacular back drop.  

Bern

 

 

Bern

We took a BLS regional train back to Neuchatel.

Click here to see all Waldenburgerbahn, Oensingen and Solothurn Pictures

 

Monday 6 October - Martigny to Neuchatel

We left the hotel and took the SBB to  Montreux where we transferred to the MOB Golden Pass train to Montbovon. 

The Chocolate Train at Montreux

Golden Pass Panorama train at Montreux.  The driver sits in the roof above the observation lounge.

 These trains are luxurious even in second class. We traveled in first. The coaches have windows in the ceilings and the driving cab is set in the roof so that passengers can sit in the front (for a supplement) and have a clear view ahead. The locomotive is in the middle of the train so as to be out of the way. We were on this train yesterday and it was empty as it was today. The only other time I have been on this route it was solid with tourists and Mary and I found it unpleasant.
It was another beautiful morning and we enjoyed the play of light on the mountain tops while the views across a calm Lac Lemain were very good. 

Once over the hill and away from the lake the country becomes pastoral with wooded sections. I was interested to see a few traditional hay stacks with a pole stood vertically in the middle.

At Broc Fabrique

100 year old locomotive at Bulle

We transfered to the Fribourg narrow gauge at Montbovon. The train took us first through Gruyeres. The whole area is given over to pasture and there were lots of contented cows munching happily away.
The next point of interest was Broc Fabrique where Nestles have a chocolate factory. The air was scented with chocolate. After a brief pause we went on to Bulle then Fribourg then Yverdon Les Brains where we caught a tilting train to Neuchatel.  Paul remarked that the only way the hotel could be closer to the station would be in it. The hotel is good and has a terrace with a view over the lake.
A walk into town and the port and we found out about cruises, saw a tram on the only line left and visited the tourist office.
We took a cruise on the lake for a little over an hour. The lake was calm when we left but a wind blew up and ruffled the surface.

Neuchatel from the water

Lake Neuchatel

The next order of business was to ride the one remaining tram line. The double cars are run in pairs but only every 15 minutes. The tram we rode had bad flats on the wheels which made for a rough and very noisy ride. The brakes were terrible. We could feel the wheels locking up and sliding for 10 feet or so at stops - more flats. It looks as if this line will eventually be abandoned although some new rails, ballast and ties have recently been installed.

The funicular to the station is not working at present so we caught a trolley bus back.

Sunday 5 October - Blonay Chamby

Montreux

 

We left early this morning on the train to Montreux. Although the forecast was for some rain, it was a beautiful morning although there had been some rain in places. We had some time to walk along the front at Montreux. Being Sunday morning there were few people around. There were swans and cormorants in the distance while tufted ducks were diving and mallards were sunning themselves on the rocks. A cat emerged from a shop called La Chatte, in front of the Post Office, and was immediately set upon by a couple of crows. They made a great noise and drove it away.
We caught the Golden Pass Express to Chamby. A man was making his dog sit for treats right next to a crossing. The dog was concerned about the train but was more interested in treats. At Chamby we had to get off in a very restricted space between two trains and wait for one train to leave before we could get on the platform. There were great views across the lake. The Sunday morning church bells were ringing to competition from the cow bells.

A beautifully printed Edmondson card ticket

We were the only ones on the platform but at the appointed time a well restored tram turned up and took us to the museum. We chose first to take the steam train to Blonay. The engine stopped on the viaduct to blow down the boiler which gave an opportunity for pictures. 

 

Blonay

At Blonay there was a special ready to leave for children then the engine ran round and returned us to the museum via Chamby.
The museum has a number of well restored trams and similar equipment. 

 

 

Click here to see all pictures taken at Blonay Chamby

After looking around we took the museum train to Blonay and then the narrow gauge electric line to Vevey, changed to a local to Montreux and then a regional express to Martigny.
The weather stayed fine with hot sun and a heat haze.
The train towards Chamonix climbs up into a high steep sided valley. We could only go as far as the border on this train One curious feature of this line is that it uses both third rail and overhead wires for current supply. The driver told us there is no mystery to this, the railway installed overhead wires in parts some time ago but left some third rail sections to save money. The current and voltage are the same. There are some tunnels where there could be clearance problems with overhead wires so they left the third rail in place. 

 

We had in mind to go back one stop and take a funicular but it was closed so we came straight back to Martigny. There is a castle here and we explored it and some of the town centre. A zip line has been strung across the town from about the height of the castle. It is 1,123 metres long and 400 feet above the town in places. Installed for the foire this weekend it is claimed to be unique. Must be quite a trip.
We found a small back street restaurant and had a fondue with mushrooms picked that morning by the proprietor. They use just local cheese and a cheese from Fribourg.  With a bottle of the Valais (local) Gamay it was a very good meal.