Colin Churcher 2020

  We woke up this morning to find it was raining quite heavily and a little cooler. We had planed to go to  At Les Locles where the train to Les Brenets was not running Morges today but decided to take the trip through the Jura where we would be traveling more in trains rather than standing outside. We went to Neuchatel and took a train to Les Locles only to find out that the train to Les Brenets were not running today. This is a great disappointment to us because it would have been the highlight of the day.  Jura train at La Chaux de Fonds We came back to Le Chaux de Fonds but now of course we were quite a bit earlier than planned and so we took an earlier Jura train to Grovelier . The section through Combe Tabeillion with its reversing to take account of the steep drop always reminds me of the Central of Peru Railway. We changed for Delemont because there is a Migros restaurant there. At Glovelier our narrow gauge train stands alongside a Jura railway standard gauge swi...

This looks a little like a garden shed but we were assured that it pulled just as well as the others Today we visited the BLS historical group to see their collection at Burgdorf.  Allotments  Before dealing with the subject today I think it worthwhile making a comment about a feature which is very often seen in Switzerland is not frequently remarked about. Allotments. Many towns will have an area or area set aside for people to have quite small pieces of land upon which they can grow vegetables. Little huts have been put up and in some cases a form of greenhouse using plastic sheeting and occasionally a small shed which might be used to sleep in during the summer. I believe this goes back a long way and we had a similar system at home in the UK my grandfather had an allotment from the Orpington county council. It was a short walk away from the house and on it he was able to grow a vast collection of vegetables that would not have been possible in his regular home garden. My f...

The Vevey approaching Montreux The whole purpose of going to Aigle and staying at the hotel du Nord was that it is on one of the main streets of the town and the narrow gauge tramway runs through It in both directions while the street is otherwise a one-way street for vehicular traffic.. However this particular weekend there was a great get together and the road was closed off completely so the whole purpose of us being in Aigle really came to nothing.  The walk alongside the lake in Montreux is always pleasant Today was a travel day to Yverdon les Bains. But the real purpose today was to ride the paddle steamer on Lac Leman We traveled from Montreux to  Chinon, then to St. Gingolfe and across to Vevey and back to Montreux again. We were on the Vevey, built in 1907. The day was warm but we managed to find shade in the first class and we had a very pleasant trip. On leaving Montreux it looked as if the boat was going to be very full. However, a large number were only travelling...

  While waiting for the train to go to G o schenen yesterday we decided to use the WC at the Erstfeld station. There was a red light shining. It said that one could only use it using a credit card or a phone, however one could purchase access through the Selecta machine. We marched around to the Selecta machine and found we could purchase access for one frank. This card, which was hanging along with all the other healthy snacks, was what we received. Back at the WC the red light had turned green and with a great deal of fiddling we were able to use the card to open the door. The card bent so that is was difficult to read the QR code. On reflection it might have been easier to have waited and used the WC on the train for free. Today we traveled from Zurich to Aigle. We wanted to see the exhibition at Hochdorf and so we took a train from Zurich to Lenzburg and transferred to the local train to Hochdorf. From Lenzburg the line is a delightful country style very pleasant with the fine ...

We achieved what we wanted to do today in spite of the SBB. Least said the better At Erstfeld there were three locomotives being run up and down the siding, as a fitness test. The first was an Ae6/6 no11402 carrying the blazon for URI.  An SBB 620 in the SBB red colors was also being exercised. This carried the blazon for Stein am Rhine Probably the most spectacular was an Ae 8/14 no11801 , a locomotive in effect in two parts. It was really worthwhile to see it running up and down.  The idea was that three locomotives of the collection would be brought out on the first Saturday of the month. They would be run up and back individually with ample opportunity for photography. Towards the end they were stabled so that all three could be photographed together. There was little need for crowd control and everyone had a good look at these machines. After this we took a train up the hill to Goschenen - passing the Wassen church three times.  The MGB has now improved its braking s...

  We had a lot of traveling planned for today. We left Zurich main station early on the train which took us right through to Landquart where there is a connection with the Rhaetian Railway - narrow gauge. There was bright sun and the ride alongside Lake Zurich was beautiful.  At Landquart the scenery was equally spectacular although much more hilly and mountainous. The train took us right through to Davos Platz Here we changed to a third very unusual railway. There is a regular train service, every hour between Davos Platz and Filisur but two times a day in each direction the rhb puts on a historic train. Today it was an interesting set of carriages hauled by a GE number 605. The ride was rough although interesting and it was very very bumpy at times and there were no lights in the tunnels. At least we were entitled to an ancient first class coach We passed through a tunnel which has a quick view of a spectacular waterfall and there is also a large viaduct. As we approached Fi...