Colin Churcher 2020

Not much to report today. From a cool Yverdon we took a long train ride to our final destination  Basel, We have a reservation for a TGV to Paris tomorrow. These are the only two pictures I have taken today: A freight train hauled by an SBB Vectron at Yverdon this morning French locomotive on a train to Strasbourg at Basel SNCF I wondered what voltage was used here -SNCF uses 25,000 while SBB uses 15,000. This is the answer I received when I asked Google Because Basel SBB acts as a major international border hub, the station utilizes a multi-system setup to handle both French and Swiss trains: [ 1 ] French Tracks (Basel SNCF): The terminating bay platforms at the western end of the station are electrified at the French standard 25 kV AC (50 Hz) . [ 1 ] Switchable Tracks: Certain through-platforms (such as Track 4) feature switchable overhead lines . They can dynamically toggle between the Swiss standard and the French 25 kV AC depending on whether a Swiss or a French train is ...

Today we took an early train to Morges. which is the standard gauge connection of the narrow gauge line to Apples and on to Biere with a branch from Apples to L'Isle. There is access to a quarry just north of Apples from which ballast is shipped out in standard gauge cars on narrow gauge skates. At Morges the standard gauge cars are put on the standard gauge and delivered by a standard gauge 420 locomotive. As we arrived ay Morges the green standard gauge 420 arrived with some cars for the quarry.  It switched the cars quickly back to the transfer track and they were soon put on narrow gauge skates and attached to the two green narrow gauge locomotives.  STtndard gauge locomotive pushing cars on to narrow gauge skates Narrow gauge locomotives pulling standard gauge cars on narrow gauge skates We didn't know when they would be going up the line so we took the next train to apples. This is an interesting junction point with the two main line trains meeting as well as the branch ...

  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 ...