Virtual Railfan Tour of Switzerland - Sunday - Aigle and Bex

Aigle is easily reached by the half hourly main line trains from Geneva via Montreux. It is set in a wine growing area but is surrounded by mountains. 
The chateau is surrounded by vineyards with a backdrop of mountains
The real interest here is the narrow gauge tramway network which runs through the streets of the town and into the mountains.  The three lines out of Aigle, to Leysin, Diablerets and Champerey are now run by the Transports Publics du Chablais (TPC).  The systems used differ:
Aigle - Leysin 1500 V DC on the Abt rack system
Aigle - Champerey 850 V DC on the Strub rack system
Aigle - Les Diablerets 1500 V DC
In the last few years the Champerey system has been modified to 1500 V DC and the rack has been changed to the Abt system.  This has been accompanied by a new order of equipment for all three lines.
The Champerey line is not very interesting but the other two run through the town streets.
The tram terminus is next to the station seen in the background.

The Leysin trams run in both directions along a narrow one way street

There are several cafes from which close up views of the trams can be obtained


The Diablerets trams pass in front of this impressive green walled apartment building


The first parts of the lines are through vineyards

After a reversal at the tram depot on the outskirts of town the Leysin trams begin to climb in earnest

The railway network is well integrated with the Postbus network so that it is possible to go out on one line and come back on another.

Back at Aigle a short walk allows us to see a heritage tram built in 1913
With all of the tram and vineyard interest it is easy to forget that there is plenty of action on the main line which runs from Lausanne and Montreux up the Rhone valley to Brig, Italy and Montigny.

A green liveried Re 4/4 leads another 4/4 towards Lausanne

A Re 460 in Migros advertising livery enters Aigle with a train bound for Geneva Airport 

However, the TPC also runs a fourth line from Bex to Villars and on to Bretaye. More on this tomorrow.

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