Virtual Railfan Tour of Switzerland - Tuesday - BAM Biere Apples Morges narrow gauge - Part 1


A BAM train of older stock ready to depart Biere for Morges

The Biere - Apples - Morges meter gauge railway runs between these three points with a branch from Apples to L'Isle.  There is a joint station with the SBB main line between Lausanne and Geneva at Morges. The BAM is unusual in that it makes more money on freight than passengers,

Morges is a good standard gauge train watching location with frequent freight and passenger trains

Work Equipment can come through at track speed

And there is a steady diet of SBB passenger trains of all types.

Even the BAM has one standard gauge main line locomotive, a Re 4/4 from SBB, which is used to move ballast on the SBB main line.

But the real interset at Morges is the narrow gauge.  Here a new train (right) is on passenger duty while an older car has been relegated to freight duties

At Morges everything can easily be seen from the safe passenger platform, as long as the passenger trains don't get in the way!

This video shows how the new Stadler trains were delivered on standard gauge cars and transferred to the narrow gauge.

From Morges the line runs to Apples where there is a meet with a train for Morges on the left and a train to L'Isle on the right.


L'Isle is a pleasant little backwater which is worth a visit.

The bells of Biere

Good place for lunch at Biere - closed Mondays

Biere is the location of a military depot which provides much revenue.  It is also where the railway workshops are located.  The standard gauge main line locomotive is even brought up to Biere, on narrow gauge skates, when any work is required.

Unusually shaped new steel ties ready to be inserted.

After a good lunch and a look around, we make our way back from Biere to Morges.
A stop at Vufflens is well worthwhile

Vufflens
The Chateau de Vufflens overlooks the vineyards

Here we caught  a freight with a train of logs on standard gauge cars riding on narrow gauge skates.
It was making passenger train times 

From Vufflens there are wonderful views over the vineyards to Lac Leman and the french Alps beyond.

As we arrive at Morges a double headed train of Army Trucks on standard gauge flat cars is  is waiting to leave on the narrow gauge.
In Part 2 we will see how the transfer is made and watch this being done with a trainload of heavy army tanks.
In the meantime here are a few videos which show the line well

General


A freight train of standard gauge cars on narrow gauge skates.

Historic cars

Cab ride over the line

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