Virtual Railfan Tour of Switzerland - Wednesday BAM Part 2 - Narrow Gauge Transfer



Yesterday we had completed a tour of the narrow gauge line from Morges to Biere and arrived back just in time to see this train of military vehicles on standard gauge flat cars departing for Biere on narrow gauge skates.

This is a great place to watch trains, legally and safely from the platform

These are narrow gauge "skates". Each four wheel skate carries one standard gauge wheelset. Note the air hoses between each skate. These have to be positioned manually each time.  There are two white marks on each wheel - put there so that crews can verify that the small wheels are turning properly and not skidding.
This shows one standard gauge truck placed on two narrow gauge skates 

To do this a train of standard gauge cars is pushed over the skates which are on rails set in between and below the standard gauge. Two locomotives are needed, one standard gauge and one narrow gauge.

There are two of these small, built 1965, four wheel es-SBB switchers which push the standard gauge train.


The two narrow gauge locomotives have both standard and narrow gauge couplers. They use the standard gauge for this operation.

For short trains an old motor car may be used, in which case a bar coupling is used to the standard gauge car.

The standard gauge train is pushed along over the narrow gauge skates which you can just see to the left.

The narrow gauge locomotive is attached and the standard gauge switcher at the other end is uncoupled

The train is then pulled on to the narrow gauge skates

The air hoses are attached and the train is ready to leave.

This video shows the transfer from narrow to standard gauge as well as some good views of the line.

This amazing video shows the transfer with a full train of Military tanks. Perry Elston comments that these appear to be M109 Howitzers

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