Virtual Railfan Tour of Switzerland - Saturday - Interlaken


A BLS train headed by a heritage electric 206, built in 1939, at Interlaken.

Interlaken is the junction point between the standard gauge line from Bern and Spiez (with SBB, BLS and DB ICE trains) and two metre gauge lines.  The Zentralbahn runs to Meiringen and on the rack to Luzern while the Berner Oberland Bahn (BOB) runs to Grindelwald for the Jungfrau. The Line to Meiringen is used by the Golden Pass trains taking tourists from Luzern to Montreux with connecting trains at Interlaken and Zweisimmen. There are two stations in Interlaken, Ouest and Ost, the second being a busy and frequently frantic interchange point with many tourists complete with luggage. There is a canal between Lakes Thun and Brienz between the two stations and the railway follows this.
In 2010 the BLS local trains were hauled by brown Re4/4s, now replaced by multiple units

A walk around the interchange between the gauges is interesting. In 2010 an SBB locomotive in the green livery is switching. It has a diamond pantograph.
Mark Walton writes  Looks like the SBB locomotive on switching duty at Interlaken was an Ae6/6 – a class dating from 1952 that was once the backbone of SBB’s fleet.

Between the two stations

SBB train leaving Interlaken Ost

In earlier times the Zentralbahn trains to Meiringen were hauled by these ancient electrics built in 1941.
They have now been replaced by multiple units.


Wandering around the gauge transfer area would always produce some interesting pieces.

Leaving the confusion behind a BOB train heads for Grindelwald and the Jungfrau

Grindelwald

Grindelwald

The Harderbahn provides some excellent views over the area

Interlaken Ouest. Steamers operate on both lakes.

This comprehensive video shows all three railway systems in Interlaken

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