Virtual Railfan Tour of Switzerland - Friday - The Forchbahn

Entrance to the Forchbahn Depot at Forch - where the trains are maintained
The significance of the cow is not known

The Forchbahn is a narrow gauge passenger railway in Zurich. The first three kilometers are over the Zurich suburban network to Rehalp from where the line runs to Forch (workshops), Egg and Essinglen. The outer section is a combination of roadside running and private right of way with double and single track sections.  We left the Zurich tram museum yesterday on a historic tram to Rehalp which is the end of the Zurich tram network.  The Forchbahn trains have limited stops within Zurich and they do not stop at the Museum.

Rehalp with a train bound for Zurich. Although running as Zurich route S18, the trains have a distinctive livery

At Rehalp the Forchbahn trains run on to their own railway which is properly signaled.

The station at Forch has recently been rebuilt - the entrance to the workshop with the cow is on the right hand side

Forch

At Forch there is the start of a single track section

Running into Egg

Historic car No. 10 has been brought out on the occasion of the Egg Fair

Egg Fair - something Simon and Garfunkel should have sung about

Egg with a train for Zurich

A quick look at Essinglen reveals little of interest so we quickly return to Zurich.

At the Zurich terminus the trains turn on a loop, mixing it with the regular trams

Good video coverage of the trains

The Zurich Waitikon station is more akin to a regular railway

Video journey over the line