Day 12 Sunday - Bauma Steam Railway and Locorama at Romanshorn

Getting ready to leave Bauma. No 401 is an 0-6-0T from the Uetlibergbahn built in 1901

This morning we went to Bauma to ride the steam train. There were some platform changes and other alterations but with the use of the on-line SBB timetable we devised a good plan. We took a fast train to Zurich which arrived a couple of minutes late and a second train to Winterthur and finally the local train from Winterthur to Bauma. Apart from the late arrival in Zurich everything was on time. 


At Bauma there was time to buy our tickets for the trip and wander down the train shed to admire the locomotive. It was making quite a bit of smoke which was filling up much of the train shed. They appear to be using the poor small coal similar to that used on the Furka Oberalp. The engine is well kept and appears to be in good mechanical condition. 

Bauma

We set out on time through pleasant countryside passing fields of sunflowers, sugar beet and corn and many forested areas. There was an extended wait at Neuthal, the first stop which appeared to have been caused by a sticking brake on one of the carriages. There was a very relaxed atmosphere here where some locals were sitting at tables drinking white whine and enjoying the spectacle - at eleven o'clock. We reached the middle station where we crossed the second steam train making for Bauma. Our station time here was quite short so that the arrival in Hinwil was pretty much on time.



Hinwil

Running round at Hinwil

Taking water at Hinwil

After taking pictures of the engine taking water we crossed the platform to take the next train to Wetzikon where we changed for Effetikon where we changed for another train to Winterthur. Each of the transfers was accomplished on time and the movement from one platform to the other was very easy. From Winterthur to we took a train to Romanshorn on Lake Constance.

The cross-platform at Hinwil is very straight forward

Romanshorn is the location for Locorama. This is a large Heritage operation located in the SBB wye. It was a short walk there from the station but there was a delay right outside the entrance when the railway crossing bells started ringing and the full gates came down. A large number of cyclists and walkers had to wait for over five minutes while two local Thurbo passenger trains passed. The wait was long but is was very safe. A couple of kids were about to duck under the barriers but a cyclist shouted at them in no uncertain way and they waited with the rest of us.

Many of the exhibits here are undercover in a large shed where it is not easy to see them. A large number are out in the open where they appear to have been allowed to deteriorate. It would seem they have more equipment than they can realistically handle. Some exhibits have been well maintained but a large number are looking very much the worst for wear. There was a simulator where a very small girl was learning to run a local passenger train. There was also a push car for children to operate and a small train ride which was well attended.

Mechanical interlocking from the Gotthard line - Wassen etc.

MThB No. 3 is a 2-6-2 built in 1912

Seven date nails on this one tie! In this stretch every tie was so identified.


Ae 6/6 11404 built 1955

Ae 4/7 10961built 1930


A seat constructed within a set of wheels.

We walked back to the station which is set close to the edge of the lake. We caught the next train to Zurich Hauptbahnhof which was on time, then a direct train to Olten. The latter was late arriving and it took time for people to detrain and then to entrain with the result that we left three or four minutes late. However our arrival in Olten was only a minute late. Weekends are very busy for the railways, not only for tourists and locals but there is a large movement of people to and from military service. Many of the military carry their weapons in bags with the barrel pointing out.

To see all pictures taken on the Bauma Steam Railway click here

https://www.flickr.com/photos/colinchurcher/albums/72177720301830155

To see all pictures taken at Locorama click here

https://www.flickr.com/photos/colinchurcher/albums/72177720301831966

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