Day 13 Monday - Around Basel

 Today we spent our time around Basel. We took one of the new Giruno trains from Olten into Basel and a local commuter to Pratteln. This train went through the main marshalling yards at Muttenz. There are four main lines at Pratteln and it was very busy. In 40 minutes we saw four freights twelve passenger and four light engine movements (including a heritage locomotive). This is the area where BLS locomotives are stood waiting for work. 

BLS loco goin to stabling point Pratteln 

Heritage 4/4 from Sissach

DB class 185

Two SBB Re 4/4s

SBB Cargo diesel switcher

It was surprising to see the large number of school parties traveling particularly one where the group was obviously going to be away for several days. 

At Pratteln this teacher has just got the last of her class, all with cases, into the train

This is one of two groups waiting for a train at Rheinfelden

From Pratteln we took a quick trip to Rheinfelden which contains the largest Brewery in the country (Brauerie Feldschlossen). It has an interesting station.

Rheinfelden Brewery Station

Class 446 stabled at Rheinfelden. They were used on the SOB Voralpen Express between St. Gallen and Luzerm. They have been displaced by new emu trains and sold?

A switcher taking some cars out of the brewery

Rheinfelden
 We then returned to Pratteln.

A BRS locomotive on a Hupac train of trucks with a passenger coach for the drivers next the locomotive - Pratteln

The heritage locomotive returning with a couple of cars at Pratteln.

An SBB Vectron light engine at Pratteln

DB train at Pratteln

It was approaching lunch time and we took the 14 tram into Basel, past the Rathaus to a Migros Restaurant just across the river at Clareplatz. After an excellent lunch we took an 8 tram to the Hauptbahnhof and changed to the 10 tram which has recently been extended to Rodersdorf. The last part is in rolling open country and part is actually in France. With wide cultivated valleys and forested hill tops this reminded me of the Jura.




Video taken at Basel Hauptbahnhof

At Rodersdorf there is a turning circle for the trams which are single ended. These are very tight indeed and looking out from the end of a seven unit tram it seemed the front was going 180 degrees in the opposite direction.

Back at the Basel Hauptbahnhof we caught a train out to Sissach. This was an ideal spot to watch trains. There are three running lines while a bench on the southern side was in the shade and gave us a good view of the signals in both directions. The sun was over our shoulders for photography.

An Italian class 610 heading for Basel

German ICE train heading for Zurich

An SBB Cargo Vectron and an unidentified  running light

Widmer Rail ServicesRe 4/4 heading for Muttenz yard

An SBB Re 4/4 also heading for Muttenz

French TGV Lyria heading for Zurich

Two BLS Re 4/4s heading towards Basel. We had thought these had all been withdrawn

Artwork on an IC2000car set up for children

A new entry in the locomotive field. A "Synopsis" Re 4/4 hauling oil tanks probably from Glattbrugg.

To get back to Olten we took the single line through Rumlingen. Several years ago the SBB built a more direct line between Sissach and Olten with a long tunnel. The railway wanted to close the original line but there were local protests and it has been kept open with one train an hour. The train we were on was quite busy.

The local from Sissach to Olten via the original route arrives at Sissach

A very interesting and full day.
To see all pictures taken ion Olten and Basel click here

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