Day 19 Sunday - Emmental Steam Train and Neuchatel Historic Tram
It was a long ride to Huttwil to ride the Emmental train but well worth it. We caught an ICN at Yverdon les Bains for Olten, changed for Langenthal and then changed to a local train for Huttwil. The area is mixed farming with a lot of corn but also much cattle. The BLS train was very full, mainly cyclists with their bikes. Huttwil was a surprise because the major part of the town was closed off for cyclists. It turns out this was a "Go Slow" day in which many roads were closed, including the routes between Huttwil, Sumiswald-Grunen and Madiswil, and were given over to cyclists with no automobiles allowed. Within the entire town itself I don't think a motor car moved but there were hundreds of people, families with small kids, groups etc. riding bicycles. The bicycle rental place was doing a good trade.
The steam train came in from Sumiswald-Grunen over what is normally a busy road, A lot of cyclists stood back waiting for the train to go past the barriers. The train used platform one at the BLS station and the locomotive ran around its train. I talked to the driver and fireman who were well satisfied with the Welsh coal they were using, the driver recognized my FR and WHR cap and mentioned that he had been to Porthmadog about 10 years ago. I mentioned that I had fired Welsh coal and he asked me what locomotives I had worked on. He was impressed when I told him Castles and Halls. The engine was in pretty good shape and the fire looked excellent.
By a coincidence this trip was videoed. At 1.40 minutes the train is taking the crossing into town. Paul and I are visible at the crossing.
The ride to Sumiswald-Grunen was very pleasant and a lot of fun. There was a special car on the train to take bicycles. There were many families with small kids and a number of dogs enjoyed the ride as well. There were a number of intermediate stops and these were well used - pity this train only runs once a month. Much of the route followed a major highway which had been blocked off for cyclists only who were waving and cheering at us. Several horses were spooked and ran off as we approached as did a few cows as well.
At Sumiswald-Grunen the steam railway makes an end on connection with the BLS again and it was a simple job to pick up the train to bring us into Bern. From there we went to Biel and caught a train to Neuchatel. Coming out of the station it amazed us how clear the view was. We walked down to the lake and admired the view to the mountains beyond.
We went to the tram stop and waited for the historic tram to arrive. This was 100 years old and it took us with a trailer to the tram museum.
The ride was quite good and the speeds were quite adequate. We had half an hour to look around the tram museum before taking the historic tram back into town. It had to run round the trailer at Evoie and propel it into the terminus.
We walked along to the funicular and rode up to the Neuchatel station, catching an ICN direct to Yverdon les Bains. The views over the lake were stupendous. It is not very often that one can see the mountains this clearly from this distance.
For a change of pace Paul and I found a restaurant in the Castle area and had a horse steak. It was very good.
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