Saturday 26 August - Olten Railway Depot Festival

Today was an incredible event in Swiss railway history. All of the various clubs and organizations that owned and operated standard gauge electric historic locomotives put their equipment on display at Olten. To us outsiders it was a somewhat confusing event because there was so much together all at one place and time. The crowds descended upon the depot and it was difficult to take clear pictures as well as keep out of the way of others. I will not attempt to give a blow by blow but just give an impression.

First thing there was some activity as many of the exhibits arrived over the main line and were signaled into the Depot demonstration area.






The cooperation of the SBB and the BLS in getting these exhibits over the main lines to Olten must have been amazing.
The event was a few minutes walk from the main station but many of us took the local bus, route 501 for the short ride. In the depot itself it was possible to get up close and personal and many climbed into the cabs. Here is a selection of the pictures I took.

Ae 4/7 11026





Red Arrow


Tunnel cine car.

Around midday it began to rain quite heavily and we decided to seek lunch in the town. The Co-op restaurant was not up to the Migros standards.
The Churchill car was a late arrival in the afternoon. This was the vehicle used by Sir Winston Churchill when  he visited Switzerland just after the war. Paul Churcher photo)

This evening Paul and I took a quick walk across this old bridge into Olten town center. 







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