Slow Up Day at Huttwil - Sunday 8 September 2024

Emmenthal Railway No. 2 at Huttwil 
On this Sunday, all roads in the entire area are closed to motor vehicles and the network is opened to cyclists, skaters, scooters, walkers etc. This is an amazing occasion for people to get out either alone, in groups or families. Our interest was to see the steam trains operating between Huttwil and Sumiswald Grunen. To get there we took an ICN from Yverdon to Olten where we changed to a BLS train to Langenthal. This was where the fun started. The three car train to Huttwil is not normally crowded on a Sunday morning. However, today there were a large number of families with small children, all with bikes. We sat in first class and watched as the entranceways were quickly filled up with bicycles, baby carriages and scooters. Each stop was a lengthy one as newcomers ran up and down the train looking for a place to get in with their paraphernalia.  There was an even longer stop at Huttwil when everybody got out. The streets were crowded with cyclists all having a good time.

The train from Sumiswald Grunen arrived at the platform just vacated by the BLS train to Lucern, now happily empty.

We bought our tickets for Sumiswald Grunen and found a place on the train.

(Paul Churcher photo)
They are using Polish coal. It is quite good, not too dusty

(Paul Churcher photo)
We left Huttwil to the cheers of a great crowd of cyclists waiting for us at the road crossing. 

Our locomotive was No. 2 shown above. There were many cyclists on the country roads waving and cheering at us.
A family group enjoying the sight of a steam train.
We passed a train hauled by a vintage electric locomotive and arrived at Sumiswald Grunen on a platform right alongside the BLS terminus. The BLS has a half hourly service.
An electric locomotive was waiting to take our train back to Huttwil.
This side rod switcher ex SBB 16403 has regular work during the week
BLS train on left, electric loco on train to Huttwil (centre) on the right is the steam locomotive that brought our train in.
Train for Huttwil leaves

A heritage tractor

Locomotive no 2 takes water.

Locomotive 5810, a 2-6-2 tank arrives with the next train from Huttwil.
A very interesting operation. It connects at both ends with the main line railway network and everything ran smoothly. 
We made our way back to Yverdon-les-Bains via Bern and Neuchatel.

















 

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