Colin Churcher 2020

Today we left Yverdon-les-Bains and traveled back to Zurich in preparation for return to Canada tomorrow. In the morning we took an ICN through Neuchatel to Oensingen. We left four minutes late but with a tight throttle and the banking on these trains we left Neuchatel on time - it was an exciting ride. At Oensingen there was quite a lot to see. As well as the main line freight a single manned diesel switcher went across the main line a couple of times to pick up empty cars.  The two narrow gauge trams from Solothurn and Langenthal came in and reversed.  Main line freight The standard gauge line to Balstall was using an SBB train with TPN markings.  In addition there was a magpie poking around on the ground, and a couple of kites flying around.  We went on to Olten for lunch at the M igros restaurant.  After lunch we took a short trip to Daniken on the main line. Just after we got there we saw three freight trains with Re 420s on them and a further SBB Vectron o...

Yverdon-les-Bains has some great street art The main item for today was to travel Montreux then take the steamer across to Le Bouveret and get to Aigle via St Maurice. We took a train from Yverdon-les-Bains to Lausanne and another to Montreux  with views of the world heritage vineyards . There was time at Montreux to walk along the lakeside and look at the weather over the lake. The weather forecast was threatening but it seemed that the clouds were lifting although the waves on the lake were quite heavy.  The horse chestnut tree was shedding its conkers making it hazardous to sit in this cafe The Chateau de Chillon We waited for the steamer to arrive but unfortunately it turned out to be a small crowded diesel operated vessel rather than a heritage steamer and we decided to forgo the trip across the lake and took a train to Aigle.  This older vehicle was ready to go to Leysin. It has won all its street fights. At Aigle we walked a little away from the station along ...

We looked at three narrow gauge lines in the area today. We left the hotel early to catch a direct train to Morges to see what was happening on the line to Apples and Biere. At Morges the two narrow gauge electric locomotives were about to be coupled up to a train of empty hoppers that were being put on skates. We then had to make a decision - do we wait here or do we go up the line to see if we can see this train on the move? We decided to go to Vufflens the Chateau and after two passenger trains had passed the the freight train came by..   Along came the freight train with its standard gauge cars on narrow gauge skates The Chateau even looks good without the trains We then went back to Morges to see what additional action there might be. The ex-SBB green 4/4 was not in evidence but instead they had an ex-SudOstBahn class 456 which seems to have come from Koblenz. The two small shunters were still in evidence but it does not look as if they are used very much.     W...

We decided to change the schedule today to go to the Jura and hope that the weather is better in the Morges area tomorrow.  We wanted to see a number of narrow gauge lines: - Le Locle to Les Brenets, operated by some old railcars and threatened with replacement by electric buses - La Chaux de Fonds to Les Ponts de Martel - Jura railway from La Chaux de Fonds to Glovelier - Aare Seeland from Biel to Ins We were leaving a fun place (Yverdon) and visiting the slug capital Comedy from the Yverdon Post  We first found a freight train in Yverdon headed by a 4/4. These are likely to become quite rare in the future.   We took a train to Neuchatel. From there we took a BLS to Le Locle. The train reverses at Chambrelien and this was speeded up by having a driver in the cab at each end. There was a little time at Le Locle there to see that's the sidings for the heritage group have now been practically completely cleared. We saw slugs.  We saw several on the footpath Train ...