Sunday 6 September 2026 - Travel to Aigle
While waiting for the train to go to Goschenen yesterday we decided to use the WC at the Erstfeld station. There was a red light shining. It said that one could only use it using a credit card or a phone, however one could purchase access through the Selecta machine. We marched around to the Selecta machine and found we could purchase access for one frank. This card, which was hanging along with all the other healthy snacks, was what we received. Back at the WC the red light had turned green and with a great deal of fiddling we were able to use the card to open the door. The card bent so that is was difficult to read the QR code. On reflection it might have been easier to have waited and used the WC on the train for free.
Today we traveled from Zurich to Aigle. We wanted to see the exhibition at Hochdorf and so we took a train from Zurich to Lenzburg and transferred to the local train to Hochdorf. From Lenzburg the line is a delightful country style very pleasant with the fine weather we were having. At Hochdorf we went to the exhibition but just missed the crocodile leaving for Lucern.
They have an 060 steam tank engine which looked to be in good condition. They were using Polish coal which had nice sized lumps but which produced dense black smoke. There were some serious problems with the steam engine. The safety valves were blowing continuously for over half an hour and there were serious problems with the injectors.
We spent some time hoping that the crocodile would turn up. But we had to go on to Lucern and passed it on our way. At least we had some local beer while waiting.
The rest of the day was spent travelling. From Lucern we took a train via Sursee, Bern and Fribourg to Lausanne. This took almost two and a half hours. At Lausanne we had a cross platform connection to a train via Vevey and Montreux to Aigle. The hotel was new to us and was located right next to the annual Aigle celebration. There is a band right outside my window. It is supposed to finish at 10 p.m.
Your almost misadventure reminded me of all the mall bathrooms (in my youth -- so that was a few years ago) that required a dime to enter. It has been a few years, and xe.com says CHF 1.00 is the equivalent of CAD $1.70.
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