Thursday 10 September 2026 - Narrow Gauge Operation from Morges

Today we took an early train to Morges. which is the standard gauge connection of the narrow gauge line to Apples and on to Biere with a branch from Apples to L'Isle. There is access to a quarry just north of Apples from which ballast is shipped out in standard gauge cars on narrow gauge skates. At Morges the standard gauge cars are put on the standard gauge and delivered by a standard gauge 420 locomotive. As we arrived ay Morges the green standard gauge 420 arrived with some cars for the quarry.  It switched the cars quickly back to the transfer track and they were soon put on narrow gauge skates and attached to the two green narrow gauge locomotives. 

STtndard gauge locomotive pushing cars on to narrow gauge skates


Narrow gauge locomotives pulling standard gauge cars on narrow gauge skates

We didn't know when they would be going up the line so we took the next train to apples. This is an interesting junction point with the two main line trains meeting as well as the branch line to l Isle. Twice an hour there is great activity and then everything goes quiet until the next round. 

Passenger train for Morges entering Apples

At Biere an older single car had just returned from having delivered some narrow gauge skates to Morges

Still no sign of the freight train so we went on to Biere and returned to Apples where we waited for the next round of trains to come and go and a gravel train left about  ten minutes after that. 


Loaded train from the quarry passing through Apples

We walked down to an excellent restaurant at which we had eaten last year. This time we decided to have cheval. It came with a good thick gravy and pasta. It was all very good but quite a lot of food. We started with a salad and finished with a yogurt type dessert and washed it down with a very very good local red wine.

Horse was good
A view of the arrangement whereby one narrow gauge skate (four wheels) carries one standard gauge axle

The MBC standard gauge 420 locomotive runnign through Morges to deliver further product from the mine

We then came back to Morges and returned to Yverdon via Lausanne and the narrow gauge line to Bercher where we took an exciting post bus ride back to Yverdon

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