Colin Churcher 2020

My diary for Monday 9 July 1962 I started work at Reading (GWR) loco this morning. I started helping to clean Castle No. 5076 "Gladiator".  This engine was on the shed's star turn of the day. It takes over the down Birkenhead train.  (the Margate to Birkenhead train known as the "Conty".  This was Reading's only lodging turn.)  It was really wonderfully clean when we had finished with it, the copper cap to the chimney and brass safety valve cover were shining brightly and the green paintwork, red buffers, were gleaming.   Gladiator had a riveted tender which made cleaning much more difficult than the newer flat sided welded tenders - I distinctly remember the oil running down my upturned arm as I stretched to clean the large surface.   It made a fine sight as it stormed past the shed as we ate our sandwiches .  The train must have been late into General station because the engine was working very hard.   Imagine my delight when Paul...

Fribourg The Fribourg funicular is the only water balance funicular in Switzerland. It uses waste water from the city plant at the top of the hill. From the use of waste water it has been known as stinky.  Water tanks under the floor of each car are filled or emptied until just sufficient imbalance is achieved to allow movement. The car at the top of the hill is loaded with water until it is heavier than the car at the bottom, causing it to descend the hill and pulling up the other car. The water is drained at the bottom, and the process repeats with the cars exchanging roles. The movement is controlled by a brakeman  using the brake handle of the Abt rack and pinion system  engaged with the rack mounted between the rails. Fribourg has been designated a national historic monument - its length is 121 metres This video covers an up journey showing the brakeman The Fribourg lower historic town (Neuveville) is well worth a visit particularly this six story medieval prison. Co...

A train to Arosa in the street running section of Chur The Rhaetian Railway, meter gauge line to Arosa starts in the SBB station forecourt at Chur.  It is unusual to see main line passenger trains running through the streets of a city. Today the locomotive hauled passenger trains have largely been taken over by these new electric multiple units - seen here arriving at Chur The trains very often have a few freight cars tacked on the end The new trains give a very good view from the cab Sometimes to view is too good - as here we nearly hit a car. On my first visit I carefully consulted the timetable and walked out of the center a little way to get these pictures of a locomotive hauled train gradually approaching.  The final one was the one shown at the beginning of this blog This video gives an excellent idea as to what it is like driving a train through Chur The ride is through pleasant scenery Early snow at Arosa Arosa Arosa Videos Cab ride - Arosa to Chur Good views

Today we take the local train from Vevey to the wine growing village of Chexbres The village is high above Lac Leman with excellent views across the lake to the Alps in the distance and above the UNESCO World Heritage designated vineyards with their terraces.  We have lunch in the village, where, during the vendage, we will see many vineyard workers, perhaps meet the owner of one of the vineyards and drink his wine. The vines are set out in steep hilly terrain and it is difficult to obtain access.  For this reason special monorail systems have been installed. A locomotive and cars In places the track gives a wild ride From the Chicago Tribune This seems to be the remnants of an earlier system The monorail system is in many vineyards in Europe. This short video was made in the Cinque Terra, Italy.

The Uetliberg railway is a passenger line which runs from Zurich Hauptbahnhof to the summit of the Uetliberg. This is route S10 of the Zurich S-Bahn The line was opened in 1875 and electrified in 1923. In 1990 it was extended to its current terminus at Zurich Hauptbahnhof. I t is owned by the Sihltal Zurich Uetliberg Bahn , a company that also owns the Sihltal line. The line has a maximum gradient of 7.9% and is the steepest standard adhesion gauge railway in E urope. The Uetliberg trains have another unique feature. The pantographs for pick up of the 1200V DC system are off center. The reason for this is that there is common running with the Sihltal trains between Zurich Hauptbahnhof and Zurich Gieissehubel and the Sihltal line trains run on 15,000V AC. Two set of overhead power lines are maintained for the joint section. A view of the off center pantograph Another unusual feature are these steel ties Zurich Geisshubel where the trains of both systems are maintained, Sihltal on le...