'The
Lake Neuchâtel Express'
May 31 2003
'The
Lake Neuchâtel Express' was originally scheduled to be steam hauled
by French compound 4-8-2 241A65 now based at Burgdorf in Switzerland.
Rumours were circulating at Paris Est that this locomotive was in fact
unavailable for mechanical reasons. No confirmation of this ever really
came until the day. A standby locomotive had been arranged in the form
of DB pacific 01 202. The
owners of 01 202 have a website, click to visit it. |
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As on the day before we were to catch a service train from Mulhouse to Basle. This time the train was RE96123, the 07:56 departure. Unlike the previous day this was a local train and there was no last minute panic to get the organisers on board ! As it happened the train was a few minutes late, but despite this we were never in any danger of missing out specially chartered train at Basle.
The steam section of this tour was Burgdorf - Neuchâtel - Zollikofen - Burgdorf, with the Basle - Burgdorf (via Sissach) section on the outward and the Burgdorf - Basle (direct) section on the return in the hands of preserved electric locomotive Ae 4/7 11026.
As we pulled in to Basle the special train and locomotive were in the platform directly opposite. This meant we could get on and avoid passport control. Nobody seemed to care at all !
At Basle a little electric shunting locomotive was busy. May 31 2003
Once everyone was on and the Ae 4/7 had run round we pulled forward along the platform in to the Swiss sector of the station to await departure time. Naturally we departed on time !
As is common in Switzerland a new route has been built between Basle and Olten to make operations faster and easier. However this does not normally lead to the closure of the old route. On the outward run our train took the old route, now largely single track. The line retains a good local service and is of course electrified. The route via the original Hauenstein Tunnel. The route is steep, twisty and also very scenic running through a lovely valley.
We ran as far as Läufelfingen where we stopped to cross a local service. Whilst waiting for it to appear we had the chance to get a good look at the Ae 4/7 and take some photographs.
Our first scheduled stop came at Läufelfingen to pass a local service in this single track route. In superb weather the immaculately turned out Ae 4/7 11026 sits at the head of 'The Lake Neuchâtel Express'. May 31 2003
Ae 4/7 11026 wears two different works plates - one from SLM and one from Brown Boveri. Built to a 1927 design 11026 is a 1930 built locomotive. May 31 2003
As side on view of Ae 4/7 11026 at Läufelfingen awaiting the cross with a local service. May 31 2003
From Läufelfingen we continued non-stop to Olten. Here a brief stop was made to pick up some passengers from the Mikado 1244 group who had a coach attached at the rear of the train. It was then on to Burgdorf. There was much evidence of the new line being built near Roggwil-Wynau that will easy a major pinch point on the SBB. Certain sections of what will become the classic route have been realigned to allow the new route to take the best possible path. The new line will stretch from Rothrist to Berne and is due to open in 2004.
On arrival at Burgdorf an extra coach, the buffet car, was to be added to the train. This necessitated splitting the train, leaving the final coach in the platform whilst 11026 and the other three vehicles went off to collect the coach. In the mean time next to the shed that is home to failed 241A65 steam loco for the day DB 01 202 was standing ready to go. It became clear fairly quickly that all was not well as the shunting manoeuvres were taking a long time, not very Swiss at all. Problems with the brakes on the buffet car were slowing proceedings down but eventually the set came back to the station and the electric was replaced by 01 202. However we had now lost our path.
Setting off about ten minutes down 01 202 had no problem accelerating the five coach train up to her maximum permitted speed of 80km/h (50mph). We ran down the mainline through to Berne. The Swiss described the station as having being redeveloped along the lines of Birmingham New Street ! So yes it is a concrete jungle. Beyond Berne we ran on Berne-Lötschberg-Simplon (BLS) metals rather than SBB ones.
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At
Burgdorf Ae 4/7 came off and was replaced by DB pacific 01 202 which was
also immaculately turned out. May 31 2003 |
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DB
pacific 01 202 has plenty of bits and pieces of kit and pipework on the
boiler including a series of beautifully laid out copper lubrication lines.
The shed visible to the left of the locomotive is Burgdorf - home to 241A65.
May 31 2003 |
Being out of path the clear running to this point was unexpected but appreciated. We had been due a photo runpast at Rosshäusern but this did not happen, I suspect because of pathing constraints. I fully expected there to be no runpast to get us back on time but we did in fact stop at Kerzers. This station, which sports an old signalbox, which is due to close later this year, was not ideal as the sun was not really in the right place. However it was better than nothing. Unlike runpasts in Australia there was something of a free for all. No guidance real was given as to the best location. The footbridge was suggested but with the overhead wires I opted for the opposite platform along with several others. This also gave the advantage of putting the loco on a curve and thus helping with the angle of the light a little. The runpast was very sedate, perhaps dictated by the station curvature but at least we got to hear the loco from the lineside.
At Kerzers there was a runpast. Unfortunately the sun was not in the best position. Here 01 202 sets back on to the single line before gently running forward. May 31 2003
From Kerzers we headed on down the single track towards Neuchâtel. Marin-Epagnier was to be our next, unscheduled, stop. Here a local service bound for Neuchâtel overtook us.
At every stop ashpan water supplies were turned on to damp down the ash and reduce the risk of fires being started from this source. May 31 2003
A stop was made at Marin-Epagnier to allow a following local service to overtake before proceeding to Neuchâtel for the lunchtime break. May 31 2003
01 202 is kept in immaculate condition. There seems to be not a drop of oil out of place on the motion ! May 31 2003
Not surprisingly 01 202 has a very Germanic cab ! Again the beautifully laid out oil lines can be seen. May 31 2003
Impressively the run on from Marin-Epagnier, which includes a climb at 1 in 55 to get up to the SBB lines, saw us arrive on time at Neuchâtel. During the stop the loco was to be serviced in the yard giving the passengers over an hour to explore. I opted to stay around the station. It was very hot and I didn't feel like doing anything energetic like make my way downhill in to the town. The station is some way above the town and lake.
BLS Re 4/4 191 sits on a push pull set alongside the recently arrived 01 202 at Neuchâtel. May 31 2003
With the electric out of the way there was the opportunity to get a clear shot of 01 202 before she reversed the train out of the station to the yard for servicing. May 31 2003
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The
Class 460 electrics have very much become standard motive power in Switzerland.
Here an SBB 460 arrives from the west at Neuchâtel. May 31 2003 |