The
view from the train as No.16 approaches Staffel. May 30 2003
'The
William Tell Express'
Friday May 30 2003
Running downhill the loco engages the counter pressure brake system. Whilst giving excellent braking it did have the disadvantage of making the ride rather jerky with a fore and aft motion.
|
The
view from the train as No.16 approaches Staffel. May 30 2003 |
The run back to Vitznau was made without any pathing stops. At a couple of stations people seemed want to get on until the fireman told them they couldn't, and of course not stopping made it fairly tough !
We might have been on our way down but the views were still breathtaking ! May 30 2003
On the double track below Rigi Kaltbad we crossed an uphill service. May 30 2003
A good clear view of Lake Lucerne from the train. May 30 2003
On arrival at Vitznau the train ran into the southern side of the island platform, largely under the bridge built to replace the level crossing that was once here. With about half an hour to go until the return across the lake there was time to get some photos and have a look around at Vitznau.
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Rush
hour at Vitznau ! Two electric trains 1 (built in 1937) and 5 (built in
1965) occupy the station with No.16 and her train hidden out of sight
behind them. May 30 2003 |
1965 built, 62 seater, Vitznau Rigi Bahn electric railcar number 5 at Vitznau. May 30 2003
With the electrics out of the way No.16 shunts the stock ready for it to be put away in the shed. May 30 2003
No.16 moved the stock in to the main platform once electric No.1 had headed up the hill. With this done it ran on the the turntable ready to go on shed now that the day's work was done. In a very nice gesture instead of turning the loco through the approximately 90° required to get access to the correct road No.16 was turned a full 360° for us to photograph and video. Once this was done it was turned the last few degrees to get access to the shed.
No.16 and turntable operator on the turntable at Vitznau. May 30 2003
Around she goes... May 30 2003
And around... May 30 2003
With No.16 now outside the shed all that is left to do is to clean the ashpan etc and it will run in to the shed. May 30 2003
Once back on shed the crew started disposal but also took a steam lance to the frames to get any muck off. Given this and the cleaning undertaken at the pathing stops it was not hard to see how the loco is kept in immaculate condition.
The final bit of shunting was done with an electric loco. Here Arth Rigi Bahn carriage No.11 sits on the turntable before going in to the shed. May 30 2003
The view from the ferry jetty up the lake towards Rosenegg. May 30 2003
The paddle steamer for the 16:40 return to Lucerne was Uri, one of the fleet of five in use on the lake. Fewer stops were made in this direction. We only called at Weggis and Verkehrshaus-Lido.
On arrival back at Lucerne we made the short walk back to the SBB station to find out train, No.2682 the 17:54 to Basle. There were two reserved coaches on the train, one at the back and one at the front. The rear most reserved coach was first class. However as it was the first most people saw a large number of people got on board who should have been up in second class. Amazingly we were not moved and nobody seemed to care too much, so we travelled back to Basle with added comfort. Two first class journeys in one day at second class prices wasn't bad and we thought we'd probably ridden our luck for long enough now. However it was to happen again as you will read !
There were no convenient connections onwards from Basle to Mulhouse so a pair of road coaches had been arranged. These first ran in to central Mulhouse to drop off the handful of people, including my Dad, who opted not to go to the National Railway Museum.
From here we continued out to the French National Railway Museum in Mulhouse.