Rack
& Adhesion Steam from Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald & Return
October 5 2003
The day did not start well. Some pratt did not set the time on his alarm clock to European time so we got up an hour late. As a result we had to miss breakfast. Instead we rushed off to Interlaken Ost station to travel behind HG 3/3 1067. The locomotive was pulling two trips during the day. The morning trip, the longer of the two, was from Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald and return over the metals of the BOB system.

Not only did we get up late but the weather was not great ! This is the view from just outside of the hotel. The snow was welcome but the low cloud and biting cold was not ! October 4 2003

HG 3/3 1067 at Interlaken Ost. October 5 2003

HG 3/3 1067 and its three coach train at Interlaken Ost on a damp and cold morning. October 5 2003
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
HG
3/3 1067 was built by SLM in 1910. However the Westinghouse air brake
pump was built in London. Today 1067 is owned and operated by Ballenberg
Dampfbahn. Its last major overhaul was completed in 1996. October
5 2003 |
||

A SBB Brunig Pass line train for Lucerne was stood in Interlaken Ost station. It is headed by 2547hp HGe 101 961-1. October 5 2003

The carriages used by Ballenberg Dampfbahn are lovely old six wheeled wooden vehicles all in immaculate condition. October 5 2003
|
The
first stop out from Interlaken Ost was at Wilderswil. This is the interchange
for the Schynige Platte Bahn which operates with some ancient looking
electric locomotives. October 5 2003 |

The first water stop was in the loop at junction station Zweilütschinen. Here the line splits for Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen. 1067 takes water as the passengers wander around and avoid getting mowed down. October 5 2003
![]() |
The
driver watches the water level on 1067 at Zweilütschinen
as a Grindelwald bound BOB electric overtakes. October 5 2003 |

The central axle of the carriages is in a sort of bogie. This axle also had a rack cog for braking purposes. October 5 2003

An Interlaken Oct bound electric passes the steam hauled special at a station south of Zweilütschinen. October 5 2003
![]() |
Chris
Newman with 1067 during the second water stop which was at Schwendi. October
5 2003 |
![]() |
A
red sealant is used on 1067 to help keep the smokebox door air tight.
October 5 2003 |

HG 3/3 1067 during the water stop at Schwendi. October 5 2003

The weather on arrival at Grindelwald was not much better than it had been in Interlaken. However with the extra altitude it was even colder. Here 1067 stands more or less at the end of the line. October 5 2003
![]() |
1067
really didn't have much further to go at Grindelwald. October 5 2003 |

Grindelwald is the interchange for the 800mm gauge Wengernalpbahn. The line leads over the mountains to the afternoon destination of Lauterbrunnen. Here train 56 for Kleine Scheidegg sets off in the rain. October 5 2003
![]() |
After
the departure of a BOB service 1067 pushed the coaches back in to the
loop then ran round. Here the loco is on the rack (the A on the board
indicating the start of the rack section) at the Interlaken end of Grindelwald
loop. October 9 2003 |
![]() |
Back
on the adhesion only section of Grindelwald loop 1067 runs towards the
carriages. October 5 2003 |

Having run round 1067's driver looks out of the cab. Before setting off downhill the protective sheet was lowered to keep the worst of the weather from entering the cab via the large rear "window". October 5 2003
![]() |
Destination
Interlaken Oct. Such destination boards are still a common feature on
many Swiss trains. October 9 2003 |

Primitive but in lovely condition. This is the view inside one of the restored carriages of the Ballenberg Dampfbahn. October 5 2003

Back at Interlaken Ost 1067 runs round her train before taking a break for lunch. October 5 2003
With a few hours to kill and stomachs to fill Chris & I headed off in to Interlaken to get some lunch and to have a quick look around.
![]() |
The
waters flowing out of Lake Brienz through Interlaken are a strange blue
colour and very cloudy. This is due to the minerals etc it carries as
a result of being glacial melt water. October 5 2003 |