SS
Lötschberg & Onwards to Mulhouse
October 8 2003
The short train journey alongside Lake Brienz, in lovely weather, led us to Interlaken Ost from where it was just a short walk to the covered dry dock to view SS Lötschberg.
SS Lötschberg was in dry dock enabling a very interesting look at the ship not normally possible. October 8 2003
The paddles are cranked, that is each one changes angle to the water as it goes around thus giving maximum drive when required but minimising drag when not in position to drive the ship forward. October 8 2003
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The
angle of the paddle on the left is controlled by the levers connected
to it. October 8 2003 |
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The
ship's rudder. October 8 2003 |
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This
lovely piece of work was on the stern of the ship. October 8 2003 |
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Each
step on the ship has a lovely brass edging strip with 'Lötschberg'
cast in it. October 8 2003 |
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This
is the view of the ships propulsion system that the passengers get. October
8 2003 |
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This
view shows the eccentrics which drive the valvegear on the low pressure
cylinder and the very substantial support provided for all of the motion.
October 8 2003 |
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The
shaft leading off to the left of the photograph drives the paddle on that
side of the ship. October 8 2003 |
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Direction
and speed controls on Lötschberg. October 8 2003 |
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The
ship uses a two cylinder compound steam engine. The high pressure side
is closest. October 8 2003 |
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Another
view of the cylinders. Note the tailrods. This clearly shows the difference
in size between the high and low pressure sides of the engine. October
8 2003 |
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Some
of the valve motion for the low pressure side, immaculately maintained,
just like the rest of the ship. October 8 2003 |
Having seen most of the ship it was time for Chris & I to make our excuses and walk back to Interlaken Ost to catch the next train to Basel. After queuing for what felt like an age I managed to get the tickets and walked back to the platform our train was departing from to find Chris already sat down ready to go. Being a Swiss the train was 15 vehicles and 1 locomotive. Interlaken Ost is operated as part of the Bern Lötschberg Simplon system. One of their locomotives took us as far as Bern were a SBB locomotive took over.
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Waiting
at Bern for the train to continue on to Basel. October 8 2003 |
Beyond Bern the train more or less followed the route I had travelled in May 2003 with 01 202 and Ae 4/7 11026 on 'The Lake Neuchâtel Express'. So we passed through Burgdorf, home to several steam locomotives including SNCF 241A65, the wheels of which were visible through the shed windows. Beyond Olten, instead of taking the new direct line towards Basel we took the old route via the original Hauenstein Tunnel. The mainline was shut for the replacement of a bridge over a river. The preparations for this work had been seen back in May 2003.
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Basel
SBB station. October 8 2003 |
Once at Basel station, with its normal collection of trains from several different countries, we made our way to the French side of the station for the short journey through to Mulhouse, the ultimate destination for the day.
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Goodbye
Switzerland, Hello France. Basel railway station. October 8 2003 |
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SNCF
'Sybic' 26149 at platform 31 Basel SNCF station. The coaches are being
released by a shunting locomotive to allow the loco to be released from
the dead end road. October 8 2003 |
Once we had found the hotel, naturally a much longer walk than had been expected, we had a quick look around the town with its' odd painted buildings before it went dark.
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The
centre of Mulhouse with the painted Hotel de Ville on the left. October
8 2003 |
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Many
of the buildings in the centre of Mulhouse look to be built from crafted
stone, however the reality is that they are painted to give that impression.
October 8 2003 |
One building very much painted to give the impression of using nice stone work is the Hotel de Ville. October 8 2003
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Saint
Etienne's Protestant Church dates from the 16th century is is certainly
not painted ! October 8 2003 |
A view inside Saint Etienne's Protestant Church showing the organ. October 8 2003
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Some
of the lovely stained glass windows in Saint Etienne's Protestant Church
October 8 2003 |
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More
of the stained glass windows. Above is a close up depicting Jonah. October
8 2003 |
Inside the church was a display of ancient relics such as this illustrated German language Bible. October 8 2003
After a meal in the town and a beer in the hotel bar discussing things 5AT it was time to get some rest before the next day. This was to be spent in the French National Railway Museum before flying back to London.
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On to October 9 2003 - At the French National Railway Museum |
