Sat 30 Jan 2010
Sat 30 Jan 2010
20/03/10 20:53
My last day on the RhB started in the same way as all the others, with a journey southwards on train 1221 in search of the sun. Not that there was a lot of hope according to the forecast. Today's motive power on 1221 was 616. At Landquart 606 and 707 were on the stock for trains 815 and 1327 respectively and 605 was in the platform with 811. Further up the valley, 702 was crossed at Klosters Dorf on 1220, a very pleasant surprise. I changed to train 1921, propelled by 618, at Sagliains. Heavy overcast and snow in the Prättigau had given way to just overcast in the Engadin. There were some holes in the cloud, where a weak, hazy sun shone through, but nothing that made me want to get out and take pictures.
By now plan B was in operation and that meant continuing to Pontresina. 604 was crossed at Susch on 1924 and 607 was waiting at Bever with 8850, the ECS to S-chanf. At Samedan, 609 was ready to go with 1332, a Saturdays only train to Landquart that started running today, and 601 was on the stock of 1336, ready to follow an hour later. I'd hoped to photograph these trains somewhere in the Engadin but, as they were only two coaches long, they wouldn't have made particularly good photos anyway. 706 arrived at Samedan with 1121 while we were waiting. This train is booked for a Ge6/6ii at the weekend.
I returned immediately from Pontresina to Samedan with 618 on train 1932, then changed to train 1132 to Chur with 652 on the front. 621 was crossed at Bergün with Bernina Express 955, which runs as a separate train at weekends, and 603 was waiting to follow it up the hill with Schlittelzug 855. The second Schlittelzug, which only runs at weekends, was crossed at Alvaneu, on its way up from Chur, with 602.
After arrival at Chur I had the best part of an hour to photograph 626 departing through the streets with 1437 to Arosa and collect my bag from left luggage. Then it was off home via the scenic route. Train 1232 with 614 took me to Disentis, crossing the 9th Ge4/4i of the day, 610, on Glacier 900 at Tavanasa. This is another train that just started running today.
From Disentis, I continued westwards on MGB train 859 with 106 on the front. From Mompe-Tujetsch to Nätschen was new track for me and a few potential photo positions were noted, particularly around Sedrun and on the descent from Oberalppass to Andermatt. Another change at Andermatt and I was heading down to Göschenen on train 2658 with motor baggage van 53. No photspots on this section, it's just one long, steeply inclined avalanche shelter.
At Göschenen SBB took over, in the form of 460057 on IR2286 to Zürich HB. There was a fair bit of freight on the Gotthard but most of it seemed to be hauled by DB 185s rather than the expected SBB Re10/10s. Things must have changed in the ten years or so since my last visit. At Arth-Goldau we crossed what I can only decribe as a spotty SOB Re4/4iv on a Voralpen Express working. Nothing else of significance was seen on the way into Zürich HB, from where 460109 propelled me to Zürich Flughafen on IR2362.
The flight home was delayed around 30 minutes but otherwise uneventful.
By now plan B was in operation and that meant continuing to Pontresina. 604 was crossed at Susch on 1924 and 607 was waiting at Bever with 8850, the ECS to S-chanf. At Samedan, 609 was ready to go with 1332, a Saturdays only train to Landquart that started running today, and 601 was on the stock of 1336, ready to follow an hour later. I'd hoped to photograph these trains somewhere in the Engadin but, as they were only two coaches long, they wouldn't have made particularly good photos anyway. 706 arrived at Samedan with 1121 while we were waiting. This train is booked for a Ge6/6ii at the weekend.
I returned immediately from Pontresina to Samedan with 618 on train 1932, then changed to train 1132 to Chur with 652 on the front. 621 was crossed at Bergün with Bernina Express 955, which runs as a separate train at weekends, and 603 was waiting to follow it up the hill with Schlittelzug 855. The second Schlittelzug, which only runs at weekends, was crossed at Alvaneu, on its way up from Chur, with 602.
After arrival at Chur I had the best part of an hour to photograph 626 departing through the streets with 1437 to Arosa and collect my bag from left luggage. Then it was off home via the scenic route. Train 1232 with 614 took me to Disentis, crossing the 9th Ge4/4i of the day, 610, on Glacier 900 at Tavanasa. This is another train that just started running today.
From Disentis, I continued westwards on MGB train 859 with 106 on the front. From Mompe-Tujetsch to Nätschen was new track for me and a few potential photo positions were noted, particularly around Sedrun and on the descent from Oberalppass to Andermatt. Another change at Andermatt and I was heading down to Göschenen on train 2658 with motor baggage van 53. No photspots on this section, it's just one long, steeply inclined avalanche shelter.
At Göschenen SBB took over, in the form of 460057 on IR2286 to Zürich HB. There was a fair bit of freight on the Gotthard but most of it seemed to be hauled by DB 185s rather than the expected SBB Re10/10s. Things must have changed in the ten years or so since my last visit. At Arth-Goldau we crossed what I can only decribe as a spotty SOB Re4/4iv on a Voralpen Express working. Nothing else of significance was seen on the way into Zürich HB, from where 460109 propelled me to Zürich Flughafen on IR2362.
The flight home was delayed around 30 minutes but otherwise uneventful.
Chur - St. Moritz
- 641 duty 101 (1137)
- 642 duty 105 (1125)
- 644 duty 104 (1133)
- 650 duty 102 (1129)
- 652 duty 103 (1132, 1141)
- 706 duty 206 (1121, 1136)
Landquart - Davos - Filisur
- 617 duty 41 (1021)
- 648 duty 45 (1016, 1820)
- 651 duty 43 (1020)
Disentis - Scuol-Tarasp
- 611 duty 309 (1249)
- 614 duty 307 (1232)
- 616 duty 311 (1221, 1228, 1253)
- 620 duty 312 (1241)
- 627 duty 305 (1012)
- 702 duty 304 (1220, 1245)
Engadin push-pulls
- 604 duty 32 (1924)
- 607 duty 33 (8850, 853)
- 618 duty 31 (1921, 1932)
- 624 duty 34 (1928)
Klosters - Davos
- 605 duty 50 (811)
- 606 duty 49 (815)
Chur - Arosa
- 626 duty 64 (1437)
Bergün - Preda
- 602 duty 65 (829)
- 603 duty 411 (855)
Landquart - Engadin Saturday Extras
- 601 duty 403 (1336)
- 609 duty 401 (1332)
- 707 duty 201 (1327)
Tourist Trains
- 610 duty 402 (900)
- 621 duty 310 (955)
- 631 duty 301 (8521, 910)
Vereina Car Shuttles
- 645 duty 48 (4818)
- 646 duty 49 (4918)
MGB
- 21 854 14:27 Andermatt - Disentis
- 53 658 15:28 Andermatt - Göschenen
- 93 662 15:48 Andermatt - Göschenen
- 94 additional Andermatt - Oberalppass (seen at Nätschen)
- 96 stabled Disentis
- 101 844 13:27 Andermatt - Disentis
- 103 910 10:00 Zermatt - St. Moritz
- 104 stabled Disentis
- 106 859 14:14 Disentis - Andermatt
- 107 860 15:27 Andermatt - Disentis
