Thu 28 Jan 2010
Thu 28 Jan 2010
20/03/10 20:53
Another day when my destination was determined almost entirely by the weather. The forecast was for a band of snow across Switzerland, from east to west, with southern parts, including the Engadin and Bernina, remaining largely clear. It was already snowing heavily in Chur before dawn and it was more in hope than expectation that I set off to try and find some light, somewhere, anywhere.
As usual the day started with a ride on Disentis - Scuol-Tarasp train 1221, hauled by 613. At Landquart, 605 and 606 were ready for another day on the Klosters - Davos shuttles and an unidentified Ge6/6ii was waiting on ECS 8521.
It was World Economic Forum week at Davos and a group of city gents were waiting on the platform under the indicator that read "07:47 RE Davos". A few yards down the platform sat 617 on the 07:47 RE to Davos. Until 07:47 precisely, when it left for Davos, leaving the world's finest brains still standing on the platform looking confused. If these people can't successfully master catching a train on the world's most passenger friendly railway, what chance do they have of solving the problems of a whole planet?
It continued snowing heavily all the way up the Prättigau to Klosters, where 3501 was seen heading for Landquart empty stock. On the other side of the Vereina tunnel the weather was better. It was still terminally dull but only snowing moderately. I changed trains at Sagliains onto 1921, propelled by 607. 604 was the other Ge4/4i working in the Engadin and was crossed at Zuoz on train 1928. 703 was waiting at Pontresina with freight 5140. There was also an improvement in the weather - it had stopped snowing and there was a definite hint of brightness where the sun should be. I almost had to stop myself yelling out "Onward, to the Bernina, it's our only chance!".
Motor coaches 53 and 54, working train 1621, clawed their way up out of the gloom into clear, bright sunshine above Bernina Lagalb. With a strong wind whipping clouds of snow across the frozen surface of Lago Bianco and our motor coaches crashing through drifts, sending plumes of snow flying in all directions, the run over the top was, once again, a fantastic experience. Things were a little calmer on the south side of the pass when I got off at Cavaglia.
The three hours I spent at Cavaglia were rewarding but difficult. I lost count of the number of times that I fell over in the deep snow and the biting northerly wind made standing outside really uncomfortable. Full marks to RhB for keeping heated waiting rooms, even at remote stations like Cavaglia. Apart from one train that got zapped by a cloud, everything passed in good light. There was plenty of variety as well with motor coaches of both types, singly and in pairs, and new unit 3502. One train was even propelling a snowplough. Preserved motor coaches 30 and 34 went through on a southbound special and departmental motor coach 9922 was also seen heading south with something numbered 9916 in tow.
I returned north on train 1656 with motor coaches 45 and 44, changing to train 1956 with 607 at Pontresina and to train 1156 with 652 at Samedan. 702 was seen at Samedan on freight 5164. 609 was on the Bergün - Preda shuttles. 706 was looped at Alvaneu with freight 5151 and 703 waited at Thusis with 5155. It was still snowing when I got back to Chur.
As usual the day started with a ride on Disentis - Scuol-Tarasp train 1221, hauled by 613. At Landquart, 605 and 606 were ready for another day on the Klosters - Davos shuttles and an unidentified Ge6/6ii was waiting on ECS 8521.
It was World Economic Forum week at Davos and a group of city gents were waiting on the platform under the indicator that read "07:47 RE Davos". A few yards down the platform sat 617 on the 07:47 RE to Davos. Until 07:47 precisely, when it left for Davos, leaving the world's finest brains still standing on the platform looking confused. If these people can't successfully master catching a train on the world's most passenger friendly railway, what chance do they have of solving the problems of a whole planet?
It continued snowing heavily all the way up the Prättigau to Klosters, where 3501 was seen heading for Landquart empty stock. On the other side of the Vereina tunnel the weather was better. It was still terminally dull but only snowing moderately. I changed trains at Sagliains onto 1921, propelled by 607. 604 was the other Ge4/4i working in the Engadin and was crossed at Zuoz on train 1928. 703 was waiting at Pontresina with freight 5140. There was also an improvement in the weather - it had stopped snowing and there was a definite hint of brightness where the sun should be. I almost had to stop myself yelling out "Onward, to the Bernina, it's our only chance!".
Motor coaches 53 and 54, working train 1621, clawed their way up out of the gloom into clear, bright sunshine above Bernina Lagalb. With a strong wind whipping clouds of snow across the frozen surface of Lago Bianco and our motor coaches crashing through drifts, sending plumes of snow flying in all directions, the run over the top was, once again, a fantastic experience. Things were a little calmer on the south side of the pass when I got off at Cavaglia.
The three hours I spent at Cavaglia were rewarding but difficult. I lost count of the number of times that I fell over in the deep snow and the biting northerly wind made standing outside really uncomfortable. Full marks to RhB for keeping heated waiting rooms, even at remote stations like Cavaglia. Apart from one train that got zapped by a cloud, everything passed in good light. There was plenty of variety as well with motor coaches of both types, singly and in pairs, and new unit 3502. One train was even propelling a snowplough. Preserved motor coaches 30 and 34 went through on a southbound special and departmental motor coach 9922 was also seen heading south with something numbered 9916 in tow.
I returned north on train 1656 with motor coaches 45 and 44, changing to train 1956 with 607 at Pontresina and to train 1156 with 652 at Samedan. 702 was seen at Samedan on freight 5164. 609 was on the Bergün - Preda shuttles. 706 was looped at Alvaneu with freight 5151 and 703 waited at Thusis with 5155. It was still snowing when I got back to Chur.
Chur - St. Moritz
- 627 duty 303 (1121)
- 642 duty 105 (1149)
- 644 duty 102 (1153)
- 650 duty 104 (1157)
- 652 duty 101 (1156)
Landquart - Davos - Filisur
- 617 duty 41 (1021)
- 649 duty 45 (1016)
- 648 duty 43 (1020, 1844)
Disentis - Scuol-Tarasp
- 613 duty 311 (1221)
- 615 duty 304 (1220)
- 621 duty 308 (1265)
- 627 duty 305 (1012)
Engadin push-pulls
- 604 duty 34 (1928)
- 607 duty 31 (1921, 1956)
- 618 duty 33 (8850)
- 624 duty 32 (1924)
Chur - Arosa
- 625 duty 62 (1465)
- 626 duty 64 (1460)
Klosters - Davos
- 605 duty 50 (811)
- 606 duty 49 (815)
Bergün - Preda
- 609 duty 411 (883)
Bernina
- 30+34 special train
- 41+46 duties 751+752 (1644, 1637)
- 42+43 duties 757+758 (1625)
- 44+45 duties 755+756 (1636, 1629, 1656)
- 47 snow clearing
- 53+54 duties 753+754 (1621, 1648, 1641)
- 55 duty 760 (1652, 1645)
- 3502 duty 759 (1640, 1633)
- 802 rotary snowplough
- 9922 snow clearing
Freight
- 702 duty 205 (5164)
- 703 duty 201 (5140, 5155)
- 706 duty 203 (5151)
Vereina car shuttles
- 645 duty 109 (4918)
