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Up at stupid o’clock to catch the 06:00 Swiss flight from Heathrow to Zürich, which was away on time and a few minutes early in to ZRH. Just over twenty minutes after disembarking from the plane, I was experiencing the luxury of a class 514 EMU on the way to Zürich HB. Then came 460.115 pushing IR2321, the 09:35 Zug to Zug, where I changed to a class 523 EMU for the remainder of the journey to Erstfeld.

After checking into the Hotel Frohsinn, almost opposite the station, I caught the bus up to Wassen, where most of the afternoon was spent photographing trains in the sun. There were a few cloudy spells and by 16:00 the light had gone for the day. At that point I called it a day and retired to Erstfeld to catch up on lost sleep.

Freights averaged five per hour over the period I was at the lineside. SBB traction predominated, mainly Re10/10s but there were a couple of Re6/6s on their own, an Re4/4ii triple header and a pair of 184xx diesels in each direction with a tunnel rescue train. CrossRail locos were very much in evidence, working almost a quarter of the traffic. Classes 185 and 186 predominated but there was one train with three class 436 on the front. DB 185s also put in a few appearances but there was little sign of the BLS, just a solitary class 485, light engine.

On the passenger front, things weren’t quite as expected. There seemed to be more Re4/4iis and less 460s than expected on the IR trains while the Italian plastic also seemed in short supply. At least one EC train was worked by Swiss plastic instead.

Zürich Flughafen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
514.018	19631	08:02 Thayngen - Herrliberg-Feldmeilen	09:02 (Travelled Zürich Fhn - Zürich HB)

Zürich HB

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.115 propelling	IR2321	09:35 Zürich HB - Luzern	09:35 (Travelled Zürich HB - Zug)

Zug

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
523.008	21227	10:02 Baar Lindenpark - Erstfeld	10:05 (Travelled Zug - Erstfeld)

Wassen Bf

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
185.595 (XRAIL) 185.591 (XRAIL)		NB Intermodal	12:10
185.119 (DB) 185.138 (DB) banked by 185.108 (DB)		SB Intermodal	12:16
11215	IR2280	10:45 Locarno - Zürich HB	12:20
500.011	ICN10017	11:01 Zürich HB - Lugano	12:27
500.027	EC17	11:09 Zürich HB - Milano Centrale	12:29
500.022	ICN666	11:12 Lugano - Basel SBB	12:31
11143	IR2169	10:04 Basel SBB - Locarno	12:42
485.012 (BLS)		NB Light Engine	12:48
11327 11678 banked by 11683		SB Intermodal	12:52
11171 11271 11306		NB Welded Rails	12:57
185.597 (XRAIL) 185.596 (XRAIL)		NB Intermodal	13:02
186.906 (XRAIL) 186.907 (XRAIL)		NB Light Engine	13:06
185.125 (DB) 185.xxx (DB) 185.xxx (DB) 185.xxx (DB)		NB China Clay Empties	13:10

below Wassen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11609 11252		SB Steel Coil	13:32
500.005	ICN10016	12:10 Lugano - Zürich HB	13:34
11131	IR2271	12:09 Zürich HB - Locarno	13:41
185.525 (XRAIL) 186.903 (XRAIL) 186.901 (XRAIL)		NB Intermodal	13:47
420.307 11623		NB Freight	13:51
185.109 (DB) 185.132 (DB)		SB Freight	13:52
11629		SB Postal	13:56
11183 11610		NB Holcim Hoppers	13:57
470.003	EC16	11:10 Milano Centrale - Zürich HB	14:13
460.109	IR2282	12:45 Locarno - Zürich HB	14:21
500.014	ICN677	13:09 Zürich HB - Chiasso	14:25
500.010	ICN670	13:12 Lugano - Basel SBB	14:34
436.114 (XRAIL) 436.112 (XRAIL) 436.115 (XRAIL)		NB Intermodal	14:39
11197	IR2173	12:04 Basel SBB - Locarno	14:43
11341 11682		NB Intermodal	14:45
18442 18437		Erstfeld - Göschenen Tunnel Rescue Train	14:48
11332 620.087 banked by 11326		NB Rola	14:57
186.907 (XRAIL) 186.906 (XRAIL)		SB Intermodal	15:08
11153	IR2182	13:45 Locarno - Basel SBB	15:19
500.025	ICN679	13:04 Basel SBB - Lugano	15:28
11343 11689 11333 11677		SB Intermodal	15:34
500.037 500.009	ICN10672	14:10 Lugano - Zürich HB	15:40
11122	IR2275	14:09 Zürich HB - Locarno	15:43
11644		NB Freight	15:50
185.108 (DB)		NB Light Engine	15:57
11668 420.346 banked by 11326		SB Rola	16:11
460.018	IR2286	14:45 Locarno - Zürich HB	16:20
500.005	ICN10021	15:01 Zürich HB - Lugano	16:26
11678 11327		NB Intermodal	16:27
470.005	EC21	15:09 Zürich HB - Milano Centrale	16:29
18445 18437		Göschenen - Erstfeld Tunnel Rescue Train	16:31
11679 11349 banked by 11162		SB Intermodal	16:34

A dull, wet day so I went travelling, looking for photo positions and making a few observations of note along the way. I travelled from Erstfeld to Chiasso, back north to Luzern then returned to Erstfeld. Re4/4ii 11156 provided traction for the whole day, apart the section from Bellinzona to Chiasso and back, where flirty class 524 EMUs did the honours.

First observation of note was that we went wrong line from near Intschi to Gurtnellen, passing an engineers train working near the site of the big rockfall. Instead of crossing back to the right line at Gurtnellen we continued “bang road” all the way to Göschenen, passing three freights going down the hill on the way, also thankfully wrong line. It may be perfectly safe but it didn’t feel right! Two of the freights passed were hauled by pairs of BLS class 425 “Brownies”

Another surprise was seeing 500.012 passing Faido more than 10 down on EC12 (I can’t think it could have been anything else), then at Lugano 11158 went north with EC14, formed of normal FS coaches. Southbound EC15 was a class 484 as expected although I didn’t see which one. I wasn’t particularly looking out for them but I didn’t see many of the unloved class 470s all day. They must be having a mass sulk at the moment.

It was good to see exiled Brejlovic 752.059 (DFG) stabled at Chiasso, the first proper diesel I’ve seen in Switzerland for some time. Another pleasant surprise was Re4/4ii 11108, in the superb Swiss Express orange and grey colours, heading southbound IR2173 at Brunnen. I made sure I was in position to get it returning in the evening on IR2192.

We didn’t wait to make the booked connection with the Lugano - Zürich ICN or the following EC at Arth-Goldau for some unknown reason but left for Luzern on time after a short stop. On the way in to Luzern we followed the booked route via Rotkreuz but on the way back IR2177 went via Küssnach instead. I’ve no idea why - it was booked to run via Rotkreuz and was virtually on time away from Luzern.

The RoLa trains seen were probably the same workings as yesterday although the southbound was running a bit later. It was in the yard at Erstfeld, waiting to leave when I arrived back at 16:24. I think these trains are diversions from the Lötschberg/Simplon route.

Erstfeld

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11156	IR2159	06:04 Basel SBB - Locarno	08:24 (travelled Erstfeld to Bellinzona)
185.107 (DB)		NB Freight	08:28

Amsteg-Silenen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.109	IR2272	06:11 Chiasso - Zürich HB	08:33

Faido

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
500:012	EC12	07:10 Milano Centrale - Zürich HB	09:21

Bellinzona

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
524.006	25063	09:52 Castione-Arbedo - Albate-Camerlata	09:57 (travelled Bellinzona to Chiasso)

Giubiasco

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11212	IR2174	09:45 Locarno - Basel SBB	10:03

Lugano

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11158	EC14	09:10 Milano Centrale - Zürich HB	10:29

Chiasso

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
524.110	25060	10:50 Albate-Camerlata - Castione-Arbedo	11:04 (travelled Chiasso to Bellinzona)
752.509 (DFG)		Stabled	11:06

Bellinzona

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11623 420.307		SB ACTS Swap Bodies	12:04
185.101 (DB) 185.128 (DB)		SB Hoppers	12:06
11156	IR2178	11:45 Locarno - Basel SBB	12:06 (travelled Bellinzona to Luzern)

Brunnen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11108	IR2173	12:04 Basel SBB - Locarno	14:06

Luzern

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11218	IR2177	14:04 Basel SBB - Locarno	15:12 (arr Luzern)

Arth-Goldau

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11156	IR2177	14:04 Basel SBB - Locarno	15:45 (travelled Luzern to Erstfeld)
11677 11333		NB RoLa	15:50
420.318 11383		SB Intermodal	15:57

Schwyz

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.018	IR2182	13:45 Locarno - Basel SBB	16:02

Erstfeld

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11131	IR2286	14:45 Locarno - Zürich HB	16:38
11108	IR2192	17:45 Locarno - Basel SBB	19:34

Another miserable day and another trip round Switzerland looking at potential photo positions. Today’s wanderings took me to via Luzern to Olten then on through Neuchatel to Lausanne, east to Brig along the Genfersee and Rottental, then over the MGB to Göschenen and back to Erstfeld. For a few brief minutes around Brig it looked like the sun might come out but it didn’t last long. Otherwise it was rain, rain and more rain.

The first sighting of interest was leaving Luzern when the loco hauling my train came into view on a curve, it was orange and grey 11108 again. Another Swiss Express liveried Re4/4ii was seen stabled at Lausanne a bit later in the day. The other Re4/4ii sighting of interest, more for the train than the loco, was 11130 running through Olten non-stop on Talgo stock, which I assume was EN273, the Barcelona to Zürich overnight.

The first Ae6/6 sighting of the day, indeed of the trip, was at either Nebikon or Dagmersellen, on the Luzern - Olten line where a loco was passed on what appeared to be a southbound trip freight. I was looking forward to seeing a couple more between Olten and Solothurn but, of course, we took the NBS and saw nothing until Solothurn itself, where 11518 was shunting east of the station. Nothing was seen around Neuchatel but there was an Ae6/6 stabled behind some wagons at Yverdon-les-Bains, presumably the loco off the ELSA train returned early. In the Rhone Valley, both the expected Ae6/6s were seen, one stabled at St-Maurice and the other working some vans towards Sierre/Siders at Gampel-Steg. It was also pleasing to note that all the passengers seen on the Lausanne - Brig route were hauled. For some reason I’d expected them to be push-pulls.

The MGB provided its share of surprises as well. The ordinary passengers between Visp, Brig, Andermatt, Göschenen and Disentis were worked by DeH4/4 motor luggage vans as expected, a couple of them mid-train on the way back from Andermatt to Brig. The Glacier Expresses were HGe4/4ii hauled, again as expected, and 81 was on the Oberwald - Realp car shuttles. The first surprise was at Oberwald where MGB diesel 61 was sitting on a short train of DFB stock on the DFB line. Then at Andermatt, FO HGe4/4 36 was sitting in the station, headlights on and panto raised. I’ve no idea what it was doing but it was nice to see all the same.

Erstfeld

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11131	IR2166	06:06 Bellinzona - Basel SBB	07:33 (travelled Erstfeld to (Luzern))

Schwyz

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
470.xxx	EC13	07:09 Zürich HB - Milano Centrale	07:59

Nebikon / Dagmersellen area

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
Ae6/6		SB Trip Freight	09:16

Olten

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11108	IR2166	06:06 Bellinzona - Basel SBB	09:30 (travelled (Luzern) - Olten)
11130	EN273	19:25 Barcelona Franca - Zürich HB Sleeper	09:37 (Talgo stock)
500.022 500.xxx	ICN1516	07:48 St.Gallen - Lausanne	09:39 (travelled Olten - Lausanne)

Solothurn

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11518		Shunting	09:56

Yverdon-les-Bains

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
Ae6/6		Stabled	10:55

Lausanne

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.031	IR1723	10:27 Genève-Aéroport - Brig	11:20 (travelled Lausanne to Brig)

St-Maurice

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
Ae6/6		Stabled	11:59

Gampel-Steg

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
Ae6/6		WB Vans	12:46

Brig

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
3 (MGB) propelling	238	11:39 Zermatt - Brig	13:10
54 (MGB)	546	13:08 Visp - Göschenen	13:23 (travelled Brig to Göschenen)

Bitsch

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
95 (MGB) propelling	535	11:12 Göschenen - Visp	13:28

Fiesch

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
91 (MGB) mid train	539	12:12 Göschenen - Visp	13:57

Münster VS

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
92 (MGB) mid train	543	13:12 Göschenen - Visp	14:26

Oberwald

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
107 (MGB)	905	09:15 St.Moritz - Zermatt	14:39
61 (MGB)		on DFB stock!	14:46
HGe4/4ii (MGB)	907	09:15 St.Moritz - Zermatt	14:47

Realp

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
81 (MGB) propelling		Realp - Oberwald Car Shuttle	15:06

Hospental

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
4 (MGB)	909	10:02 St.Moritz - Zermatt	15:15

Andermatt

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
102 (MGB)	911	10:41 Davos Platz - Zermatt	15:20
36 (FO)		Light Engine	15:20
52 (MGB)	848	15:27 Andermatt - Disentis/Mustér	15:20
53 (MGB)	843	14:14 Disentis/Mustér - Andermatt	15:24
55 (MGB)	551	15:12 Göschenen - Visp	15:24

Göschenen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11684 11329		SB Intermodal	15:44
11194	IR2275	14:09 Zürich HB - Locarno	15:51
11324 11671		SB Intermodal	16:00
53 (MGB)	648	15:48 Andermatt - Göschenen	16:06
11328 620.069 banked by 11238		SB Intermodal	16:08
460.109	IR2286	14:45 Locarno - Zürich HB	16:08 (travelled Göschenen to Erstfeld)

Another poor day without a shot taken, although I did get the camera out for a few minutes at one point before putting it away again.

Most of the morning was spent changing hotels, a simple process in theory but inordinately more complicated when you forget to take your case off the train. Full marks to SBB for coming to the rescue though. Station Bert phoned Train Bert, the case was quickly located, put off at the next station and sent back on the first train. Phew!

After depositing the case in the Hotel zum Weissen Rössli, a few minutes walk from Göschenen station, my thoughts turned to photography. The drizzle looked set in for the day on the north side of the Gotthard so it was through the tunnel to Faido and then the Postbus to Pollegio in search of the sun. It wasn’t there, so I backtracked up the valley to Fedoccio, where it looked brighter.

As the bus pulled into the stop a pair of BLS Brownies went past in full light but by the time I’d walked back to the position, the light had gone and it never returned. Just over an hour later it was looking really grim so I bailed out on the next bus, fortunately running a few minutes late or I’d have missed it. Lucky I did as the heavens opened a couple of minutes later and the rain continued for the rest of the afternoon. There’s nowhere to shelter at Fedoccio. A quick trip from Göschenen up to Andermatt and back brought an unsatisfactory day to a premature close.

Railway wise, nothing particularly unusual was seen. There were far more 460s around on IRs than during the week and virtually all the ECs were 470s. The exception was EC15, which produced the booked SBB Cargo 484. The timetable shows it running non-stop from Arth-Goldau to Bellinzona but it stopped at Göschenen as well. Freights were plentiful with the usual mix of SBB, DB, BLS and Crossrail traction.

Erstfeld

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11131	IR2159	06:04 Basel SBB - Locarno	08:24 (travelled Erstfeld to Göschenen)

Amsteg-Silenen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.067	IR2272	06:11 Chiasso - Zürich HB	08:29

Göschenen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11214	IR2259	07:31 Zürich HB - Chiasso	09:06
460.051	IR2170	07:11 Chiasso - Basel SBB	09:10
185.092 (DB) 185.096 (DB) banked by 185.109 (DB)		SB China Clay	09:11
470.058	EC12	07:10 Milano Centrale - Zürich HB	09:44
470.057	EC153	07:04 Basel SBB - Milano Centrale	09:44
186.904 (XRAIL) 186.902 (XRAIL)		NB Intermodal	09:48 (GTS)
11129 11151	IR2163	08:20 Luzern - Locarno	09:54
620.075 11342		NB Intermodal	09:56 (HUPAC)
484.020	EC15	08:31 Zürich HB - Milano Centrale	10:03
185.100 (DB) 185.128 (DB)		NB Car Carriers	10:33 (Fiat Ducato Vans)
185.525 (XRAIL) 185.536 (XRAIL)		SB Intermodal	10:48 (HUPAC)
460.017	IR2165	08:04 Basel SBB - Locarno	10:50 (travelled Göschenen to Faido)

Airolo

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11256		NB Empty Car Carriers	11:06

Pollegio-Pasquerio

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
185.116 (DB) 185.111 (DB)		SB Intermodal	12:20 (Winner)
11131	IR2178	11:45 Locarno - Basel SBB	12:26
11327 11678		SB Intermodal	12:29 (HUPAC)
841.029		SB Ballast	12:33
460.003	IR2267	10:09 Zürich HB - Locarno	12:37
185.108 (DB) 185.102 ( DB)		NB China Clay Empties	12:38
185.109 (DB) 185.101 (DB)		NB Light Engines	12:41

Chiggiogna-Fedoccio

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
186 (BLS) 185 (BLS)		SB Empty Car Carriers	13:21
11129	IR2282	12:45 Locarno - Zürich HB	13:38
11333 11677		SB Intermodal	13:45 (HUPAC)
500.010	ICN675	11:04 Basel SBB - Lugano	13:57
500.021 500.016	ICN670	13:12 Lugano - Basel SBB	14:04
485.018 (BLS) 185.132 (DB)		NB Freight	14:20
460.067	IR2271	12:09 Zürich HB - Locarno	14:23
185.536 (XRAIL) 185.525 (XRAIL)		NB Intermodal	14:24
185.100 (DB) 185.124 (DB)		SB Freight	14:29

Biasca

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
500.006	ICN677	13:09 Zürich HB - Chiasso	15:15
460.003	IR2286	14:45 Locarno - Zürich HB	15:18 (travelled Biasca to Göschenen)

Airolo

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11181	IR2275	14:09 Zürich HB - Locarno	16:02

Andermatt

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
51 (MGB) propelling	555	16:12 Göschenen - Visp	16:22 (travelled Göschenen to Andermatt)
91 (MGB)	550	14:08 Visp - Göschenen	16:24 (travelled Andermatt to Göschenen)
22	852	16:27 Andermatt - Disentis/Mustér	16:25

The day dawned overcast again but at least it wasn’t raining. By the time I’d had breakfast the cloud was breaking and by the time I’d walked down to Wassen then up to the line above the village it was a beautiful sunny day. Despite being a Sunday there was a lot of freight about. I noted 15 trains and several more were missed while changing positions.

Like Saturday, many of the IR trains were 460 hauled, probably over 50%, unlike during the week when Re4/4iis predominated. Most of the ECs were the booked 470 units but EC14 was hauled by an Re4/4ii for the second time in three days. EC15 was the booked 484. There were a couple of relief passengers in the afternoon, IR10286 from Chiasso to Zürich was Re4/4ii hauled but IR30188 from Göschenen to Zürich was a long rake of suburban coaches with a 540 motor coach at each end. The empty stock worked south around an hour earlier. Swiss Express liveried 11108 worked IR2178 from Locarno to Luzern but didn’t work the next leg of the diagram.

After spending the morning around Wassen, I took the bus down to Dangel, near Zgraggen, and spent a couple of hours there watching the clouds close in from all directions. Shortly after 11115 went south on IR2275 in good light, the last blue hole filled in. I went to Gurtnellen for an hour but the cloud just thickened and the ceiling dropped. That was it for another day, albeit not a bad one by any standards.

Göschenen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11327 11678 banked by 11683		SB Oil Tanks	08:03
11667 420.344 banked by 11162		SB Intermodal	08:11 (HUPAC)
460.003	IR2272	06:11 Chiasso - Zürich HB	08:11
11683		NB Light Engine	08:15

Wassen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11191	IR2259	07:31 Zürich HB - Chiasso	08:58
500.037 500.026	ICN661	08:09 Zürich HB - Lugano	09:32
470.002	EC153	07:04 Basel SBB - Milano Centrale	09:35
185.599-XRAIL 185.579-XRAIL		NB Intermodal	09:46 (HUPAC)
11151	IR2163	08:20 Luzern - Locarno	09:48
11322 11679		NB Intermodal	09:49 (GTS)
186.904-XRAIL 186.902-XRAIL		NB Intermodal	09:56 (GTS)
484.020	EC15	08:31 Zürich HB - Milano Centrale	09:58
11115	IR2276	08:45 Locarno - Zürich HB	10:14
500.006 500.038	ICN665	09:09 Zürich HB - Lugano	10:31
460.065	IR2165	08:04 Basel SBB - Locarno	10:45
11198	IR2174	09:45 Locarno - Basel SBB	11:13
620.065 11348		NB Intermodal	11:21 (HUPAC)
500.012	ICN10014	10:10 Lugano - Zürich HB	11:30
500.001	ICN669	09:04 Basel SBB - Lugano	11:33
11158	EC14	09:10 Milano Centrale - Zürich HB	11:49
436.111-XRAIL 436.114-XRAIL 436.112-XRAIL		NB Intermodal	11:53 (Walter)
460.028	IR2267	10:09 Zürich HB - Locarno	11:54
185.105-DB 485.xxx-BLS		SB Intermodal	12:05 (HUPAC)
185.099-DB 485.007-BLS banked by 185.112-DB		SB Intermodal	12:14
460.021	IR2280	10:45 Locarno - Zürich HB	12:15
500.xxx	ICN10017	11:01 Zürich HB - Lugano	12:26
470.xxx	EC17	11:09 Zürich HB - Milano Centrale	12:31
500.xxx	ICN666	11:12 Lugano - Basel SBB	12:32
460.xxx	IR2169	10:04 Basel SBB - Locarno	12:43
Re4/4ii 620.xxx		NB Intermodal	12:57
185.xxx-DB 185.xxx-DB		NB Vans	13:04
11108	IR2178	11:45 Locarno - Basel SBB	13:16
185.xxx-XRAIL 185.xxx-XRAIL		SB Intermodal	13:22 (GTS)
500.xxx	ICN675	11:04 Basel SBB - Lugano	13:28
500.xxx	ICN10016	12:10 Lugano - Zürich HB	13:29
470.xxx	EC16	11:10 Milano Centrale - Zürich HB	13:39
460.xxx	IR2271	12:09 Zürich HB - Locarno	13:41
Re4/4ii Re6/6		NB Intermodal	13:42 (Iemoli + Schöni)
185.xxx-DB 185.xxx-DB		NB Light Engines	13:46

Dangel, S of Zgraggen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11683 11334		SB Intermodal	14:13
485.013-BLS 485.018-BLS 485.004-BLS 485.009-BLS		NB Intermodal	14:18 (Ambrogio)
500.012	ICN677	13:09 Zürich HB - Chiasso	14:21
11151	IR2282	12:45 Locarno - Zürich HB	14:25
460.017	IR2173	12:04 Basel SBB - Locarno	14:36
500.030 500.035	ICN679	13:04 Basel SBB - Lugano	15:22
460.065	IR2182	13:45 Locarno - Basel SBB	15:24
11115	IR2275	14:09 Zürich HB - Locarno	15:33

Gurtnellen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
540.xxx banked by 540.xxx		SB Empty Stock	15:54
185.596-XRAIL 185.581-XRAIL 186.906-XRAIL		NB Intermodal	16:06 (EWALS)
500.038	ICN10021	15:01 Zürich HB - Lugano	16:19
11191	IR10286	13:53 Chiasso - Zürich HB	16:23 (relief)
470.009	EC21	15:09 Zürich HB - Milano Centrale	16:25
460.028	IR2286	14:45 Locarno - Zürich HB	16:26
11212	IR2177	14:04 Basel SBB - Locarno	16:36
540.xxx banked by 540.xxx	IR30188	16:47 Göschenen - Zürich HB	17:00 (relief)

A surprisingly good day despite a generally poor weather forecast. The cloud appeared to be thinnest over the mountains so I headed for the highest point I could find, Oberalppass on the MGB. It wasn’t the right place to be, with cloud spilling over the mountains from the Graubünden side. A little further down the valley was in sun though and the morning was spent walking down the hill to Andermatt photographing trains on the way.

The most interesting working was FO 36 on a set of four RhB Pullmans, labelled as a Zermatt - St.Moritz private charter, which must have overnighted in Andermatt as the stock was stabled there when I changed trains. Unfortunately it passed when I was halfway along the avalanche shelter, so I didn’t get a picture. Photography was also hampered by the random formations in use on the local passengers. Trains could have the motor coach on the front, in the middle or at the back and there didn’t seem to be much of a pattern to what turned up. I was glad when the eastbound Glaciers started running as they had to have the loco at the front. Apart from train 820, which I travelled on from Andermatt to Oberalppass, all the local passengers seen were powered by motor coaches, with the Glaciers all loco hauled, not that there’s much difference between an MGB motor coach and a loco anyway.

Once the eastbound Glaciers had passed, I took a train out to Hospental on the Brig line to photograph the westbounds. The weather there wasn’t as reliable and only after three Glaciers had passed in poor light, was I rewarded by getting the fourth in full sun. Even that was a fluke, the sun was only out because the train had been held at Hospental for several minutes waiting for an unscheduled eastbound ECS move. The cloud was filling in rapidly by then, so I called it a day at that point and returned to Göschenen well satisfied with the days haul of pictures.

There were bus substitutions between Andermatt and Oberalppass from 16:00 onwards, due to engineering work around Nätschen that’s due to continue for the next couple of weeks.

Göschenen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11342 620.075		SB Intermodal	08:05
52-MGB	523	08:12 Göschenen - Visp	08:12 (travelled Göschenen to Andermatt)

Andermatt

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
53-MGB	618	08:28 Andermatt - Göschenen	08:22
104-MGB	820	08:27 Andermatt - Disentis/Mustér	08:27 (travelled Andermatt to Oberalppass)

Oberalppass

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
91-MGB propelling	819	08:14 Disentis/Mustér - Andermatt	08:53

W of Oberalppass

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
36-FO		Zermatt - St.Moritz Charter	09:14 (RhB Pullmans)
91-MGB	824	09:27 Andermatt - Disentis/Mustér	09:45
22-MGB	823	09:14 Disentis/Mustér - Andermatt	09:59

E of Nätschen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
22-MGB propelling	828	10:27 Andermatt - Disentis/Mustér	10:44
24-MGB	827	10:14 Disentis/Mustér - Andermatt	11:00

E of Andermatt

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
55	832	11:27 Andermatt - Disentis/Mustér	11:36
102-MGB	902	08:52 Zermatt - Davos Platz	12:01
91-MGB mid train	831	11:14 Disentis/Mustér - Andermatt	12:16
4-MGB	904	09:13 Zermatt - St.Moritz	12:33
91-MGB	836	12:27 Andermatt - Disentis/Mustér	12:38
106-MGB	906	09:52 Zermatt - St.Moritz	12:58
103-MGB	908	09:59 Zermatt - St.Moritz	13:21

Andermatt

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
96-MGB mid train	543	13:12 Göschenen - Visp	13:28
52	538	11:08 Visp - Göschenen	13:28

W of Hospental

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
93-MGB	542	12:08 Visp - Göschenen	14:12
108-MGB	905	09:15 St.Moritz - Zermatt	14:17
104-MGB	907	09:15 St.Moritz - Zermatt	14:23
52	547	14:12 Göschenen - Visp	14:46
53-MGB	546	13:08 Visp - Göschenen	15:13
102-MGB	909	10:02 St.Moritz - Zermatt	15:18
92-MGB		EB Empty Stock	15:29
4-MGB	911	10:41 Davos Platz - Zermatt	15:34
93-MGB mid train	551	15:12 Göschenen - Visp	15:45

Hospental

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
51-MGB	550	14:08 Visp - Göschenen	16:13 (travelled Hospental to Andermatt)

Andermatt

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
53-MGB	652	16:48 Andermatt - Göschenen	16:48 (travelled Andermatt to Göschenen)

Göschenen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
485.014-BLS 485.016-BLS		SB Steel Pipes	17:06
460.072	IR2188	15:45 Locarno - Basel SBB	17:09

Having cracked the Gotthard and the MGB (I’m only joking), it was time to move on. My aim was to get some Ae6/6 pictures before the class disappears altogether. The morning was spent getting from Göschenen to Yvonand, on Lac Neuchatel, via the Luzern - Langnau - Bern line, which I wanted to have a look at. The photographic potential looks quite good in places and with BLS 465s and 420s powering the trains, it has the novelty factor as well. From Bern I travelled via Fribourg to Yvonand and checked into my hotel. the entire journey was made without leaving my bag on the train once, remarkable!

From Yvonand I took the train to Bussigny, on the outskirts of Lausanne, then back to Chavornay, not far south of Yverdon, again checking out spots. The local line from Chavornay to Orbe was using an old motor coach and trailer that I must get back to photograph some time.

The reason for going to Chavornay was to try to get photos of a couple of southbound Ae6/6 hauled freights between Chavornay and Essert-Pittet. I was glad that I got there early as 61590 was running around an hour ahead of schedule and passed in good light. The sun had gone by the time it was booked to pass and the second train, only running around half an hour early, passed in the gloom.

Very few good pictures today but I’m now the proud owner of a reasonable Ae6/6 shot, something I couldn’t say before. That makes it three good days in a row!

Göschenen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
52-MGB propelling	625	08:53 Göschenen - Andermatt	08:48
11164	IR2159	06:04 Basel SBB - Locarno	08:50
11199	IR2170	07:11 Chiasso - Basel SBB	09:08 (travelled Göschenen to Luzern)

Altdorf

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
185.130-DB 185.121-DB		SB Hoppers	09:44

Schwyz

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11217	IR2165	08:04 Basel SBB - Locarno	10:01

Arth-Goldau

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
500.001	ICN10012	07:47 Chiasso - Zürich HB	10:13

Luzern

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
465.003-BLS propelling	RE3322	10:57 Luzern - Bern	10:57 (travelled Luzern to Bern)

Schupfheim

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
465.005-BLS	RE3317	10:36 Bern - Luzern	11:29

W of Signau

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
420.xxx-BLS	RE3319	11:36 Bern - Luzern	11:59

Bern

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.018	IC1071	11:31 Basel SBB - Interlaken Ost	12:30
460.001 propelling	IC720	10:11 St.Gallen - Genève Aéroport	12:34 (travelled Bern to Fribourg)

Fribourg

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
560.xxx	14543	13:03 Fribourg - Yverdon-les-Bains	13:03 (travelled Fribourg to Yvonand)

Payerne

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11252		SB Freight	13:30

Yvonand

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
560.264	14549	14:03 Fribourg - Yverdon-les-Bains	14:48 (travelled Yvonand to Yverdon-les-Bains)

Yverdon-les-Bains

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
523.029	12157	15:19 Yverdon-les-Bains - Villeneuve	15:19 (travelled Yverdon-les-Bains to Bussigny)

Bussigny

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11627		SB Freight	15:59
560.292	12858	15:55 Lausanne - Yverdon-les-Bains	16:02 (travelled Bussigny to Chavornay)

S of Essert-Pittet

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11245	61570	17:10 Yverdon-les-Bains - Lausanne Triage Freight	16:46
500.000 500.011	ICN1528	13:48 St.Gallen - Lausanne	16:59
500.010 500.034	ICN628	15:03 Basel SBB - Genève-Aéroport	17:02
11649	60569	16:45 Lausanne Triage - RB Limmattal Freight	17:07
11464	61590	15:57 Müntscheimer - Lausanne Triage Freight	17:09
11614	66028	16:50 Cornaux - Genève Cargo Oil Tanks	17:19
11125	IR1537	17:13 Lausanne - Neuchâtel	17:31
500.033 500.007	ICN1630	16:03 Basel SBB - Lausanne	17:59
11271	50136	17:22 Estavayer-le-Lac - Renens VD Vans	18:17
610.439	61576	17:47 Cornaux - Lausanne Triage Freight	18:22
11206 propelling	IR1541	18:13 Lausanne - Neuchâtel	18:33
11365	50735	18:28 Daillens - Frauenfeld Paketpost Postal	18:36

Essert-Pittet

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
523.019 523.021	12168	18:06 Lausanne - Yverdon-les-Bains	18:41 (travelled Essert-Pittet to Yverdon-les-Bains)

Yverdon-les-Bains

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
560.232	14580	19:02 Yverdon-les-Bains - Romont	19:02 (travelled Yverdon-les-Bains to Yvonand)

A difficult day with very hazy conditions and a lot of cloud around. My day started with a trip down to Ependes, just south of Yverdon-les-Bains, to photograph freight 61535, the 08:45 Lausanne Triage - Estavayer-le-Lac vans, which passed in very gloomy light behind dark green Ae6/6 11473, not the best engine for the conditions.

My search for sunlight took me south to Lac Leman, as the locals call the Genfersee, first to St-Saphorin, where the light wasn’t yet round far enough, then to Villeneuve and then back to St-Saphorin. There were some sunny periods but it was cloudy most of the time.

If you don’t mind class 460s, this line is a great place to photograph with two 460 hauled trains in each direction every hour on Geneve - Brig IR trains. There are plenty of class 523 Flirts as well and a few freights. There should have been more freights but the current problems with the Simplon Tunnel have scared them away. Even without the international traffic, I still noted eight freights in seven hours and missed a couple more while travelling. Both the freights expected to be Ae6/6 hauled produced, although both passed in poor light. On the way back to Yvonand another Ae6/6 was seen on the Cornaux tanks.

Yvonand

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11275	64212	06:54 Estavayer-le-Lac - Yverdon-les-Bains Freight	07:28
560.264	14513	06:26 Romont - Yverdon-les-Bains	07:48

Yverdon-les-Bains

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11314	50229	08:01 Chavornay - Däniken RB Freight	08:04
523.022	12123	08:19 Yverdon-les-Bains - Villeneuve	08:05 (travelled Yverdon-les-Bains to Ependes)
11206	IR1610	07:53 Neuchâtel - Lausanne	08:12

Ependes

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11473 18815	61535	08:45 Lausanne Triage - Estavayer-le-Lac	09:05
420.178	50752	08:18 Biel/Bienne - Daillens Postal	09:15
523.028	12127	09:19 Yverdon-les-Bains - Villeneuve	09:24 (travelled Ependes to Rivaz)

Eclepens

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11364	61537	09:13 Lausanne Triage - Eclepens Oil Tanks	09:35

St-Saphorin

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
523.024	12329	10:08 Allaman - Villeneuve	10:47
460.046	IR1423	09:47 Genève-Aéroport - Brig	10:56
523.023	12131	10:19 Yverdon-les-Bains - Villeneuve	11:17 (travelled St-Saphorin to Villeneuve)

E of Veytaux-Chillon

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.091	IR1425	10:47 Genève-Aéroport - Brig	12:08
841.003	56579	10:45 Vevey - Villeneuve Trip Freight	12:15
11653	66529	12:09 St-Triphon - Mellingen Oil Tanks	12:24
460.027	IR1725	11:27 Genève-Aéroport - Brig	12:43
460.063	IR1427	11:47 Genève-Aéroport - Brig	13:09

Villeneuve

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
523.028	12148	13:26 Villeneuve - Yverdon-les-Bains	13:26 (travelled Villeneuve to St-Saphorin)

St-Saphorin

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.010	IR1429	12:47 Genève-Aéroport - Brig	13:55
11606	61244	10:45 Visp - Lausanne Triage Freight	13:56
523.029 523.024	12147	13:19 Yverdon-les-Bains - Villeneuve	14:18
11175		EB Departmental	14:22
ETR610.xxx	EC39	13:42 Genève - Milano Centrale	14:31
460.020	IR1729	13:24 Genève-Aéroport - Brig	14:34
523.023	12152	14:26 Villeneuve - Yverdon-les-Bains	14:46
460.013	IR1431	13:47 Genève-Aéroport - Brig	14:56
11175 11254		WB Light Engines	14:58
460.046	IR1424	13:28 Brig - Genève-Aéroport	15:05
523.024 523.029	12356	14:54 Villeneuve - Allaman	15:11
460.102	IR1726	13:57 Brig - Genève-Aéroport	15:27
460.096	IR1721	09:27 Genève-Aéroport - Brig	15:31
ETR610.xxx	EC34	12:25 Milano Centrale - Genève	15:34
11464	61258	14:09 St-Maurice - Lausanne Triage Freight	15:51
460.091	IR1426	14:28 Brig - Genève-Aéroport	16:04
460.048	IR1735	15:27 Genève-Aéroport - Brig	16:31
460.027	IR1728	14:57 Brig - Genève-Aéroport	16:33
11175 11254	61267	16:12 Lausanne Triage - St-Triphon Freight	16:34
460.060	IR1437	15:47 Genève-Aéroport - Brig	16:56
460.063	IR1428	15:28 Brig - Genève-Aéroport	17:05
11126	RE2737	16:56 Lausanne - St-Maurice	17:08
620.051		WB Freight	17:16
610.486	61262	15:05 Sierre/Siders - Lausanne Freight	17:24
460.031	IR1730	15:57 Brig - Genève-Aéroport	17:30
460.044	IR1737	16:27 Genève-Aéroport - Brig	17:31
523.024 523.029	12168	17:26 Villeneuve - Yverdon-les-Bains	17:45 (travelled St-Saphorin to Yverdon-les-Bains)

Cossonay

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11206 propelling	IR1541	18:13 Lausanne - Neuchâtel	18:25

Yverdon-les-Bains

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
560.204	14580	19:02 Yverdon-les-Bains - Romont	19:02 (travelled Yverdon-les-Bains to Yvonand)

A better day all round with much more Ae6/6 activity than expected. No less than five of the class were seen;

• 11464 worked the morning vans to Estavayer,
• 610.439 worked the morning Eclepens to Yverdon freight and the afternoon Yverdon to Lausanne freight before returning north with the Daillens - Frauenfeld postal in the evening,
• 610.519 worked the evening Chavornay to Lausanne freight,
• 610.496 worked the evening Cornaux to Lausanne freight
• and finally 11520 showed up when I was changing trains at Yverdon at 20:00. It was last seen waiting to leave for Lausanne or Estavayer on a train of vans.

Despite the number of Ae6/6 around and generally sunny weather after a poor start, I still only got a couple of satisfactory shots of the class. Most of their workings coincided with a cloudy spell in the evening and another potential shot was taken out by a passing EMU. Apart from the Ae6/6s, I was generally satisfied with the day’s haul of shots, 26 freights with plenty of Re4/4s, including orange 11320, and a handful of Re6/6s, a selection of EMUs and even a TGV. In contrast to the Gotthard, the traffic I’ve seen in this part of Switzerland has all been worked by SBB motive power, the TGV is the only exception so far.

Yvonand

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
560.231	14513	06:26 Romont - Yverdon-les-Bains	07:48 (travelled Yvonand to Yverdon-les-Bains)

Yverdon-les-Bains

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11350	50229	08:01 Chavornay - Däniken RB Freight	08:05
523.018	12123	08:19 Yverdon-les-Bains - Villeneuve	08:10 (travelled Yverdon-les-Bains to Essert-Pittet)
11208	IR1610	07:53 Neuchâtel - Lausanne	08:15

Essert-Pittet

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11464	61535	08:45 Lausanne-Triage - Estavayer-le-Lac Vans	09:07
11273	50752	08:18 Biel RB - Daillens Postal	09:14
11240	50915	09:20 Eclepens - Gossau Postal	09:27

Ependes

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11659	61539	09:45 Lausanne Triage - Yverdon-les-Bains Freight	10:09
610.439	64521	10:16 Eclepens - Yverdon-les-Bains Freight	10:29
11315	50716	09:52 Lausanne Triage - Frauenfeld Paketpost Vans	10:43
11632	68266	09:30 Avanches - Chavornay Freight	10:44
500.033	ICN1623	10:45 Lausanne - Basel SBB	11:01
523.030	12137	11:19 Yverdon-les-Bains - Villeneuve	11:26
560.xxx	12837	11:34 Yverdon-les-Bains - Lausanne	11:40
11190	50043	Renens VD - Däniken RB Vans	12:06
560.212	12838	11:55 Lausanne - Yverdon-les-Bains	12:20
11252	50241	10:07 Geneve Cargo - Lenzburg Vans	12:24
11659	61554	13:06 Yverdon-les-Bains - Lausanne Triage Freight	12:42
11239	50727	12:33 Daillens - Frauenfeld Paketpost Postal	12:44
11271	50912	Zürich Mulligen - Geneve Postal	13:19
11320	50604	11:41 Härkingen - Daillens Postal	13:30
560.xxx	12847	13:34 Yverdon-les-Bains - Lausanne	13:39
500.012	ICN522	10:48 St.Gallen - Genève-Aéroport	14:01
523.xxx	12151	14:19 Yverdon-les-Bains - Villeneuve	14:24 (travelled Ependes to Cossonay)

S of Cossonay

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11659		NB Light Engine	15:03
500.025	ICN1524	11:48 St.Gallen - Lausanne	15:08
500.033	ICN624	13:03 Basel SBB - Genève-Aéroport	15:10
TGV.117-SNCF	TGV9269	11:57 Paris Gare de Lyon - Lausanne	15:35
523.xxx	12157	15:19 Yverdon-les-Bains - Villeneuve	15:41
11606	61566	16:06 Chavornay - Lausanne Triage Freight	15:45
560.243	12857	15:34 Yverdon-les-Bains - Lausanne	15:51

Cossonay

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
523.030	12158	15:26 Villeneuve - Yverdon-les-Bains	16:21 (travelled Cossonay to Bavois)

S of Bavois

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11320	50605	15:59 Daillens - Härkingen Paketpost Postal	16:39
610.439 841.008	61570	17:10 Yverdon-les-Bains - Lausanne Triage Freight	16:52
500.005 500.000	ICN1528	13:48 St.Gallen - Lausanne	17:01
Re6/6	60569	16:45 Lausanne Triage - RB Limmattal Freight	17:05
11606	64535	17:16 Eclepens - Chavornay Freight	17:09
500.020 500.023	ICN628	15:03 Basel SBB - Genève-Aéroport	17:17
420.178 11187	61590	15:57 Müntscheimer - Lausanne Triage Freight	17:29
523.030	12167	17:19 Yverdon-les-Bains - Villeneuve	17:35
560.228	12867	17:34 Yverdon-les-Bains - Lausanne	17:45
610.519	35575	Lausanne Triage - Chavornay Light Engine	17:48
11606	61572	17:44 Chavornay - Lausanne Triage Freight	17:48
11280	50136	17:22 Estavayer-le-Lac - Renens VD Vans	18:10
610.519	61578	19:08 Chavornay - Lausanne Triage Freight	18:26
11125 propelling	IR1541	18:13 Lausanne - Neuchâtel	18:28
610.439	50735	18:28 Daillens - Frauenfeld Paketpost Postal	18:31
610.496	61576	17:47 Cornaux - Lausanne Triage Freight	18:39
11314	60568	RB Limmattal - Lausanne Triage Freight	18:41

Bavois

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
523.018	12172	18:26 Villeneuve - Yverdon-les-Bains	19:30 (travelled Bavois to Yverdon-les-Bains)

Yverdon-les-Bains

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11520		NB Light Engine	19:49
560.209	14584	20:02 Yverdon-les-Bains - Romont	20:02 (travelled Yverdon-les-Bains to Yvonand)

Another frustrating day, but most of them are on this trip! For once the weather forecast was for full sun all over Switzerland but it rapidly clouded up around Yverdon and was completely overcast by around 08:00. I abandoned any ideas of getting the Estavayer train at Ependes and headed north to Olten to try to find some Ae6/6s on the Biel/Bienne line, in theory one of the best places to find the class. There were around half a dozen trains expected to be hauled by Ae6/6s during the period I was there but in over five hours the number seen remained a big fat zero. In total 18 freights were seen, all Re6/6 or Re4/4ii hauled except for a pair of trips worked by an 843, so it wasn’t a waste of time.

By 16:00 the light had moved too far round so I moved to Olten for an hour. During that time 12 freights were seen, two of them Ae6/6 hauled, but I only managed to photograph one freight, hauled by a pair of BLS “Brownies”. The philosophy appeared to be to send the freights through any available platform so it was next to impossible to know where to stand. The station was also busy with 460s on push-pull sets but most were at the north end of their sets making photography difficult.

From Olten I travelled via Luzern to Göschenen, noting another Ae6/6 on shed at Göschenen.

Yvonand

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
560.209	14513	06:26 Romont - Yverdon-les-Bains	07:50 (travelled Yvonand to Yverdon-les-Bains)

Yverdon-les-Bains

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11125	IR1610	07:53 Neuchâtel - Lausanne	08:14
500.012	ICN519	08:05 Genève-Aéroport - St.Gallen	09:04 (travelled Yverdon-les-Bains to Olten)

Neuchâtel

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11219		stabled on stock	09:25 (for 5135 to Biel?)
11234 420.160		Light Engines	09:25 (for Cottendart trip?)
460.049 propelling	RE2934	09:52 Biel/Bienne - Bern	09:42

Olten

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
562.003	6840	10:35 Olten - Biel/Bienne	10:35 (travelled Olten to Oberbuchsiten)

Härkingen Paketpost

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11601		Stabled	10:46

W of Oberbuchsiten

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11267	50915	09:20 Eclepens - Gossau Postal	10:53
560.218	6837	10:17 Biel/Bienne - Olten	11:09
460.110 propelling	IR2118	09:03 Konstanz - Biel/Bienne	11:12
11628 11166		Cornaux - ?? Oil Tanks	11:13
560.210	6844	11:10 Olten - Solothurn	11:27
560.255	6841	11:11 Solothurn - Olten	11:33
11240	50912	12:16 Zürich-Mulligen - Geneve Postal	11:47
460.065	IR2121	11:15 Biel/Bienne - Konstanz	11:49
11275 11273	64733	11:42 Solothurn - Olten Freight	11:51
11320	50604	11:41 Härkingen - Daillens Postal	11:56
11355	50717	09:52 Lausanne Triage - Frauenfeld Paketpost Postal	12:12
11285		EB Ballast	12:17
11353 11363		WB Light	12:30 (62561?)
11273 11275	64776	12:47 Olten RB - Solothurn Freight	12:33
460.110	IR2123	12:15 Biel/Bienne - Konstanz	12:48
560.215	6852	12:35 Olten - Biel/Bienne	12:50
843.063	57174	12:38 Härkingen - Oensingen Vans	13:08
11614		Cornaux - ?? Oil Tanks	13:39
460.081	IR2125	13:15 Biel/Bienne - Konstanz	13:49
560.221	6856	13:35 Olten - Biel/Bienne	13:51
420.356	50043	Renens VD - Däniken Vans	13:53
560.215	6851	13:17 Biel/Bienne - Olten	14:08
11234	50241	Geneve Cargo - Lenzburg Vans	14:11
460.114 propelling	IR2124	12:03 Konstanz - Biel/Bienne	14:11
11239	50727	12:33 Daillens - Frauenfeld Paketpost Postal	14:15
11619		?? - Cornaux Oil Tanks	14:18
11293	50728	Frauenfeld - Daillens Postal	14:42
11641	66272	Cornaux - Basel Oil Tanks	14:44
460.026	IR2127	14:15 Biel/Bienne - Konstanz	14:50
560.215	6860	14:35 Olten - Biel/Bienne	14:51
560.218	6859	14:17 Biel/Bienne - Olten	15:07
843.063	57181	Oensingen - Oberbuchsiten Trip Freight	15:11
500.xxx	IR2126	13:03 Konstanz - Biel/Bienne	15:12
620.061	62569	13:36 Wiler - RB Limmattal Freight	15:16
620.055	66745	Cornaux - Basel Birsfelden Hafen Oil Tanks	15:42
460.114 mid train	IR2129	15:15 Biel/Bienne - Konstanz	15:50

Oberbuchsiten

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
560.xxx	6863	15:17 Biel/Bienne - Olten	16:08 (travelled Oberbuchsiten to Olten)

Olten

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11644		NB Oil Tanks	16:30
610.492	62573	Biel - RB Limmattal Freight	16:34
500.000 500.006	ICN530	14:48 St.Gallen - Genève-Aéroport	16:40
421.383		NB Coal Hoppers	16:41 (Jura Cement)
11654		NB Oil Tanks	16:44
11453	68731	15:55 Basel Birsfelden Hafen - Girlafingen Scrap	16:47
11262 11311		NB Freight	17:08
485.010-BLS 485.012-BLS		NB Intermodal	17:08
11654		SB Oil Tanks	17:09
174-BLS 186-BLS		SB Intermodal	17:10
11652		SB Welded Rails	17:11
Re4/4		SB Rail Grinder	17:14
185.599-XRAIL 185.597-XRAIL		NB Intermodal	17:15
186.904-XRAIL 186.901-XRAIL		SB Intermodal	17:24
500.031	ICN687	17:04 Basel SBB - Chiasso	17:30 (travelled Olten to Arth-Goldau)

Arth-Goldau

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
500.019	EC20	15:10 Milano Centrale - Zürich HB	18:48
11144	IR2283	18:09 Zürich HB - Chiasso	18:55 (travelled Arth-Goldau to Göschenen)
11327 11678		SB Intermodal	18:59

Schwyz

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
186.101-?		NB Car Carriers (empty)	19:07

Flüelen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11176		NB Freight	19:21

Erstfeld

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11339 620.086		NB Intermodal	19:30

Erstfeld Depot

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
Ae6/6		Stabled	19:30 (red, full chrome trim but no shield on nose)

Sunshine, bright, clear sunshine and good visibility from dawn to dusk. It’s taken its time coming but today was perfect, weather wise. It wasn’t bad train wise either with 20 freights recorded in seven hours. The passenger trains were a bit of a disappointment with many more class 460s than Re4/4iis. it was also noticeable that the 460s tended to be on the trains that were right for the light.

I started off trying to find a spot to photograph the high viaduct that crosses Maderanertal above Amsteg village. The light was almost on the east side of the bridge when I arrived shortly after 09:00. After an hour exploring the various options for a photograph the light was still almost on the bridge. I gave up and moved down to Büchholz, south of Erstfeld. Among the trains seen here were an SBB cargo 482 or 484 hauling a couple of green Ae6/6s north. The locos looked complete and in reasonable condition. Were they in line for a return to service or on their final trip to the scrapper? After a couple of hours I returned to Amsteg where the light was still almost on the bridge. A shot for high summer methinks.

Next spot was the Intschitobel Viaduct, a good 20 minutes slog up the hill from Amsteg. The problem here was that there was no warning of trains approaching from the north with traffic noise from the motorway drowning out any sound they might make. A southbound IR and an intermodal were both missed due to a moment’s inattention. Thankfully class 500s look the same whichever way they’re going and a northbound ICN saved the day. Why the countryside is being disfigured by noise barriers to stop train noise is beyond me. Compared with road traffic noise, trains are almost silent and any noise they do make is far less irritating.

The day’s final destination was Gurtnellen where the activity was intense. More than half the day’s freights were seen in two hours here in the afternoon. Preserved SBB BDe4/4 railcar 1646 also put in its third appearance of the day, the only time I was able to see it close up. Overall, not a bad day with plenty of light and plenty of trains to photograph.

Göschenen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
470.009	EC13	07:09 Zürich HB - Milano Centrale	08:35
54-MGB	618	08:28 Andermatt - Göschenen	08:42

Büchholz, S of Erstfeld

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.008	IR2165	08:04 Basel SBB - Locarno	10:31
11144	IR2276	08:45 Locarno - Zürich HB	10:32
185.136-DB 185.129-DB		SB Intermodal	10:46 (Winner)
11325 620.074 banked by 420.165		SB Intermodal	10:52 (mixed)
11682 11345		NB Intermodal	10:57 (ESS + DHL)
420.387 11662		NB Intermodal	11:15 (Hoyer + Bertschi)
500.024 500.020	ICN669	09:04 Basel SBB - Lugano	11:17
11183		NB Light Engine	11:18
460.001	IR2267	10:09 Zürich HB - Locarno	11:32
11137	IR2174	09:45 Locarno - Basel SBB	11:35
185.135-DB 185.122-DB banked by 185.106-DB		SB Intermodal	11:40 (Winner)
420.165		NB Light	12:00
11128	EC14	09:10 Milano Centrale - Zürich HB	12:07
11128	EC14	09:10 Milano Centrale - Zürich HB	12:07
500.007	ICN10017	11:01 Zürich HB - Lugano	12:14
470.008	EC17	11:09 Zürich HB - Milano Centrale	12:16
482.xxx Ae6/6x2		NB Light Engines	12:17
11131 11689 banked by 420.165		SB Intermodal	12:21 (Bertschi)
460.006	IR2169	10:04 Basel SBB - Locarno	12:28
11196	IR2280	10:45 Locarno - Zürich HB	12:30

N of Intschi

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
1646		NB Special	13:04 (preserved SBB BDE4/4 motor coach)
420.165		NB Light Engine	13:07
500.xxx	ICN675	11:04 Basel SBB - Lugano	13:19
460.077	IR2178	11:45 Locarno - Basel SBB	13:26
Re4/4	IR2271	12:09 Zürich HB - Locarno	13:33
500.xxx	ICN10016	12:10 Lugano - Zürich HB	13:41
185.xxx-XRAIL 185.xxx-XRAIL		SB Intermodal	13:42 (GTS)
470.xxx	EC16	11:10 Milano Centrale - Zürich HB	13:46
1646		SB Special	14:06
182.xxx-DISPO 189.xxx-DISPO		NB Intermodal	14:09

Amsteg

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.xxx	IR2282	12:45 Locarno - Zürich HB	14:27
Re4/4 Re6/6		SB Intermodal	14:35

Gurtnellen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11663 11334 banked by 420.165		SB Intermodal	15:11
500.xxx	ICN679	13:04 Basel SBB - Lugano	15:22
460.xxx	IR2182	13:45 Locarno - Basel SBB	15:22
11285		SB Track Machines	15:26
11144	IR2275	14:09 Zürich HB - Locarno	15:35
186.903-XRAIL 186.907-XRAIL		SB Intermodal	15:39 (TTS)
185.138-DB 185.130-DB		SB Steel Coil	15:46
182.xxx-DISPO 189.xxx-DISPO		NB Intermodal	16:17
500.xxx	ICN10021	15:01 Zürich HB - Lugano	16:22
460.xxx	IR2286	14:45 Locarno - Zürich HB	16:25
470.xxx	EC21	15:09 Zürich HB - Milano Centrale	16:25
185.104-DB 485.xxx-BLS banked by 185.109-DB		SB Intermodal	16:29 (origin NL?)
460.077	IR2177	14:04 Basel SBB - Locarno	16:34
185.134-DB 185.100-DB		SB Intermodal	16:41
11689 11331		NB Intermodal	16:44
185.127-DB 185.116-DB		SB Steel Coil	16:48
1646		NB Special	16:54
11341 11673		SB Intermodal	17:02
11340 11685		NB Intermodal	17:08 (Bertschi + DHL)

The final day of the trip began with a run down to Arth-Goldau to leave my case in left-luggage for collection later. Once again there was wrong line running on the Gotthard for much longer than necessary. We changed over immediately after leaving Göschenen but were approaching Gurtnellen before we crossed the first opposing train, a southbound ICN. After a short wait at Gurtnellen for the following EC, we crossed back to the right line to run past the work site. The red Ae6/6 was still parked outside Erstfeld depot but there was no sign of the two green Ae6/6s I’d seen being hauled down the hill yesterday. They must have gone further north. The sun shone all the way to Arth-Goldau but a bank of fog or low cloud was visible a few km to the north. Just as well I wasn’t going there immediately.

From Arth-Goldau I back-tracked to Brunnen and spent the morning photting at Ingenbohl, less than 2km north of the station. As well as the expected passengers there were a few freights as well, all powered by the usual SBB Cargo, DB or Crossrail locos. It was also noticeable that while SBB Cargo and Crossrail trains were still double headed on the gentler grades further north, DB tended to use single locos.

At midday I moved north to Immensee and was pleased to see that the fog or cloud had completely gone. The next few hours were spent walking the trackside path south of Immensee, once I’d found it, photting passengers and the few freights that passed. It was noticeably quieter on the freight front than the previous weekend, probably due to the resumption of normal services via the Simplon Tunnel. As well as the usual Gotthard trains, this section also sees Luzern - Romanshorn “Voralpen Express” services, which I had thought were normally worked by SOB class 456 electrics. However two of the sets in use were powered by SBB Re4/4s, normal practice I’m informed and a nice change to the SOB entries for the World’s Stupidest Locomotive Liveries contest.

There were a couple of unexpected workings in the afternoon. The northbound ETR470 was a complete mystery - could it have been a late running EC16 diverted via Rotkreuz due to pathing problems on the normal single-track route to Zug? It doesn’t seem likely. The other mystery, a southbound ICN set at 15:17, was solved when I got back to Arth-Goldau. It was an ECS move to Göschenen to work relief IR30188 back to Zürich later. This train was worked by a pair of class 540 motor coaches last week. When I saw a similar set parked at Arth-Goldau this morning I assumed they would be used again, clearly not.

I left Immensee at 17:30, by which time the sun was rapidly going behind the mountains, back to Arth-Goldau for the case then on to Zürich on relief IR30188 and finally to the airport for the flight home.

Göschenen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
91-MGB	616	07:48 Andermatt - Göschenen	08:04
460.001	IR2272	06:11 Chiasso - Zürich HB	08:08 (travelled Göschenen to Arth-Goldau)

Schwyz

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
470.xxx	EC153	07:04 Basel SBB - Milano Centrale	08:58

Arth-Goldau

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
540.013 540.031		Stabled	09:05
484.020	EC15	08:31 Zürich HB - Milano Centrale	09:05
523.010	21223	09:02 Baar Lindenpark - Erstfeld	09:25 (travelled Arth-Goldau to Brunnen)

Ingenbohl, N of Brunnen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
185.xxx-XRAIL 185.xxx-XRAIL		NB Intermodal	09:40 (GTS)
460.006	IR2170	07:11 Chiasso - Basel SBB	09:55
500.xxx 500.xxx	ICN665	09:09 Zürich HB - Lugano	10:00
500.031	ICN10012	07:47 Chiasso - Zürich HB	10:02
460.003	IR2165	08:04 Basel SBB - Locarno	10:06
185.138-DB		SB Intermodal	10:11 (GCAtainer)
470.008	EC12	07:10 Milano Centrale - Zürich HB	10:14
11680 410.347		NB Intermodal	10:50 (GTS)
11151	IR2276	08:45 Locarno - Zürich HB	10:57
460.082	IR2267	10:09 Zürich HB - Locarno	11:06
521.030	21230	11:00 Erstfeld - Baar Lindenpark	11:22
11666 11330		NB Intermodal	11:43 (HUPAC)

Brunnen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
521.020	21346	12:08 Brunnen - Luzern	12:00 (travelled Brunnen - Immensee)
470.xxx	EC17	11:09 Zürich HB - Milano Centrale	12:05
460.006	IR2169	10:04 Basel SBB - Locarno	12:09

Immensee

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
186.902-XRAIL 186.906-XRAIL		SB Intermodal	13:00 (CNC)
456.096-SOB	IR2419	12:40 Luzern - Romanshorn	13:02
11345 11682		SB Intermodal	13:13 (DHL + ECS + Hapag)
11668		NB Empty Flats	13:20
521.020	21351	13:06 Luzern - Brunnen	13:31
460.008	IR2173	12:04 Basel SBB - Locarno	13:37
11148 propelling	IR2418	11:34 Romanshorn - Luzern	13:54
185.134-DB 185.100-DB		NB freight	13:58
456.095-SOB	IR2421	13:40 Luzern - Romanshorn	14:03
11152	IR2178	11:45 Locarno - Basel SBB	14:20
521.xxx	21355	14:06 Luzern - Brunnen	14:32
500.xxx 500.xxx	ICN679	13:04 Basel SBB - Lugano	14:40
470.xxx		NB empty stock?	14:42
620.065 11333		NB Intermodal	14:53
456.xxx-SOB propelling	IR2420	12:34 Romanshorn - Luzern	14:55
11148	IR2423	14:40 Luzern - Romanshorn	15:03
500.025		SB empty stock	15:17
521.020	21359	15:06 Luzern - Brunnen	15:32
11197	IR2177	14:04 Basel SBB - Locarno	15:42
456.xxx-SOB propelling	IR2422	13:34 Romanshorn - Luzern	15:57
456.xxx-SOB	IR2425	15:40 Luzern - Romanshorn	16:02
460.003	IR2182	13:45 Locarno - Basel SBB	16:21
523.021	21363	16:06 Luzern - Brunnen	16:31
185.097-DB		SB Freight	16:47
11124 propelling	IR2424	14:34 Romanshorn - Luzern	16:56
456.091-SOB	IR2427	16:40 Luzern - Romanshorn	17:02
521.020	21367	17:06 Luzern - Brunnen	17:29

Arth-Goldau

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
540.031		Stabled	17:40
500.025	IR30188	16:47 Göschenen - Zürich HB	17:45 (travelled Arth-Goldau to Zürich HB)

Zürich HB

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.081 propelling	IR2135	17:15 Biel/Bienne - Konstanz	18:37 (travelled Zürich HB to Zürich Fhn)

After a relatively unsuccessful few days trying to photograph Ae6/6s in early September, it seemed a good idea to go back for another attempt as soon as possible. So I found myself getting up in the middle of the night to catch Swiss’s 06:00 Heathrow - Zürich flight again. We were away a few minutes late and landed a few minutes early but things soon ground to a halt in a very un-Swiss manner. The door that led from our jetway to the terminal was closed and the staff on duty couldn’t open it. They disappeared to get assistance that came in the form of a heavily armed police detachment. I did wonder whether they would shoot the lock off but, unfortunately, one of them produced a key and we were through. Despite the delay, all the formalities were completed, the luggage was collected and I was on the platform by 08:55, only 20 minutes after our booked arrival time, why can’t all airports be like this?

From Zürich Flughafen, I travelled to Olten, dumped my bag in a locker, then continued to Oberbuchsiten, noting no less than four Ae6/6 on the way. Things weren’t as good at Oberbuchsiten with the very photogenic freight from Oensingen producing a pair of Re4/4s, while the Solothurn - Olten bins had a filthy green Ae6/6 on a single wagon. At least there were two wagons when it went back. The most interesting freight was a short westbound intermodal with half height yellow containers marked “Marti Shuttle Express” and a wagon fitted with a control cab at the back.

The Biel - Konstanz passengers provided some interest with IR2119 formed of a class 500 tilting triebwagen as opposed to the usual class 460 push pull set. This train was a class 500 last time I was here so maybe it’s regular. Even more interesting were IR2120 and IR2125, worked by a pair of 540s. Incidently, all the 460 worked Biel Konstanz trains were formed of double-deck stock last time but they were all single deckers this time.

During the afternoon I went for a ride to Luterbach-Attisholz then back to Niederbipp in order to look for spots that would get the light later in the afternoon. A few potential positions were found west of Niederbipp but none were particularly brilliant. The Wiler - Limmattal freight, a candidate for an Ae6/6, was missed but I got the afternoon freight from Biel after walking to a remote spot. The train was Ae6/6 hauled but the loco seemed to be devoid of numbers. It was red with chrome bands on the nose but no shield on the front. I’ve seen pictures of 11417 and 11424 in this condition but both of them had front and side numbers while this one had neither.

Freight traffic seemed to dry up after 16:00 so I had a look at a few more potential spots then returned to Olten to collect my bag and then backtracked to Solothurn to find my hotel.

Zürich Flughafen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.065	IR2116	08:03 Konstanz - Biel/Bienne	09:10 (travelled Zürich Flughafen - (Zürich HB))

Zürich HB

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.065 propelling	IR2116	08:03 Konstanz - Biel/Bienne	09:10 (travelled (Zürich HB) - Olten)

Zürich-Mülligen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11520		WB Freight	09:35

RB Limmattal

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11438 610.487		Stabled	09:38

Olten

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
610.496		EB Track Machines	10:08
560.255	6838	10:10 Olten - Solothurn	10:10 (travelled Olten - Oberbuchsiten)

Olten-Hammer

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11369		EB Containers	10:12

Härkingen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11179	50229	08:01 Chavornay - Däniken Refrigerated Vans	10:20

Oberbuchsiten

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
500.xxx	IR2119	10:15 Biel/Bienne - Konstanz	10:48
560.292	6837	10:17 Biel/Bienne - Olten	11:08
11284	50915	09:20 Eclepens - Gossau Postal Vans	11:11
460.035 propelling	IR2118	09:03 Konstanz - Biel/Bienne	11:11
11610	66521	Cornaux - RB Limmattal Oil Tanks	11:19
11148 11269	62561	11:49 Oensingen - RB Limmattal Freight	11:22
11288	50912	Zürich-Mülligen - Geneve Postal Vans	11:45
460.065	IR2121	11:15 Biel/Bienne - Konstanz	11:49
11440	64733	11:42 Solothurn - Olten Bins	11:54
420.268	50604	11:41 Härkingen - Daillens Postal Containers	12:04
540.069 t & t with 540.017	IR2120	10:03 Konstanz - Biel/Bienne	12:12
11259	50717	Lausanne Triage - Frauenfeld P.P. Vans / Postal Containers	12:12
11440	64776	12:49 Olten RB - Solothurn Bins	12:38
843.056	57174U	12:38 Härkingen - Oensingen Trip Freight	12:42
11608	66523	12:06 Cornaux - Tankanlage Rümlang Oil Tanks	13:11
460.114 propelling	IR2122	11:03 Konstanz - Biel/Bienne	13:12
421.383		WB Intermodal	13:30 ("Marti Shuttle Express" yellow containers, last wagon fitted with a control cab)
11171 11177		EB Oil Tanks	13:38
11473		WB Light Engine	13:38
11173	50241	Geneve Cargo - Lenzburg Vans	13:42
540.017 t & t with 540.069	IR2125	13:15 Biel/Bienne - Konstanz	13:50
11235	50043	Renens VD - Däniken Vans	14:00
11180	50727	12:33 Daillens - Frauenfeld P.P. Postal Containers	14:12
837.822-MVN		Shunting	14:17
560.255	6858	14:10 Olten - Solothurn	14:24 (travelled Oberbuchsiten - Luterbach-Attisholz)

Oensingen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11316 420.276		Stabled	14:49

W of Niederbipp

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11360		EB Empty Flats	15:47
Ae6/6	62573	15:37 Biel RB - RB Limmattal Freight	16:03

Niederbipp

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11653		WB Oil Tanks	18:01
560.243	6871	17:17 Biel/Bienne - Olten	18:03 (travelled Niederbipp - Olten)

Oensingen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11360		EB Freight	18:05 (same flats + containers + vans)

Olten

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
500.037 500.xxx	ICN536	16:48 St.Gallen - Genève-Aéroport	18:40 (travelled Olten - Solothurn)

A very frustrating day, even by Swiss standards. The forecast was for a mainly sunny day and that was how it started around Solothurn. I had intended spending the day around Neuchâtel and Yverdon-les-Bains but approaching Neuchâtel it suddenly clouded up. By the time I’d gone out to Auvernier it was raining. I hung around for some time but there was no sign of a clearance coming. It still looked brighter to the north-east so I took the ICN up to Olten and a local out to Hägendorf. The weather wasn’t brilliant there either. After the potential lunchtime Ae6/6 activity was over (more on that later) it was off to St. Erhard-Knutwil on the Olten - Luzern line where there was glorious sunshine but only for the first 10 minutes I was there. The rest of the afternoon was spent walking back along lineside paths to Nebikon, looking at potential locations along the way.

The first potential Ae6/6 working, Neuchâtel - Cottendart trip 64568, was an Re4/4ii but there was an Ae6/6 stabled at Neuchâtel FD when I left for Olten. The freight from Les Verrières, another potential Ae6/6 working, hadn’t got back by then so I couldn’t confirm what was working it. I didn’t expect to see any Ae6/6s at Biel but there was one stabled at Biel RB and another passed on Lengnau - Biel trip 65354, a train I wasn’t expecting to be worked by the class. At Solothurn the only interest was a steam special hauled by A3/5 705, a very elegant 4-6-0 and undoubtedly the reason it was raining.

Lunchtime at Hägendorf was very disappointing. I’d spotted a location east of the station from the train but it turned out ot be fairly naff and most of the anticipated Ae6/6s failed to materialise. The Solothurn - Olten and return bins, 64733 and 64776, were worked by an Re6/6. I couldn’t positively identify Oensingen - Limmattal freight 62561, it could have been the train of rails behind 11179 or light engine 11425. The latter is worthy of note as it still appears to have all it’s decorations intact including nose and bodyside shields. The only Ae6/6 seen on a train was 11424 on Frauenfeld - Härkingen postal 50722. This was undoubledly the “mystery” Ae6/6 I saw yesterday afternoon as it had a couple of dents in exactly the same place as yesterday’s engine. A pair of 540s turned up on IR2120, so this may now be a regular 540 turn!

On the Luzern line, the Wildegg - Luzern cement, another anticipated Ae6/6, was Re4/4ii hauled. The other possible Ae6/6 turn, 62383 from Sursee to Limmattal, did produce but I’m not sure which of two Ae6/6 hauled trains it was. 11518 went north through Nebikon at 16:48, was looped at Zoffingen and then passed Olten at 17:37, very early for a train not booked to leave Sursee until 17:58. Then 11424 appeared at Olten from the Luzern (or possibly Bern) direction at 17:49, more in line with the expected running time of 62383. 11518’s train was fairly short, about a dozen wagons, many of them carrying coiled steel wire and a couple loaded with bogies and wheelsets. 11424’s train was much longer and mainly consisted of vans. Which was 62383 and what was the other one?

A couple of interesting freights were seen at Olten. The first was an intermodal carrying Planzer swap bodies with a couple of coaches at the front, what the Americans would call “business cars”, full of people - Planzer customers? The second had interesting motive power, a BLS 465 and BLS Re4/4 “Brownie” double heading, both with raised pantographs and seemngly powering. I didn’t see a driver in the second loco but I wasn’t aware that these two classes could work in multiple either.

Solothurn

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11652		EB Oil Tanks	07:52
500.002 500.011	ICN1510	05:44 St.Gallen - Lausanne	07:59 (travelled Solothurn - Neuchâtel)

Neuchâtel

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
562.002	4808	08:40 Neuchâtel - Buttes	08:40 (travelled Neuchâtel - Auvernier)

Auvernier

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11366 11182	50752	08:18 Biel/Bienne - Daillens Postal Containers	08:51

Neuchâtel

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11108		Stabled	09:41 (on p/p set)

Auvernier

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
560.232	4713	09:34 Gorgier-St-Aubin - Neuchâtel	09:47 (travelled Auvernier - Neuchâtel)

Neuchâtel-Serrières

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
Re4/4ii	64568	09:49 Neuchâtel FD - Cottendart Trip Freight	09:50

Neuchâtel

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11289	50915	09:20 Eclepens - Gossau Postal Vans	09:56
11255	50467	09:19 Estavayer-le-Lac - Langenthal Vans	10:02
11608	68266	09:30 Avenches - Chavornay Vans	10:13
420.501	RE3037	10:33 Neuchâtel - Bern	10:26
500.002	ICN1521	09:45 Lausanne - St.Gallen	10:27 (travelled Neuchâtel - Olten)

Neuchâtel FD

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
Ae6/6		Stabled	10:28

Biel/Bienne

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.049 propelling	RE2938	10:52 Biel/Bienne - Bern	10:49
460.098	IR2121	11:15 Biel/Bienne - Konstanz	10:49

Biel RB

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
Ae6/6		Stabled	10:51

Biel Mett

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
Ae6/6	68354	10:52 Lengnau - Biel/Bienne Trip Freight	10:51

Solothurn

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
705		WB Special	11:06 (A3/5 4-6-0)

Olten

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
620.042		EB Oil Tanks	11:33
560.243	6846	11:35 Olten - Biel/Bienne	11:35 (travelled Olten - Hägendorf)

Olten Hammer

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
843.xxx		EB Freight	11:37 (mainly PWay + a few containers)

Hägendorf

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11623	50604	11:41 Härkingen - Cadenazzo Postal	11:50
11650	64733	11:42 Solothurn - Olten Bins	11:59
540.039 540.057	IR2120	10:03 Konstanz - Biel/Bienne	12:08
11150		EB Empty Stock	12:11
11424	50722	10:16 Frauenfeld PP - Härkingen PP Postal Containers	12:13
11179		EB Rails	12:20
11425		EB Light Engine	12:45
11650	64776	12:47 Olten - Solothurn Bins	12:46
560.234	6849	12:17 Biel/Bienne - Olten	13:15 (travelled Hägendorf - Olten)

Olten

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
560.xxx	22839	13:37 Olten - Sursee	13:37 (travelled Olten - St.Erhard-Knutwil)
11222 propelling	IR2024	12:57 Zürich HB - Bern	13:37

St.Erhard-Knutwil

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.083	IR2467	13:17 Basel SBB - Luzern	14:10
460.108 propelling	IR2526	14:00 Luzern - Genève-Aéroport	14:21
460.014	IR2527	12:01 Genève-Aéroport - Luzern	14:38
11155	IR2177	14:04 Basel SBB - Locarno	14:46
460.027 propelling	IR2470	14:30 Luzern - Basel SBB	14:50

Wauwil

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11272 11370		WB Hoppers	14:59
460.105	IR2469	14:17 Basel SBB - Luzern	15:07
11200	IR2178	11:45 Locarno - Basel SBB	15:13
460.083 propelling	IR2528	15:00 Luzern - Genève-Aéroport	15:22

Nebikon

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.014 propelling	IR2472	15:30 Luzern - Basel SBB	15:53
11358		WB Oil Tanks	16:04
460.068	IR2471	15:17 Basel SBB - Luzern	16:05
176-BLS		EB Freight	16:16
460.105 propelling	IR2530	16:00 Luzern - Genève-Aéroport	16:26
11311	67232	15:46 Wildegg - Luzern Cement Tanks	16:33
460.080	IR2531	14:01 Genève-Aéroport - Luzern	16:38
11152	IR2181	16:04 Basel SBB - Locarno	16:46
11518	62383	17:58 Sursee - RB Limmattal Freight	16:48
460.026 propelling	IR2474	16:30 Luzern - Basel SBB	16:55
560.267	22850	16:51 Sursee - Olten	17:01 (travelled Nebikon - Olten)

Olten

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11155	IR2182	13:45 Locarno - Basel SBB	17:27
11518	62383	17:58 Sursee - RB Limmattal Freight	17:37
11369		WB Intermodal	17:38 (train had 2 "business cars" at the front)
465.011-BLS 190-BLS		EB Intermodal	17:48
11424		EB Freight	17:49
460.098	IR2135	17:15 Biel/Bienne - Konstanz	17:58
460.054 mid train	IR2132	16:03 Konstanz - Biel/Bienne	18:03 (travelled Olten - Solothurn)

Well, I got something right today. I predicted it would be a disappointing day and it was!

The best chance of getting some sun in the morning appeared to be towards Luzern so that’s where I went. There were a few sunny spells but none coincided with train times and the best I could manage were a few shots in quarter light between the showers. These included Ae6/6 11426 working 62336 from Limmattal to Rothenburg and 62357 back.

The best chance of afternoon light seemed to be in the deep south, well into the Francophone zone. I headed as far south as I could manage, travelling via Bern to Lausanne then on to Aigle in the desperate hope of finding some sun. There was little of interest to see on the way, just a couple of 540s. One was leaving Bern northbound with a driving trailer but I couldn’t pin it down to any particular working and assume it was an ECS move. The other was stabled at Romont, presumably waiting to work the evening peak’s Palézieux shuttles.

I’d planned to get off at Montreux to photograph the St-Maurice to Lausanne Triage freight but it passed through behind 11419 just as we were pulling into the station. Needless to say, I didn’t bother and stayed on to Aigle where the sun was trying to break through the clouds. Once it saw me get off it stopped trying. The rest of the afternoon was cloudy with the odd bright spell. I walked north to the site of the closed Yvorne station to wait for the freight from Sierre, anticipated to be an Ae6/6 but actually a pair of Re4/4iis. That was it for the day. Another Ae6/6 was seen at Bussigny on what I assume was the Cornaux - Lausanne freight. A couple of trains of sugar beet were also seen, one looped at Cossonay heading north and another in the yard at Yverdon, apparently heading south but possibly routed to Aarberg via Payerne.

Solothurn

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
500.021 500.xxx	ICN515	06:14 Genève - St.Gallen	08:01 (travelled Solothurn - Olten)

Olten

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11222	IR2015	07:39 Bern - Zürich HB	08:27
560.267	22819	08:37 Olten - Sursee	08:37 (travelled Olten - Nebikon)

Nebikon

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
620.xxx	62330	EB Freight	09:14
11146	IR2166	06:06 Bellinzona - Basel SBB	09:16
460.083 propelling	IR2516	09:00 Luzern - Genève-Aéroport	09:21
460.026	IR2517	07:01 Genève-Aéroport - Luzern	09:40
?		EB Test Train	09:48 (self propelled test coach)
460.080 propelling	IR2460	09:30 Luzern - Basel SBB	09:55
560.237	22823	09:37 Olten - Sursee	09:58
460.091	IR2549	09:17 Basel SBB - Luzern	10:04
11426	62336	08:56 RB Limmattal - Rothenburg Freight	10:15
460.108 propelling	IR2518	10:00 Luzern - Genève-Aéroport	10:23
11125	IR2169	10:04 Basel SBB - Locarno	10:43
460.026 propelling	IR2462	10:30 Luzern - Basel SBB	10:55
460.028	IR2461	10:17 Basel SBB - Luzern	11:06
174-BLS 175-BLS		EB Light Engines	11:17
11214	IR2170	07:11 Chiasso - Basel SBB	11:17
11426	62357	11:21 Rothenburg - RB Limmattal Freight	11:35
11171 11238		EB Hoppers	11:51
460.014 propelling	IR2264	11:30 Luzern - Basel SBB	11:55
560.267	22830	11:51 Sursee - Olten	12:01 (travelled Nebikon - Zofingen)

Zofingen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.105	IR2523	10:01 Genève-Aéroport - Luzern	12:28
460.028 propelling	IR2522	12:00 Luzern - Genève-Aéroport	12:32 (travelled Zofingen - Lausanne)

Bern

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
540.016		EB Empty Stock?	12:58

Romont

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
540.038		Stabled	13:44

Lausanne

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.015	IR1729	13:24 Genève-Aéroport - Brig	14:23 (travelled Lausanne - Aigle)

Montreux

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11419	61258	14:09 St-Maurice - Lausanne Triage Freight	14:46

Yvorne, N of Aigle

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
620.061		SB Oil Tanks	15:21
460.102	IR1426	14:28 Brig - Genève-Aéroport	15:46
460.094	IR1731	14:27 Genève-Aéroport - Brig	15:49
460.069	IR1728	14:57 Brig - Genève-Aéroport	16:14
460.031	IR1435	14:47 Genève-Aéroport - Brig	16:14
460.029	IR1428	15:28 Brig - Genève-Aéroport	16:47
460.037	IR1735	15:27 Genève-Aéroport - Brig	16:49
11249 11168	61267	16:12 Lausanne Triage - St-Triphon Freight	16:55
11248 11250	61262	15:05 Sierre/Siders - Lausanne Triage Freight	17:03
460.063	IR1730	15:57 Brig - Genève-Aéroport	17:11
460.044	IR1437	15:47 Genève-Aéroport - Brig	17:15
11145	RE2737	16:56 Lausanne - St-Maurice	17:27

Aigle

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.074	IR1737	16:27 Genève-Aéroport - Brig	17:51
11251	61266	16:00 Gampel-Steg - Lausanne-Triage Freight	18:00
460.015	IR1732	16:57 Brig - Genève-Aéroport	18:08 (travelled Aigle - Lausanne)

Lausanne

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
500.037 500.011	ICN1641	18:45 Lausanne - Basel SBB	18:45

Bussigny

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
Ae6/6	61576	17:47 Cornaux - Lausanne Triage Freight	18:50

Cossonay

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11252 11287	68271	18:14 Nyon - Aarberg Sugar Beet	18:53

Yverdon-les-Bains

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11231		SB Sugar Beet	19:06 (via Yvonand?)

Neuchâtel

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11108	5174	18:52 Biel/Bienne - Neuchâtel	19:27

Biel/Bienne

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
500.010	ICN541	18:05 Genève-Aéroport - St.Gallen	19:46 (travelled Biel/Bienne - Solothurn)

A much better day overall with a lot of sunshine and a few Ae6/6s around. Like yesterday, I started with a visit to the Olten - Luzern line where 610.496 worked 62336 to Rothenburg and 62357 back.

The rest of the day was spent on the Olten - Biel/Bienne line. I’d hoped to pick up one of the potential lunchtime Ae6/6 turns at Oberbuchsiten but the Oensingen - Limmattal goods went through before my train had even left Olten. There was no Ae6/6 at Härkingen, only an Re4/4ii, so I assume the train from Frauenfeld didn’t produce either. The final chance was the Olten - Solothurn bins but that must have run early and wasn’t seen. IR2125 was worked by a pair of 540s again, the third time I’ve seen this train and the third time it’s been worked by a pair of motor coaches.

After an hour or so at Oberbuchsiten, waiting in vain for the bins, I moved on to Niederbipp. The first candidate for Ae6/6 haulage, the Wiler - Limmattal freight, turned up behind an Re6/6, probably just as well as it was a monster of a train and even the big beast seemed to be struggling to keep it moving. The Biel - Limmattal produced 610.482 and the Birsfelden Hafen - Gerlafingen had 11473, both photographed in good light. Finally, 10 minutes after the sun had set, another 610 passed on the Solothurn - Limmattal goods.

Solothurn

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
500.027 500.013	ICN515	06:14 Genève - St.Gallen	08:01 (travelled Solothurn - Olten)

W of Langenthal

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11222	IR2015	07:39 Bern - Zürich HB	08:08

Olten

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11194	IR2164	06:27 Erstfeld - Basel SBB	08:29
174-BLS		EB China Clay Empties	08:35
560.xxx	22819	08:37 Olten - Sursee	08:37 (travelled Olten - Nebikon)

Nebikon

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11625	62330	EB Freight	09:34
460.083	IR2517	07:01 Genève-Aéroport - Luzern	09:37
172-BLS 181-BLS		WB Coiled Steel Wire	09:41
500.035 500.006	ICN669	09:04 Basel SBB - Lugano	09:44
847.905-WRS		EB Light Engine	09:48 (ex DR V100)
460.108 propelling	IR2460	09:30 Luzern - Basel SBB	09:53
460.027	IR2459	09:17 Basel SBB - Luzern	10:05
610.496	62336	08:56 RB Limmattal - Rothenburg Freight	10:13
460.026 propelling	IR2518	10:00 Luzern - Genève-Aéroport	10:25
460.006	IR2519	08:01 Genève-Aéroport - Luzern	10:35
11131	IR2169	10:04 Basel SBB - Locarno	10:43
460.083 propelling	IR2462	10:30 Luzern - Basel SBB	10:54
179-BLS 174-BLS		EB Light Engines	11:15
11152	IR2170	07:11 Chiasso - Basel SBB	11:16
460.027 propelling	IR2520	11:00 Luzern - Genève-Aéroport	11:24
610.496	62357	11:21 Rothenburg - RB Limmattal Freight	11:36
11625		WB Freight	11:47
560.237	22830	11:51 Sursee - Olten	12:01 (travelled Nebikon - Olten)

Olten

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
Re4/4	62561	11:49 Oensingen - RB Limmattal Freight	12:26
560.xxx	6852	12:35 Olten - Biel/Bienne	12:35 (travelled Olten - Oberbuchsiten)

Oberbuchsiten

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
620.058		WB Oil Tanks	12:59
843.056	57174U	12:38 Härkingen - Oensingen Trip Freight	13:07
11646	66723	11:35 Cornaux - Basel Birsfelden Hafen Oil Tanks	13:16
420.169	50241	Genève Cargo - Lenzburg Vans	13:43
11236		WB Oil Tanks	13:45
560.255	6856	13:35 Olten - Biel/Bienne	13:48 (travelled Oberbuchsiten - Niederbipp)
540.035 540.061	IR2125	13:15 Biel/Bienne - Konstanz	13:48

W of Niederbipp

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11290		EB Sugar Hoppers	14:47
11267 11319	50728	Frauenfeld PP - Daillens Postal Containers	14:53
11624		EB Oil Tanks	15:05
11645	62569	13:36 Wiler - RB Limmattal Freight	15:13
11630		WB Oil Tanks	15:40
460.098 mid train	IR2129	15:15 Biel/Bienne - Konstanz	15:41
610.482	62573	15:37 Biel/Bienne - RB Limmattal Freight	16:19
460.054 propelling	IR2126	13:03 Konstanz - Biel/Bienne	16:22
460.112	IR2131	16:15 Biel/Bienne - Konstanz	16:42
11473	68731	15:55 Basel Birsfelden Hafen - Gerlafingen Freight	17:05
460.110 mid train	IR2130	15:03 Konstanz - Biel/Bienne	17:19
11246		WB Oil Tanks	17:37
420.268		EB Container flats	17:43
11649	60568	RB Limmattal - Lausanne Triage Freight	17:46
460.054	IR2135	17:15 Biel/Bienne - Konstanz	17:47
11179		Dietikon - Renens VD Intermodal	18:01
470.009		EB Empty Stock	18:07
11311		EB Departmental	18:10
11646	66738	16:58 Basel Birsfelden Hafen - Cornaux Oil Tanks	18:39
610.xxx	62585	18:37 Solothurn - RB Limmattal Freight	18:52

Niederbipp

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
560.239	6878	18:35 Olten - Biel/Bienne	18:56 (travelled Niederbipp - Solothurn)

With little prospect of seeing any Ae6/6 action over the weekend I needed something else to keep me occupied. My original plan was to spend most of the day on the Spiez - Zweisimmen line photographing the few trains worked by BLS class Re4/4s then switch to the Spiez - Interlaken line for more of the same in the afternoon. I’d last been to these lines 12 years ago and thought I knew how everything worked but hadn’t realised how much had changed in the meantime.

Don’s message a few days previously alerted me to the new units arriving on the Zentralbahn but what I hadn’t appreciated was that the ancient class 110 motor coaches were being used on the IR trains between Interlaken and Meiringen. Last time I was here they had been relegated to the Interlaken - Meiringen locals and appeared to be on borrowed time. Zweisimmen suddenly dropped off the agenda.

I travelled from Solothurn to Bern via Burgdorf, then continued to Interlaken Ost via Thun and Spiez. Ae6/6 11501 was stabled at Thun, presumably waiting for it’s next job on Monday. Also there were a couple of 3-coach sections of new ZB class 150 units on transporter wagons. From Interlaken I took the IR to Meiringen, hauled by 110.021 - I could still barely believe it - then backtracked to Brienzwiler on a local, worked by a 130 unit. The other local turn was covered by a 160 unit. At Meiringen, 110.003 was stabled in the yard on a short push-pull set. 110.001 was also outside the depot but it was difficult to tell whether it was operational or not. The late morning and early afternoon were happily spent photographing the ancient class 110s trundling back and forth on the hourly IR trains in glorious sunshine (that’s another beer I owe you Don!).

I left Brienzwiler mid afternoon and returned to Spiez then walked out to Faulensee. This was another location I’d done 12 years ago but in those days all the local passengers were units and the IC trains were formed with the loco at the Interlaken end, useless for photography. With the locos now usually on the Spiez end of IC trains and BLS class 425 “Brownies” on over half the locals, I was looking forward to a busy end to the day but it was not to be. After one 460 and one 425, the sun disappeared into a bank of cloud, never to return.

That was my signal to return to Solothurn, this time via Bern and Olten, just for a change.

Solothurn

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
500.000	ICN1510	05:44 St.Gallen - Lausanne	07:58
500.043 500.002	ICN515	06:14 Genève - St.Gallen	08:00
566.238-BLS	RE3424	08:01 Solothurn - Thun	08:01 (travelled Solothurn - Burgdorf)

Burgdorf

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.049 propelling	RE3212	07:30 Zürich HB - Bern	08:40 (travelled Burgdorf - Bern)

Bern

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.066 propelling	IC961	07:59 Basel SBB - Interlaken Ost	09:04 (travelled Bern - Interlaken Ost)

Thun

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11501		Stabled	09:22
150.102-ZB 150.202-ZB		on SG Transporters	09:25

Spiez

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
436.112-XRAIL 436.114-XRAIL		NB Intermodal	09:32 (Walter)
163-BLS	RE3115	09:08 Interlaken Ost - Zweisimmen	09:32
460.046	IC812	06:38 Romanshorn - Brig	09:33

Interlaken Ost

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
110.021-ZB	IR2217	10:04 Interlaken Ost - Luzern	10:04 (travelled Interlaken Ost - Meiringen)

Meiringen

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
110.003-ZB 110.001-ZB		Stabled	10:40
101.965-ZB	IR2217	10:04 Interlaken Ost - Luzern	10:41 (from Meiringen)
130.010	7440	10:46 Meiringen - Interlaken Ost	10:46 (travelled Meiringen - Brienzwiler)

E of Brienzwiler

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
110.021	IR2218	09:55 Luzern - Interlaken Ost	11:27
110.022	IR2219	11:04 Interlaken Ost - Luzern	11:32
160.002-ZB	7442	11:46 Meiringen - Interlaken Ost	11:50
130.010	7445	11:33 Interlaken Ost - Meiringen	12:03
110.022	IR2220	10:55 Luzern - Interlaken Ost	12:27
110.021	IR2221	12:04 Interlaken Ost - Luzern	12:32
130.010	7448	12:46 Meiringen - Interlaken Ost	12:49
160.002	7449	12:33 Interlaken Ost - Meiringen	13:05
110.021	IR2222	11:55 Luzern - Interlaken Ost	13:27
110.022	IR2223	13:04 Interlaken Ost - Luzern	13:32
160.002	7452	13:46 Meiringen - Luzern	13:51

Brienzwiler

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
110.022	IR2224	12:55 Luzern - Interlaken Ost	14:28
110.021	IR2225	14:04 Interlaken Ost - Luzern	14:30
130.010	7456	14:46 Meiringen - Interlaken Ost	14:52 (travelled Brienzwiler - Interlaken Ost)

Interlaken Ost

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
566.233-BLS	6125	15:29 Interlaken Ost - Spiez	15:29 (travelled Interlaken Ost - Spiez)

Interlaken West

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
195-BLS propelling	6126	15:09 Spiez - Interlaken Ost	15:33

Spiez Depot

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
485.008-BLS		Stabled	15:59

Faulensee

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.006	IC982	16:00 Interlaken Ost - Basel SBB	16:23
163-BLS propelling	RE3126	15:38 Zweisimmen - Interlaken Ost	16:28
460.020 propelling	IC977	14:59 Basel SBB - Interlaken Ost	16:37
195-BLS	6127	16:20 Interlaken Ost - Spiez	16:44
401.073-DB	ICE1082	16:30 Interlaken Ost - Basel SBB	16:49

Spiez

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.104 propelling	IC1079	15:31 Basel SBB - Interlaken Ost	17:04
465.016-BLS 173-BLS		SB Intermodal	17:04
185.592-XRAIL 185.579-XRAIL banked by 185.601-XRAIL		SB Containers	17:19
460.039	IC986	17:00 Interlaken Ost - Basel SBB	17:21
460.051 propelling	IC10837	16:41 Brig - Bern	17:21 (relief - travelled Spiez - Bern)

Bern

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.086	IR2537	16:01 Geneve-Aeroport - Luzern	17:54
460.039 propelling	IC982	17:00 Interlaken Ost - Basel SBB	18:04 (travelled Bern - Olten)
460.064 propelling	IC981	16:59 Basel SBB - Interlaken Ost	18:04

Olten

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.114 propelling	IR2036	17:09 Schaffhausen - Bern	18:36
500.014 500.032	ICN536	16:48 St.Gallen - Genève-Aéroport	18:40

It was one of those totally grotty days when you don’t even consider where you might stand a chance of getting the sun. Instead I whiled away the hours until my flight home by clocking up some km on my InterRail, looking for spots that might be worth visiting on a future trip.

The first target was the Neuchâtel - Bern line. The southbound ICNs just miss the connection at Neuchâtel so instead of sitting around for an hour I carried on to Yverdon-les-Bains and then returned on a northbound ICN. All seemed well when I got off the train but, just as the second northbound ICN departed, it was announced that the Bern train was cancelled and passengers should travel via Biel. Thanks a bunch! Two fast trains to Biel had just left so I had to take a stopper, effectively losing an hour. It turned out that the line was closed all day for engineering work but that wasn’t apparent until I got to Bern, where there were prominent notices with full details. I was surprised to see an ICN unit covering a Biel - Bern turn, which I’d assumed were solid 460s.

From Bern I travelled over the original main line to Olten to check for locations. This line sees a fair amount of freight, mostly heading for the Lötschberg but good photo positions look few and far between. Although we took the new line through the Grauholz Tunnel between Bern and Burgdorf, we still used the old route via Aarburg at the Olten end of the line.

Then it was on to Basel to check out the Basel - Frick - Brugg route, part of the principal freight route from Germany to the Gotthard, another difficult line for spots, apart from a few around Frick and Ziehen I already knew about. There were eight Ae6/6s stabled or stored at Muttenz. They looked operational but it was difficult to be sure. Two more were seen during the day, one at Biel RB and the other at Langenthal, both undoubtedly operational. Although the service I travelled on was loco hauled, a Zürich Flughafen - Basel SBB train was seen formed of two class 522 units.

After getting off at Baden, I retraced my steps to Brugg then followed the freight route south to Rotkreuz, changing trains at Lenzburg. Most of the line looked devoid of potential but there appeared to be some very nice photo positions at the south end of the line, from Benzenschwil onwards. From Rotkreuz it was onwards to Luzern and then on the Voralpen Express to Pfäffikon before finally taking the S-Bahn to Zürich Flughafen. A couple of ÖBB RailJets were seen at Pfäffikon, both covered in grime and looking really unattractive. I remember thinking how smart they looked when they were new and clean.

Another trip over. Good weather on Friday and Saturday rescued what was in danger of becoming a trip to forget. As with the previous trip, the results were more than acceptable in every respect bar one - not enough pics of Ae6/6s in good light.

Solothurn

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
500.004	ICN1510	05:44 St.Gallen - Lausanne	07:59 (travelled Solothurn - Yverdon-les-Bains)

Biel RB

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
Ae6/6		Stabled	08:10

Biel/Bienne

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.080	IR2115	08:15 Biel/Bienne - Konstanz	08:14
460.055 propelling	RE2928	08:22 Biel/Bienne - Bern	08:16

Yverdon-les-Bains

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
500.021	ICN610	07:03 Basel SBB - Genève-Aéroport	08:55
500.003	ICN519	08:05 Genève-Aéroport - St.Gallen	09:04 (travelled Yverdon-les-Bains - Neuchâtel)

Neuchatel

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
560.216	5125		09:37 (travelled Neuchâtel - Biel/Bienne)

Biel/Bienne

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.068 propelling	RE2936	10:22 Biel/ Bienne - Bern	10:22 (travelled Biel/Bienne - Bern)

Lyss

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
500.040	RE2937	10:13 Bern - Biel/Bienne	10:30

Bern

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11108		NB (Football?) Special	10:53
460.068	RE3221	11:07 Bern - Olten	11:07 (travelled Bern - Olten)

Langenthal

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
610.420		Stabled	11:42

Olten

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.059 propelling	IR1920	11:06 Zürich HB - Bern	11:58
460.066 propelling	IC1070	10:30 Interlaken Ost - Basel SBB	12:05 (travelled Olten - Basel SBB)

Muttenz

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
Ae6/6 x8		Stabled / Stored	12:21

Basel SBB

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.030	IR1775	12:47 Basel SBB - Chur	12:35
460.005	IR2075	12:40 Basel SBB - Zürich Flughafen	12:40 (travelled Basel SBB - Baden)

Baden

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
522.xxx 522.xxx	IR2024	13:04 Zürich Flughafen - Basel SBB	13:33
500.038	IR1925	12:36 Bern - Zürich HB	13:38
11228	IR1974	13:36 Zürich HB - Basel SBB	13:51
560.263	6754	14:04 Baden - Langenthal	14:04 (travelled Baden - Lenzburg)

Lenzburg

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
523.004	7357	14:37 Lenzburg - Rotkreuz	14:37 (travelled Lenzburg - Rotkreuz)

Rotkreuz

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
11685 11349		NB Intermodal	15:10
460.115 propelling	IR2345	14:35 Zürich HB - Luzern	15:10 (travelled Rotkreuz - Luzern)

Luzern

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
456.094-SOB	IR2425	15:40 Luzern - Romanshorn	15:40 (travelled Luzern - Pfäffikon)

Küssnacht am Rigi

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
456.095-SOB propelling	IR2422	13:34 Romanshorn - Luzern	16:00

Arth-Goldau

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
540.036		Stabled	16:16

Altmatt

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
456.091-SOB propelling	IR2424	14:34 Romanshorn - Luzern	16:31

Pfäffikon

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
460.104 propelling	IC579	15:33 Basel SBB - Chur	17:00
1116.208-ÖBB	RJ363	16:40 Zürich HB - Wien West	17:03
460.050	IC582	16:09 Chur - Basel SBB	17:04
446.015-SOB mid train	IR2426	15:34 Romanshorn - Luzern	17:06
1116.xxx-ÖBB mid train 1116.221-ÖBB propelling	RJ162	06:05 Budapest - Zürich HB	17:08
450.000	18565	15:47 Rafz - Pfäffikon	17:09
450.012 propelling	18265	16:11 Effretikon - Ziegelbrücke	17:12
450.064	18272	16:50 Ziegelbrücke - Effretikon	17:17 (travelled Pfäffikon - (Zürich HB))

Zürich HB

Loco	Train No.	Train Details	Notes
450.064 propelling	18272	16:50 Ziegelbrücke - Effretikon	17:55 (travelled (Zürich HB) - Zürich Flughafen )