150 Years of Swiss Railways.

150 Years of Swiss Railways 1847 - 1997

Celebrations to mark the anniversary took place throughout Switzerland during 1997. The events staged were varied and included station parties, static exhibitions of locos and rolling stock and special trains hauled by vintage electric or steam locos. Two of the highlights of the year were the mega-exhibition of locomotives in Lausanne in June and the special trains run over the Gotthard route in August and September. All the photos on this page were taken by me during these events and have been copied from the original 35mm slides. There is some loss of quality but I hope that they will still be of interest to Swiss railway enthusiasts. A number of the locos appearing in the photos can be found in model form on my layout, a good way for me to remember my visits during that very special year.

14th June 1997

A small selection of photos from the mega-exhibition held in Lausanne-Triage marshalling yard.

Replica of D1/3 no.1 "Limmat"

Replica of D1/3 no.1 "Limmat"

CZm1/2 no.31 of the Uerikon-Bauma Bahn. (ex-Cm1/2 no.1 of NOB-SBB)

SBB Eb3/5 no. 5819

Huttwil Wolhusen Bahn Ec3/3 no.5

SBB Jubilee Lok no.460-084-7 "Helvetia" carrying the first version of its special livery.

SBB B3/4 no.1367

SBB C5/6 no.2978

SCB Ed2x2/2 no.196 (SBB-CFF no.7696)

SBB A3/5 no.705

Bödelibahn E2/2 no.3 "Zephir"

SBB Ae3/6 ll no.10439

SBB Be4/6 no.12320

SBB Ce6/8 ll no.14253

SBB Ce6/8 lll no.14305

BLS Ae4/4 no.251

SBB RFe4/4 no.601

SBB "Red Arrow" RAe2/4 no.1001

SBB Re4/4 l no.10001

SBB Re4/4 l no.10049

SBB Ae6/6 no.11424 "Neuchatel"

Rotary Snowplough

30th August 1997

Gotthard Specials

On 30th August 1997 Eb3/5 no.5819 and B3/4 no.1367 hauled a southbound Gotthard special train. The steam locos are seen here at Göschenen waiting for the SBB Re4/4 l to be attached which would pilot them through the Gotthard tunnel.

Another shot of Eb3/5 no.5819 and B3/4 no.1367 at Göschenen

Eb3/5 no.5819 and B3/4 no.1367 preparing to leave Airolo after the tunnel pilot had been removed.

Eb3/5 no.5819 and B3/4 no.1367 passing through Biasca with the special working.

Ce6/8's nos.14253 and 14305 took over from the steam locos at Bellinzona. The special train is seen here departing from Lugano on the final leg of its journey.

On the same day "Churchill Arrow" RAe4/8 no.1021 also worked a southbound Gotthard special. It is seen here passing through Biasca.

31st August 1997

Gotthard Specials

BDe4/4 no.1643 was used as a mobile video platform for many of the special workings. It is seen here at Melide waiting for a northbound Crocodile hauled special to approach on the adjacent track.

Ce6/8's nos.14305 and 14253 coming off the causeway at Melide with a northbound Gotthard special working.

Ce6/8 ll no.14253, Ae4/7 no.10976 and Ae8/14 no.11801 about to enter the Gotthard tunnel at Airolo with the same northbound special. Some of the trains' locos were changed at Bellinzona.

On 31st August the workshops, depot and signalling centre at Bellinzona were also open to the public. One of the items on display was Jubilee Lok no.460-084-7 "Helvetia" now carrying the second version of its special livery

6th September 1997

Gotthard Specials

Ce6/8 ll no.14253 and Ae8/14 no.11801 shortly after leaving the Gotthard tunnel with a southbound working. Airolo

Ce6/8 ll no.14253 and Ae8/14 no.11801 pause in Airolo station whilst working the southbound special.

Be4/6 no.12320 took over from 14253 at Bellinzona. It is seen here with no.11801 passing Rivera-Bironico on the final leg of the journey to Chiasso.

On the same day SNCF 141R Mikado no.1244 also worked a southbound Gotthard special. The train is seen here at Rivera-Bironico having just left a rather smokey Monte Ceneri tunnel.

7th September 1997

Gotthard Specials

SNCF 141R Mikado no.1244 returned north over the Gotthard the following day. It is seen here passing Mezzovico between Lugano and Bellinzona.

Here no.1244 enters Airolo station after completing its climb of the Gotthard south ramp.

Another northbound special on 7th September was hauled by Ce6/8's nos.14305 and 14253 and Ae4/7 no.10976. It is seen here entering Airolo.

*14th June 1997*	A small selection of photos from the mega-exhibition held in Lausanne-Triage marshalling yard.
	Replica of D1/3 no.1 "Limmat"	Replica of D1/3 no.1 "Limmat"
	CZm1/2 no.31 of the Uerikon-Bauma Bahn. (ex-Cm1/2 no.1 of NOB-SBB)	SBB Eb3/5 no. 5819
	Huttwil Wolhusen Bahn Ec3/3 no.5	SBB Jubilee Lok no.460-084-7 "Helvetia" carrying the first version of its special livery.
	SBB B3/4 no.1367	SBB C5/6 no.2978
	SCB Ed2x2/2 no.196 (SBB-CFF no.7696)	SBB A3/5 no.705
	Bödelibahn E2/2 no.3 "Zephir"	SBB Ae3/6 ll no.10439
	SBB Be4/6 no.12320	SBB Ce6/8 ll no.14253
	SBB Ce6/8 lll no.14305	BLS Ae4/4 no.251
	SBB RFe4/4 no.601	SBB "Red Arrow" RAe2/4 no.1001
	SBB Re4/4 l no.10001	SBB Re4/4 l no.10049
	SBB Ae6/6 no.11424 "Neuchatel"	Rotary Snowplough

*30th August 1997*	Gotthard Specials
	On 30th August 1997 Eb3/5 no.5819 and B3/4 no.1367 hauled a southbound Gotthard special train. The steam locos are seen here at Göschenen waiting for the SBB Re4/4 l to be attached which would pilot them through the Gotthard tunnel.	Another shot of Eb3/5 no.5819 and B3/4 no.1367 at Göschenen
	Eb3/5 no.5819 and B3/4 no.1367 preparing to leave Airolo after the tunnel pilot had been removed.	Eb3/5 no.5819 and B3/4 no.1367 passing through Biasca with the special working.
	Ce6/8's nos.14253 and 14305 took over from the steam locos at Bellinzona. The special train is seen here departing from Lugano on the final leg of its journey.	On the same day "Churchill Arrow" RAe4/8 no.1021 also worked a southbound Gotthard special. It is seen here passing through Biasca.

*31st August 1997*	Gotthard Specials
	BDe4/4 no.1643 was used as a mobile video platform for many of the special workings. It is seen here at Melide waiting for a northbound Crocodile hauled special to approach on the adjacent track.	Ce6/8's nos.14305 and 14253 coming off the causeway at Melide with a northbound Gotthard special working.
	Ce6/8 ll no.14253, Ae4/7 no.10976 and Ae8/14 no.11801 about to enter the Gotthard tunnel at Airolo with the same northbound special. Some of the trains' locos were changed at Bellinzona.	On 31st August the workshops, depot and signalling centre at Bellinzona were also open to the public. One of the items on display was Jubilee Lok no.460-084-7 "Helvetia" now carrying the second version of its special livery

*6th September 1997*	Gotthard Specials
	Ce6/8 ll no.14253 and Ae8/14 no.11801 shortly after leaving the Gotthard tunnel with a southbound working. Airolo	Ce6/8 ll no.14253 and Ae8/14 no.11801 pause in Airolo station whilst working the southbound special.
	Be4/6 no.12320 took over from 14253 at Bellinzona. It is seen here with no.11801 passing Rivera-Bironico on the final leg of the journey to Chiasso.	On the same day SNCF 141R Mikado no.1244 also worked a southbound Gotthard special. The train is seen here at Rivera-Bironico having just left a rather smokey Monte Ceneri tunnel.

*7th September 1997*	Gotthard Specials
	SNCF 141R Mikado no.1244 returned north over the Gotthard the following day. It is seen here passing Mezzovico between Lugano and Bellinzona.	Here no.1244 enters Airolo station after completing its climb of the Gotthard south ramp.