9th July 2012 - The Chocolate train9th July 2012 A much earlier start today as we wanted to head off the BLS “Goldenpass” train which runs between Interlaken and Zweisimmen and had been noted several times over the last few months as being worked by BLS Re4/4 no. 166, one of seven that we still need for haulage. Our antennae were still finely tuned and looking out for 460 023 which we caught a glimpse of in the carriage sidings at Zürich, unfortunately it was impossible to tell what it was working so we carried on to Spiez to await the arrival of the Goldenpass train which, wonder of wonders, had 166 on the front. The connecting Montreux Oberland Bahn train was worked by 8003 which was also required for haulage so we got on that and headed for Montbovon to cover the TPF lines in that area which were all required track. One train we had considered doing was the “Train du Chocolat”, a tourist trip on a special train with visits to the cheese factory at Gruyères and chocolate factory at Broc included. We decided against this in the end as 1) we had chosen not to stay in that area, 2) we have already had the loco that works this train for haulage, 3) there appeared to be rather a lot of coach transfers involved, and 4) all the track could be done on service trains; these points outweighed the thought that the factory visits did sound quite interesting. As it turned out, we passed the chocolate train in what looked like it’s own personal platform at Gruyères on our way to Bulle where we changed for the short branch to Broc. The choclate factory was just a short distance from the last station on the line (Broc Fabrique) and before we had even stopped a strong smell of chocolate wafted through the windows, outside the train the whole area reeked of hot chocolate! Back at Bulle, we had about half an hour to wait for the connection to Palézieux during which the “Train du Chocolat” turned up, empty, en route to Broc to collect the passengers after their visit to the chocolate factory. This gave us ample opportunity to get some photographs of MOB 6003 in its rather unusual shiny gold livery. The train times worked out just right for us to go to Palézieux, up to Romont and back to Bulle via the standard gauge (we had been on metre gauge since leaving Zweisimmen), we then changed back onto the narrow gauge and decided to head back to Spiez for dinner via the MOB, hopefully getting another new loco for haulage. No such luck though as it was “Goldenpass” liveried 8004, the only one of the four that we had ridden behind on a previous visit. BLS 193 was waiting at Zweisimmen, one of the usual BLS Re4/4 numbered 191 to 195 that always appear on passenger trains and this took us to Spiez where dinner was taken in the station restaurant following which more class Re460 miles duly followed to get us back to Baar. The pictures of the day can be found in this gallery.
Keywords:
Montreux Oberland Bahn,
Switzerland
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