The Blonay–Chamby Museum Railway (French : Chemin de fer-musée Blonay-Chamby , BC) is a short 3-kilometre-long (1.9 mi) steep but adhesion worked metre gauge heritage railway operated as part of the Blonay–Chamby Railway Museum using vintage steam and electric locomotives and rolling stock. It uses the Blonay–Chamby railway line , originally built by the Chemins de fer électriques Veveysans . It is rail-connected at both ends, at its upper terminus, at Chamby Station on the Montreux–Lenk im Simmental line and at the lower end at Blonay station on the Vevey–Les Pléiades railway line operated by Transports Montreux–Vevey–Riviera .
History and aims
The Blonay–Chamby Railway and Museum was opened in 1968 with the aims of operating the metre gauge railway line from Blonay to Chamby and in doing so preserving railway equipment of technical or historic value. For this purpose the Blonay–Chamby Railway built two motive power and carriage depots at Chaulin, a short distance from its upper terminus. They house what is generally regarded as the largest and most representative collection of preservation metre gauge rolling stock in the world.
The museum line
The Blonay–Chamby Museum Railway is a railway preservation group staffed entirely by volunteers who operate trains each Saturday and Sunday between May and October. Vintage steam and electric hauled trains depart from Blonay and climb slowly through a spectacular environment with fine views over Lake Geneva and the Alps . After reversing at or just before Chamby, the trains terminate at the museum site, where visitors can explore stationary exhibits.
A further part of the remit of the preservation group is the encouragement of local and regional tourism and tourist traffic on adjacent lines. The services from Blonay to Chamby and back are included in the Swiss National Railways Timetable.
The museum collection
As of autumn 2021 was home to over 70 items of rolling stock, listed below:
Steam locomotives
Steam railway locomotives
Steam locomotive HG 3/4 3 of the Brig–Furka–Disentis-Railway
Picture
No.
Name
Class
Cyls.
Built by
Works No.
Date built
Previous owners
Notes
1
Le Doubs
G 3/3
OC
SLM
618
1890
RdB (Regional des Brenets [fr ] ), CMN (Chemins de fer des Montagnes Neuchateloises [fr ] )
On loan from Swiss Transport Museum Luzern . Not operational
3
HG 3/4
OC
SLM
2317
1913
BFD , FO
Abt rack In service.
5
Bercher
G 3/3
OC
SACM
4172
1890
LEB , Energie Ouest Suisse [fr ] , Hilti & Jehle, Feldkirch.
used by EOS to build Dixence Dam . In service.
6
G 3/3
OC
SLM
1341
1901
Brünigbahn /Jura-Simplon JS 909, SBB 109, BAM No.6, Scierie Renfer, Bienne.
Under restoration
23
G 3/5
OC
MTM
282
1926
Olot–Girona railway
Not operational.
104
Zell
G 2x3/3
OC
Hanomag
10437
1925
SEG
Mallet design, 0-6-6-0 T, Compound. Under restoration.
105
Todtnau
G 2x2/2
OC
MBG
2051
1918
Haspe–Voerde–Breckerfeld Light Railway ,
Mallet design, 0-4-4-0 T, Compound. In service.
99 193
G 5/5
OC
MFE
4183
1927
DR , DB .
Stationary, repainted in grey livery
Steam tramway locomotives
Picture
No.
Name
Class
Cyls.
Built by
Works No.
Date built
Previous owners
Notes
4
Rimini
G 2/2
OC
Krauss
4278
1900
Ferrovie e Tramvie Padane (FTP), Ferrara -Codigoro and Rimini -Novafeltria.
In service
7
G 2/4
System Brown
SLM
316
1882
Mulhouse Tramways
Stationary
Electric locomotives, railcars and trams
Locomotives
Railcars
Electric railcar BCFeh 4/4 no.6 of the Monthey–Champéry-Morgins railway
Picture
No.
Name
Class/type
Built by
Works No.
Date built
Previous owners
Notes
4
-
BCFe 2/2
SIG / MFO
1928
Ex-Sernftalbahn (SeTB)
historical picture, acquired 1969, under restoration to operational state.
6
Valais
BCFeh 4/4
SLM / SIG / EGA
146
1909
Ex-Monthey–Champéry–Morgins railway (MCM)
Abt rack , operational
10
-
BCFeh 4/4
SLM / SWS / BBC
1914
Loèche–Loèche-les-Bains railway (LLB)
Abt rack, operational
11
les sept à vingt
BCFe 4/4
SIG / EGA
2191
1903
Montreux–Lenk im Simmental line ,
operational
12
-
Ce 2/2
Ringhoffer / EAG
1907
Langenthal–Jura railway (LJB), Oberaargau–Jura railway (OJB)
built in Prague
35
-
ABe 4/4
SIG / SAAS / MFO
1908
Bernina railway (BB), Rhaetian Railway (RhB)
restoration 2024, operational
105
-
ABDe 4/4
SWS / MFO
1913
Chemins de fer électriques Veveysans (CEV)
historical picture, acquired 2017, unrestored.
2002
-
DZe 6/6
SIG / BBC
2703
1932
Montreux–Lenk im Simmental line
acquired 2008, operational
Trams
Passenger coaches
Railway passenger coaches
Picture
No.
Name
Class/type
Built by
Works No.
Date built
Previous owners
Notes
2
-
As
SIG
1903
Ex-Rhaetian Railway Bernina Line (RhB)
acquired 1972, last restoration 2023, in service
6
Kaiserwagen
B
SIG
1901
Bernese Oberland railway (BOB), Modelleisenbahnfreunde Eiger Zweilütschinen (MEFEZ)
Riggenbach rack , acquired 2013, in service
7
-
C
ANF
1910
Chemin de fer Vicinaux de la Haute-Saône (CFV), Morez-La Cure (MLC), Nyon–St-Cergue–Morez railway (NStCM)
acquired 1993, in service
10
-
BC
1908
Monthey-Champéry-Morgins (MCM), Aigle-Ollon-Monthey-Champery (AOMC)
Abt rack , in service
11
-
BC
SIG
1890
Régional des Brenets (RdB)
historical picture, acquired 1973
13
-
C
MAN
1905
Sernftalbahn (SeTB)
historical picture, ex BC 13, acquired 1969
15
-
ABCFZ
De Dietrich
1895
Cie de l'Ouest, Chemins de fer de l'Etat (ETAT), Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais (SNCF)/Réseau Breton (RB)
acquired 1968, in service
20
Reine Berthe
C
Chevalier, Chailus & Cie à Paris
1865
Lausanne–Echallens–Bercher railway (LEB), original Mont Cenis Pass Railway
acquired 2016, in service
21
-
CF
SIG
1900
Aigle–Leysin railway (AL)
Abt rack, acquired 1973, in service
21
-
BC
SWS
1902
Chemins de fer électriques Veveysans (CEV)
acquired 1971, in service
21
Giardiniera
C
SWS
1911
Lugano–Cadro–Dino railway (LCD)
acquired 1990, in service
21
-
CF
SIG
1890
Régional des Brenets (RdB)
historical picture, acquired 1973
22
-
BC
SIG
1915
Loèche - Loèche-les-Bains (LLB)
Abt rack, acquired 1967, in service
22
-
BC
SIG
1902
Montreux–Lenk im Simmental line
acquired 1971, in service
23
-
C
SWS
1903
Gruyère–Fribourg–Morat railway (GFM)
acquired 1967, in service
44
-
C
SIG
1926
Berner Oberland Bahn (BOB)
Riggenbach rack acquired 1967, in service
61
-
B
SIG
1906
Montreux–Lenk im Simmental line
acquired 2016, in service
121
-
AB
SIG
1903
Rhaetian Railway (RhB)
acquired 1972, in service
171
-
C
Herbrand
1891
Mittelbadische Eisenbahn Gesellschaft (MEG)
acquired 1967, in service
Tramway passenger coaches
Post and baggage coach
Goods wagons
Open wagon L 153 of the Montreux–Lenk im Simmental line
Picture
No.
Name
Class
Built by
Works No.
Date built
Previous owners
Notes
30
-
K
Kirchheim
1874
Schweizerische Lokalbahnen (SLB), Appenzeller Bahn (AB)
acquired 1968, staionary
31
-
K
MAN
1905
Sernftalbahn (SeTB)
acquired 1969, in service
31
-
K
SWS
1910
Tramways de Lausanne (TL)
acquired 1993, in service
41
-
K
SWS
1915
Leuk-Leukerbad railway (LLB)
Abt rack , acquired 1967, in service
51
-
M
SWS
1915
LLB
Abt rack, acquired 1967, in service
60
-
L
SWS
1915
LLB
Abt rack, acquired 1967, in service
87
-
K
SWS
1912
Aigle–Leysin railway (AL)
Abt rack, acquired 1977, in service
101
-
K
SIG
1903
Montreux–Lenk im Simmental line
acquired 2014, in service
153
-
L
SIG
1901
MOB
acquired 2006, in service
610
-
K
SWS
1904
Gruyère–Fribourg–Morat railway (GFM)
in service
672
-
K
GFM
1955
GFM
acquired 2012 - on display at Vevey station
706
-
M
Busch
1904
MOB
acquired 2005, in service.
712
-
L
SWS
1905
GFM
acquired 2002, in service.
810
-
O
Busch
1903
MOB
acquired 1989, in service
Diesel locomotives, shunters and maintenance vehicles
Rotary snowplough
Picture
No.
Name
Class
Cyls.
Built by
Works No.
Date built
Former Owners
Notes
9214
-
X
OC
SLM
2299
1912
Bernina railway , Rhaetian Railway (RhB), Dampfbahn Furka-Bergstecke (DFB)
0-6-6-0. moveable. The blade is operated with external steam supply.
Service coach and wagons
Picture
No.
Name
Class/type
Built by
Works No.
Date built
Former Owners
Notes
1
-
Xe 2/2
SWS / MFO
1915
Tramway de Bienne (TrB)
Tank for fire service, under restoration
52
-
X
Chemins de fer électriques Veveysans (CEV)
stationary.
52
-
X
SWS
1915
Loèche–Loèche-les-Bains (LLB)
Abt rack , acquired 1967 as LLB M 52, since 2008 crane truck. Operational.
466
Trois Pattes
C
SIG
1889
JBL C 466, preceding Swiss Federal Railways, Brünig line X 9951
stationary.
Loaned-out rolling stock
Picture
No.
Name
Class/type
Built by
Works No.
Date built
Previous owners
Notes
121
Baladeuse
C
Maschinenbau-Gesellschaft Basel
1892
Tramways de Neuchâtel (TN)
permanent loan to Musée du tram Neuchâtel, Association Neuchâteloise des Amis du Tramway (ANAT)
125
-
Ce 2/2
SIG / SAAS
1920
Compagnie Genevoise des Tramways Électriques (CGTE)
permanent loan to Association Genevoise du Musée des Tramways (AGMT)
Picture
No.
Name
Class/type
Built by
Works No.
Date built
Previous owners
Current owners
230
-
C
SWS
1905
Gruyère-Fribourg-Morat (GFM)
acquired 1969, taken over by GFM Historique in 2012
40
-
K
SWS
1915
Loèche–Loèche-les-Bains railway (LLB)
Abt rack , acquired 1969, sold to the municipality of Inden, Switzerland , Switzerland in 2017
671
-
K
GFM
1955
Gruyère–Fribourg–Morat railway (GFM)
taken over by GFM Historique in 2020, and exhibited at the Broc chocolate factory.
Abbreviations (selection)
Rolling stock manufacturers
BBC : Brown, Boveri & Cie , Zurich
CIE : Compagnie de l'Industrie Électrique, Geneva
EAG : Elektrizitätsgesellschaft Alioth, Basel
MFE : Maschinenfabrik Esslingen
MFO : Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon, Zurich
MGK : Maschinenbau-Gesellschaft Karlsruhe
MTM : Maquinista Terrestre y Marítima, Barcelona
O&K : Orenstein & Koppel , Berlin
Rat : Rathgeber, Munich
SAAS : Société Anonyme des Ateliers de Sécheron , Geneva
SIG : Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (Swiss Industrial Company)
SLM : Schweizerische Lokomotiv- und Maschinenfabrik , Winterthur (Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works )
SACM : Elsässische Maschinenbau-Gesellschaft Grafenstaden (Grafenstaden Alsatian Engineering Company)
SEG : Süddeutsche Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft (South German Railway Company ), Darmstadt
SWS : Schweizerische Wagons- und Aufzügefabrik AG Schlieren-Zürich (Swiss Wagon and Lift company)
Steam locomotive cylinders
OC : Cylinders outside frames
IC : Cylinders inside frames
See also
Literature
Sébastien Jarne, Le chemin de fer-musée Blonay-Chamby , tiré à part du livre « Voies étroites de Veveyse et de Gruyère », édition Chemin de fer-musée Blonay-Chamby, Lausanne, éd. 2, 1991, 56 p.
José Banaudo and Alex Rieben, À la découverte du Chemin de fer-musée Blonay-Chamby , Édition du Cabri, Breil-sur-Roya, 1992, ISBN 978-2-903310-98-1 .
Peter Willen, Lokomotiven und Triebwagen der Schweizer Bahnen, volume 2, Privatbahnen Westschweiz und Wallis . Orell Füssli Verlag, Zürich, 1977, ISBN 3-280-00923-5 .
Alain Candellero, Charles-Maurice Emery, Brice Maillard and Nicolas Regamey, 40 ans de musée vivant, Chemin de fer musée Blonay-Chamby 1968–2008 , édition Chemin de fer-musée Blonay-Chamby, Lausanne, avril 2008, 32 p.
Alain Castella and Charles-Maurice Emery: Faire la Voie, Chemin de fer-Musée Blonay-Chamby , Département de la formation, de la jeunesse et de la culture (DFJC) – Service des affaires culturelles (SERAC) of Canton de Vaud, Lausanne, 2010
Michel Grandguillaume, Gérald Hadorn, Sébastien Jarne, Jean-Louis Rochaix, François Ramstein: Voies étroites de Veveyse et de Gruyère . Bureau vaudois d'addresses (BVA), Lausanne 1984, ISBN 2-88125-003-3
References
^ Eisenbahnatlas Schweiz . Cologne: Schweers + Wall. 2012. p. 72. ISBN 978-3-89494-130-7 .
^ www.echtdampfwelt.de, Herrmann Echtdampf, Echtdampfshop, Echtdampflok SEG-Mallet - Picture Archived 2013-01-02 at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved 13 August 2013)
^ www.drehscheibe-foren.de, Drehscheben Online, Forum, Schmalspurdampf ex Zell-Todtnau auf der GFM, 1973, mit 24 Fotos - first picture (Retrieved 13 August 2013)
^ www.youtube.com Youtube Film LGB Mallet SEG104 + eMOTION XLS Sounddecoder (mit sichtbarem Wappen von Zell) (Retrieved 15 August 2013)
^ "BC - Museumsbahn ex SEG G 2x 3/3 104 am 19.05.1997 in Chaulin ..." www.bahnbilder.de (in German). Retrieved 15 August 2013 .
^ "Museums- und Touristikbahnen 'BC' ". Eisenbahn Amateur (in German): 69. February 2014.
^ Bernet, Ralph; Rizza, Timi. Schweizer Schmalspurbahnen . Bäretswil: Edition Lan AG. ISBN 9783906691718 .
^ "Kaiserwagen in Interlaken Ost" . Eurolok.ch . Retrieved 10 February 2014 .
^ Finke, Wolfgang (2010). Die Fahrzeuge der Jungfraubahnen 1. Berner Oberland-Bahn - BOB, Jungfraubahn - JB, Mürrenbahn - BLM (in German). Köln: Tram TV Verlag. ISBN 978-3-9813669-2-1 .
^ "Le parc remorqué s'agrandit de 2 unitées" . blonay-chamby.ch (in French). Chemin de fer-musée Blonay-Chamby – Musée vivant du chemin de fer. September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016 .
^ Ammann, Christian (2017). "Begegnungen mit der LCD". Eisenbahn Amateur (in German). 1 : 24–29.
^ issuu.com Faire le Voie , retrieved 25 November 2012
External links
46°27′56″N 6°53′45″E / 46.4656°N 6.8958°E / 46.4656; 6.8958
International National Other