Chemins de fer électriques Veveysans
Encyclopedia
On 23 November 1911 Blonay was also reached by the Clarens - Chailly - Blonay electric tramway operated by a separate company (CCB). This closed at the end of 1955, being replaced by buses.
The lines were constructed to a gauge of and electrified from the outset. Presently it operates on 900 V DC, overhead contact
Overhead lines
Overhead lines or overhead wires are used to transmit electrical energy to trams, trolleybuses or trains at a distance from the energy supply point...
. Train services were offered from Vevey to Chamby and Châtel-St-Denis, where the CEV connected to the MOB
Montreux-Oberland Bernois
The Montreux-Oberland Bernois railway , is a railway operating in southwest Switzerland, one of the oldest electric railways in the country; its main line, in length, built to gauge, connects Montreux, Gstaad and Zweisimmen where passengers can transfer to a branch of the standard gauge...
and GFM
GFM
Transports Publics Fribourgeois metre-gauge system is located mainly within the Canton of Fribourg in Switzerland and is 48.2 km long. In addition to this the company also operates two standard-gauge railway lines, those between Bulle and Romont and between Fribourg, Murten and Ins...
(now tpf). The electric motor coach from Vevey to Chamby conveyed coaches to Blonay, where they were taken over by a rack
Rack and pinion
A rack and pinion is a type of linear actuator that comprises a pair of gears which convert rotational motion into linear motion. A circular gear called "the pinion" engages teeth on a linear "gear" bar called "the rack"; rotational motion applied to the pinion causes the rack to move, thereby...
locomotive and brought up to Les Pléiades.
On 22 May 1966 the section Blonay–Chamby was closed, followed by St-Légier–Châtel-St-Denis on 31 May 1969. While the Châtel-St-Denis branch was torn up, track to Chamby remained. Railway enthusiasts formed an association which could set up a weekend museum operation starting on 20 July 1968. On 24 May 1998 CEV reintroduced regular trains but stopped these services again two years later because of low patronage. The infrastructure was always owned by CEV and the museum trains operate in open access.
Of the remaining open sections, the Vevey to Blonay line is 5.72 km (3.55 mi) long and from there to Les Pléiades a further 4.79 km (2.98 mi). In that 10.51 km (6.53 mi). the line rises some 962 m (3,156.2 ft) reaching 1348 m (4,422.6 ft) at Les Pléiades.
The line has its own workshops at Vevey although much work is undertaken at the MOB's Chernex works and also a small depot at Blonay.
In 2001 CEV was merged into the Transports Montreux-Vevey-Riviera (MVR)
Transports Montreux-Vevey-Riviera (MVR)
The Transports Montreux-Vevey-Riviera was a coming together, in 2001, of two small railway companies and two funicular companies in the Montreux / Vevey area of Switzerland. Some of these companies were, themselves, formed of amalgamations which had taken place over the years...
which is managed and operated by the MOB management under their Golden Pass Services banner.
Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock
| No. | Name | Class | Builders details | Date Built | Notes. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HGe2/2 | SLM/MFO/SIG | 1911 | Rebuilt 2007, red livery, lettered 'Blonay-Les Pléiades' (Note 5) | |
| 2 | HGe2/2 | SLM/MFO/SIG | 1911 | Red & White livery, lettered 'Blonay-Les Pléiades' | |
| 3 | HGe2/2 | SLM/MFO/SIG | 1913 | Withdrawn 1984. | |
| 71 | BDeh2/4 | SWP/SAAS | 1970 | Rack Rack and pinion A rack and pinion is a type of linear actuator that comprises a pair of gears which convert rotational motion into linear motion. A circular gear called "the pinion" engages teeth on a linear "gear" bar called "the rack"; rotational motion applied to the pinion causes the rack to move, thereby... & Adhesion Rail adhesion The term adhesion railway or adhesion traction describes the most common type of railway, where power is applied by driving some or all of the wheels of the locomotive. Thus, it relies on the friction between a steel wheel and a steel rail. Note that steam locomotives of old were driven only by... . Rebuilt (see below) |
|
| 71 | Beh2/4 | Rebuilt from above | 1999 | Train des Etoiles (Silver with stars) livery, single cab, permanently coupled to Bt 224 | |
| 72 | BDeh2/4 | SWP/SAAS/BBC | 1970 | Rack & Adhesion. Rebuilt (see below) | |
| 72 | Beh2/4 | Rebuilt from above | 2002 | Astro Pléiades livery, double ended (2 cabs) | |
| 73 | BDeh2/4 | SWP/SAAS/BBC | 1970 | Rack & Adhesion, red & white livery (Note 3) | |
| 74 | BDeh2/4 | SWP/SAAS/BBC | 1970 | Rack & Adhesion, red & white livery | |
| 75 | BDeh2/4 | SWP/SAAS/BBC | 1983 | Rack & Adhesion, red & white livery | |
| 81 | Te2/2 | SWS/MFO/CEV | 1963 | Built in 1963 using parts from retired Luzern trams. Often found at Chernex working as "works shunter". | |
| 82 | Te2/2 | SWS/MFO/CEV | 1938 | Built on frame of wagon K 39 and used spare motors from 101 series | |
| 91 | Xrot | SWS/CEV/Boschung | 1910/66 | ex-L 401 Snowplough Snowplow A snowplow is a device intended for mounting on a vehicle, used for removing snow and ice from outdoor surfaces, typically those serving transportation purposes... (Note 2) |
|
| 101 | Blonay | BCFe4/4 | SWS/MFO/CEV | 1903 | Rebuilt 1949. Scrapped 1983 |
| 102 | BCFe4/4 | SWS/MFO/CEV | 1903 | Scrapped 1975 | |
| 103 | BCFe4/4 | SWS/MFO/CEV | 1903 | Rebuilt 1951. Scrapped 2010 | |
| 104 | Vevey | BCFe4/4 | SWS/MFO/CEV | 1905 | Rebuilt 1945. Scrapped 1973 |
| 105 | BCFe4/4 BDe4/4 |
SWS/MFO | 1913 | Rebuilt 1964, not in running order, being restored as historic vehicle | |
| 221 | Bt | SWP/SAAS | 1976 | Driving Trailer Control car (rail) A control car is a generic term for a non-powered railroad vehicle that can control operation of a train from the end opposite to the position of the locomotive... |
|
| 222 | Bt | SWP/SAAS | 1976 | Driving Trailer. | |
| 223 | Bt | ACMV/BBC/SIG | 1981 | Driving Trailer- used parts including bogie Bogie A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar... s from coach 211 built by SIG,1949, 2009 sold to TPC |
|
| 224 | Bt | ACMV/BBC/SIG | 1990 | Driving Trailer - used parts including bogies from coach 212 built by SIG,1949. Burnt out 1996(see below) | |
| 224 | Bt | R+J/MOB/ABB | 1999 | Driving Trailer, bogies SIG, 1949, frame rebodied and rebuilt with low floor, 1999, used as trailer car with rebuilt No. 71 | |
| 7001 | Vevey | Be2/6 | Stadler Stadler Rail Stadler Rail AG , based in Bussnang, Switzerland, is a Swiss manufacturer of rail passenger cars.In 1942 Ernst Stadler founded the Stadler Engineering Office which later became Stadler Rail.- Factories :... /ACMV/Adtranz Adtranz ABB Daimler-Benz Transportation , commonly known under its brand Adtranz, was a multi-national rail transport equipment manufacturer with facilities concentrated in Europe and the USA.... /SLM |
1997 | Note 1 |
| 7002 | St Legier La Chiesaz | Be2/6 | Stadler/ACMV/Adtranz/SLM | 1997 | Note 1 |
| 7003 | Blonay | Be2/6 | Stadler/ACMV/Adtranz/SLM | 1998 | Note 1 |
| 7004 | Montreux | Be2/6 | Stadler/ACMV/Adtranz/SLM | 1998 | Note 1 |
- Note 1: This class are labeled Chemin de fer Léger de la Riviera, Two of them are usually to be found working on the Vevey - Blonay line whilst the other two are found working from Montreux. The numbering scheme used is that of MOB.
- Note 2: Rotary plough blowers by Boschung Schmitten on downhill end, double plough blades in 'V' formation at uphill end, mounted on underframe of L 401.
- Note 3: This railcar was the first to be released from works with the new "golden pass" logo. The lower panel, below the main saloon, was repainted in red and the cream coloured logo applied.(First week in May 2010).
- Note 4: Motor coaches 101–105 delivered as BCFe 4/4 (2nd and 3rd class plus luggage, adhesion only), became ABFe 4/4 in 1956, ABDe 4/4 in 1963 and BDe 4/4 in 1970, when first class was abolished on CEV.
- Note 5: Locomotives 1–3 were delivered as HGe 2/2 for rack & adhesion. 1950/51 they were rebuilt to rack only and became thus He 2/2.
Abbreviations
- ABB = ABB Group
- ACMV = Ateliers de constructions mécaniques de VeveyAteliers de Constructions Mécaniques de VeveyAteliers de constructions mécaniques de Vevey was an metal engineering company based in Vevey, Switzerland. Founded as Ateliers B.Roy & Cie in 1848 by Benjamin Roy it became Ateliers de constructions mécaniques de Vevey SA in 1895....
- BBC = Brown, Boveri & CieBrown, Boveri & CieBrown, Boveri & Cie was a Swiss group of electrical engineering companies.It was founded in Baden, Switzerland, in 1891 by Charles Eugene Lancelot Brown and Walter Boveri who worked at the Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon. In 1970 BBC took over the Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon...
- CEV = Chemins de fer électriques Veveysans
- MFO = Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon
- MOB = Montreux-Oberland BernoisMontreux-Oberland BernoisThe Montreux-Oberland Bernois railway , is a railway operating in southwest Switzerland, one of the oldest electric railways in the country; its main line, in length, built to gauge, connects Montreux, Gstaad and Zweisimmen where passengers can transfer to a branch of the standard gauge...
- R+J = Ramseier + Jenzer
- SAAS = Société Anonyme des Ateliers de Sécheron, Geneva
- SIG = Schweizerische Industrie GesellschaftSchweizerische Industrie GesellschaftSchweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft , or SIG, is the former name of SIG Holding AG, a Swiss company that has been active in various businesses during its more than 150 years of operation. Since the year 2000 the Society has undergone strategic refocus, concentrating on its core compentence in...
- SLM = Swiss Locomotive and Machine WorksSwiss Locomotive and Machine WorksSwiss Locomotive and Machine Works were a railway equipment manufacturer based in Winterthur in Switzerland...
, Winterthur - SWP = Schindler Waggon Pratteln
Weblinks
Sources
- Michel Grandguillaume, Gérald Hadorn, Jean Paillard, Jean-Louis Rochaix: Crémaillères et funiculaires vaudois. BVA, Lausanne 1982, ISBN 2-88125-002-5
- Michel Grandguillaume, Gérald Hadorn, Sébastien Jarne, Jean-Louis Rochaix: Voies étroites de Veveyse et de Gruyère. BVA, Lausanne 1984, ISBN 2-88125-003-3
- Rochaix et al.: Chemins de fer privés vaudois 1873 - 2000. Editions La Raillère, CH-1092 Belmont 2000, ISBN 2-88125-011-4
- Rochaix et al.: Chemins de fer privés vaudois 2000 - 2009. Editions La Raillère, CH-1092 Belmont 2009, ISBN 978-2-88125-012-5