GFM
Encyclopedia
Transports Publics Fribourgeois (TPF) 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 (1435mm) railway lines, those between Bulle
and Romont
and between Fribourg, Murten
and Ins
. In 2000 the company changed its name from The Chemin de Fer Fribourgeois Gruyere
- Fribourg
- Morat
(GFM) to its current title.
line from Bern to Lausanne
, via Châtel-St. Denis and Bulle
to Montbovon. The first section from Palézieux to Chatel-St. Denis was opened on 29 April 1901 to be followed by the section to Montbovon in 1904. The main line, which has a length of 44.2 km. makes connection with the Monteux Oberland Bernoise Railway (MOB) at Montbovon.
The 5.5 km. long branch from Bulle to Broc was opened on 24 June 1912 to serve not only the village but the Cailler (now Nestlé
) chocolate facory.
The gradients in the line are not severe with a maximum of 1 in 31 on the main line, however the section between Broc village and Broc Fabrique requires a gradient of 1 in 20 to descend to the valley floor and reach the chocolate factory.
These lines, operated by electric traction from the beginning, were run by the Chemins de fer électriques de la Gruyère
, CEG, a company which, in 1942, joined with the two standard gauge lines to form the GFM. Originally the operating voltage was 750 vdc but this was increased to 900 vdc to give better hauling capacity on the line.
Bulle is the centre of operations with depot, workshops and connection to the standard gauge railway to Romont
, on the SBB line between Bern and Lausanne. Until 1969 Châtel-St. Denis also had a connection to the CEV line to Vevey.
Railcars were the chosen motive power from the early days in the main due to the reversal of the trains at Chatel-St. Denis, and this has continued with rebuilt or new modern units, working as single cars or in multiple.
Since 1958 goods traffic, much of which is shipped onwards by the standard gauge, has been carried by a "piggy back" system where the standard gauge wagons are transported on carrier trucks. In 2004 the Nestlé factory generated over 1500 wagonloads over the system.
From December 2006 the TPF handed its freight traffic to the CFF/SBB/FFS and its two locomotives, numbers 101 and 102 became surplus to requirements. In April 2007 they were sold to the MOB.
Metre gauge
Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland...
system is located mainly within the Canton of Fribourg
Canton of Fribourg
The Canton of Fribourg is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the west of the country. The capital of the canton is Fribourg. The name Fribourg is French, whereas is the German name for both the canton and the town.-History:...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and is 48.2 km long. In addition to this the company also operates two standard-gauge (1435mm) railway lines, those between Bulle
Bulle
Bulle is a municipality in the district of Gruyère in the canton of Fribourg in Switzerland. In January 2006 Bulle incorporated the formerly independent municipality of La Tour-de-Trême.-History:...
and Romont
Romont
Romont may refer to:*Romont, Fribourg, Switzerland*Romont, Berne, Switzerland...
and between Fribourg, Murten
Murten
Murten is a municipality in the See district of the canton of Fribourg in Switzerland.It is located on the southern shores of Lake Morat. Morat is situated between Bern and Lausanne and is the capital of the Lake District of the canton of Fribourg....
and Ins
Ins, Switzerland
Ins is a municipality in the Seeland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Ins has an area, , of . Of this area, or 66.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 21.0% is forested...
. In 2000 the company changed its name from The Chemin de Fer Fribourgeois Gruyere
Gruyère (district)
Gruyère District is a district of the canton of Fribourg in Switzerland. It has a population of . Its capital is Bulle.-Municipalities:-Mergers and name changes:...
- Fribourg
Fribourg
Fribourg is the capital of the Swiss canton of Fribourg and the district of Sarine. It is located on both sides of the river Saane/Sarine, on the Swiss plateau, and is an important economic, administrative and educational center on the cultural border between German and French Switzerland...
- Morat
Murten
Murten is a municipality in the See district of the canton of Fribourg in Switzerland.It is located on the southern shores of Lake Morat. Morat is situated between Bern and Lausanne and is the capital of the Lake District of the canton of Fribourg....
(GFM) to its current title.
The Narrow Gauge lines
The main line of the narrow gauge network runs from Palézieux, on the SBBSBB
This article is about the Polish band. For the Michigan band, see Small Brown BikeSBB is a Polish progressive rock band formed in 1971 in Siemianowice, Upper Silesia by multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Józef Skrzek...
line from Bern to Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
, via Châtel-St. Denis and Bulle
Bulle
Bulle is a municipality in the district of Gruyère in the canton of Fribourg in Switzerland. In January 2006 Bulle incorporated the formerly independent municipality of La Tour-de-Trême.-History:...
to Montbovon. The first section from Palézieux to Chatel-St. Denis was opened on 29 April 1901 to be followed by the section to Montbovon in 1904. The main line, which has a length of 44.2 km. makes connection with the Monteux Oberland Bernoise Railway (MOB) at Montbovon.
The 5.5 km. long branch from Bulle to Broc was opened on 24 June 1912 to serve not only the village but the Cailler (now Nestlé
Nestlé
Nestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and nutrition company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri...
) chocolate facory.
The gradients in the line are not severe with a maximum of 1 in 31 on the main line, however the section between Broc village and Broc Fabrique requires a gradient of 1 in 20 to descend to the valley floor and reach the chocolate factory.
These lines, operated by electric traction from the beginning, were run by the Chemins de fer électriques de la Gruyère
Chemins de fer électriques de la Gruyère
The Chemins de fer électriques de la Gruyère was the name finally adopted by the Chemin de fer Châtel-St-Denis-Bulle-Montbovon before operation started. . In 1907 it was enlarged by the amalgamation of the Chemin de fer Châtel-St-Denis-Palézieux...
, CEG, a company which, in 1942, joined with the two standard gauge lines to form the GFM. Originally the operating voltage was 750 vdc but this was increased to 900 vdc to give better hauling capacity on the line.
Bulle is the centre of operations with depot, workshops and connection to the standard gauge railway to Romont
Vosges
Vosges is a French department, named after the local mountain range. It contains the hometown of Joan of Arc, Domrémy.-History:The Vosges department is one of the original 83 departments of France, created on February 9, 1790 during the French Revolution. It was made of territories that had been...
, on the SBB line between Bern and Lausanne. Until 1969 Châtel-St. Denis also had a connection to the CEV line to Vevey.
Railcars were the chosen motive power from the early days in the main due to the reversal of the trains at Chatel-St. Denis, and this has continued with rebuilt or new modern units, working as single cars or in multiple.
Since 1958 goods traffic, much of which is shipped onwards by the standard gauge, has been carried by a "piggy back" system where the standard gauge wagons are transported on carrier trucks. In 2004 the Nestlé factory generated over 1500 wagonloads over the system.
From December 2006 the TPF handed its freight traffic to the CFF/SBB/FFS and its two locomotives, numbers 101 and 102 became surplus to requirements. In April 2007 they were sold to the MOB.