- Aigle–Leysin Railway
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Aigle–Leysin Railway Overview Termini 24 July 1892 Technical Track gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) Electrification 1500 V DC Highest elevation 1,047 m (3,435 ft) Maximum incline 23 % Rack system Abt The Aigle–Leysin Railway, abbreviated AL, French Chemins de fer Aigle–Leysin, was the earliest of the narrow gauge line in the Chablais area of south west Switzerland. The line was opened on 24 July 1892, a 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in)-gauge cog-wheel railway using the Abt rack system.
Nowadays it is joined in Aigle's main railway station by express trains of the Swiss Federal Railways together with thse of three other, local, narrow-gauge railways: the Aigle-Ollon-Monthey-Champéry Railway (AOMC), the Aigle–Leysin Railway and the Aigle-Sépey-Diablerets Railway (ASD).
Contents
History
Compartment coach with luggage compartment CF2 21 at the Blonay–Chamby Railway (BC) in Chaulin at Summer 2010
The Aigle–Leysin railway line is 6.5 km (4.04 mi) long and rises 1,047 m (3,435 ft) from its terminus outside the main line station in Aigle to its summit at the Grand Hôtel at Leysin. The first 1 km of the route is through the streets of Aigle from the railway station to the railway depot where the train reverses to enable the powered vehicle to be at the rear of the train for the uphill journey, normal working on a rack (cog-wheel) railway. From this point the line climbs steeply through the vineyards, the steepest gradient being 1 in 4.3 (23%).
The operating voltage of the line has changed four times, increasing from 600 V DC at opening, first to 650 V DC, then in 1946 to 1300 V DC, and later to the present operating voltage of 1500 V DC.
Mergers
In 1975 the four local railway companies, Aigle–Leysin, Aigle–Ollon–Monthey–Champéry, Aigle–Sépey–Diablerets and Bex–Villars–Bretaye (BVB) merged to form a single operating company, known as the Transports Publics du Chablais (TPC). This brought about increased co-operation between the companies in the provision of community based services.
Federal involvement
In 1985, the Federal Government informed Aigle–Leysin Railway, and other privately operated railways, that it would cease all funding the following year, however they renewed a federal concession for a further period of 50 years. An agreement was signed between the Canton of Vaud, the communities served by the railway and the Aigle–Leysin Railway and its partners to renew rolling stock and upgrade the track.
In the mid-1990s, faced with greatly increased operating costs, the Canton of Vaud and the communities served by the railway petitioned the Federal Government to revoke its 1985 decision. The Federal Government did so and in 1996, recognizing the importance of this regional line as a public transportation carrier, awarded the line with a contract to provide a public transportation service. This brought about, in 1999, talks which resulted in the founding, the following year, of Transports Publics du Chablais as the parent body of local public transportation with the four local railway companies as founding members.
For further details since 2000 refer to Transports Publics du Chablais
Locomotives, railcars and rolling stock
The line owns just two locomotives. Their class He 2/2, built by SLM /SIG in 1915 was rebuilt in the company workshop during 2006/7, and has returned to service in near original condition and in its original red livery. They also have a 1949-built class Te 2/2.
The "automotrices" (railcars), painted in a light chocolate and cream livery, are, with the exception of No. 201 which is a class Arseh 2/4, of class BDeh 2/4. The company also owns 5 "Voiture Pilote"(driving trailers) of class Bt and retains 2 older coaches, class B2 for historic trains.
Details from official stock lists, May 2006 and personal observations 2006-2009.
No. Name Class Builders Details. Date Completed Notes 12 He 2/2 1915 Static monument, En Chalex 101 Te 2/2 Reb. AL 1949 Rebuilt 2006/7, returned to traffic, 2008. Out of service, Les Diabrelets, Sept 2009. 201 Arseh 2/4 SLM/BBC 1946 Converted to 1st class Restaurant Car 202 BDeh 2/4 SLM/BBC 1946 203 BDeh 2/4 SLM/BBC 1946 301 Aigle BDeh 2/4 SIG/SAAS 1966 302 Leysin BDeh 2/4 SIG/SAAS 1966 311 Yvorne BDeh 2/4 Vevey/BBC 1987 Ex-No. 303 312 Ollon BDeh 2/4 Vevey/BBC 1987 Ex-No. 304 313 La Berneuse BDeh 2/4 Vevey/BBC 1993 Ex-No. 305 351 Bt SIG/SAAS 1966 352 Bt SIG/SAAS 1966 361 Bt ACMV/SIG/BBC 1987 362 Bt ACMV/SIG/BBC 1987 363 Bt ACMV/SIG/BBC 1993 B2 1900 B2 1955 Abbreviations
- BBC.............Brown Bouvrie & Cie
- ACMV............Ateliers Construction Mechaniques de Vevey
- SIG.............
- SLM.............Swiss Locomotive Works
- Vevey...........Vevey Technologies (previously ACMV).
Further reading
For changes to the railway and development of the regional transport system in the area after 1999 see Wikipedia site Transports Publics du Chablais
References
- Various articles on the railways of the Chablais region which have appeared in the British Railway Press over the period 1975 to 2005
- Stock list are courtesy of the railway company, updated to 2007 by personal observation
Categories:- Rack railways of Switzerland
- Railway lines in Switzerland
- Former railway companies of Switzerland
- Transports Publics du Chablais
- Metre gauge railways in Switzerland
- Mountain railways
- Railway lines opened in 1892
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