- Chemins de fer du Jura
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Chemins de fer du Jura 
Saignelégier train stationTechnical Line length Total: 84.8 km (52.69 mi)
metre gauge: 73.8 km (45.86 mi)
standard gauge: 11 km (6.84 mi)Track gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in)
1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)Electrification 1,500 V DC (metre gauge)
15 kV 16 2/3 Hz (standard gauge)Rack system None The Chemins de fer du Jura (CJ), the railways of the Jura canton in northern Switzerland, came about as the result of an amalgamation, in 1944, of four independent companies connecting Porrentruy to Bonfol, Saignelégier to La Chaux-de-Fonds, Glovelier to Saignelégier and Tavannes to Tramelan and Le Noirmont. The lines extend for a total of 84.8 km of which just over 73 km is metre gauge, the remaining 11 km, the first named, between Porrentruy and Bonfol, being standard gauge. Nowadays the CJ also operates local bus services throughout the area.
Contents
History
The first company to open a line in the region was the Chemin de fer Tavannes-Tramelan in 1884, the metre gauge line linking the villages in its name. This line was extended under the guise of the Chemin de fer Tramelan-Les Breuleux-Le Noirmont to reach Le Noirmont and the whole was electrified in 1913. In 1927 the two companies amalgamated to form the Chemins de fer Tavannes-Le Noirmont.
On 7 December 1892 the longest of the region's line, the Chemin de fer Saignelégier-La Chaux-de-Fonds (SC) was opened linking the places noted in its title. The line, with a length of 25 km (15.5 mi) ran from Saignelégier (Place d'Armes) to La Chaux-de-Fonds, the final kilometre being laid along the streets to the town centre.
To these lines was added that between Porrentruy and Bonfol in 1901, between Glovelier and Saignelégier in 1904, both of these being laid to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) (standard gauge) and finally, in 1910 the 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) (metre gauge) line between Bonfol and Pfetterhouse, this last named being the only closure to date, seeing its last passenger train in 1970. The Chemin de fer Régional Saignelégier-Glovelier (RSG) was relaid to metre gauge in 1953.
Following the amalgamation of the companies in 1943 a plan to restructure the rail system was put together and over the period from 1946 to 1953 it was put into action. Within this plan was the total electrification of the system which was completed in 1953, some 40 years after the first electric traction had run on the lines.
Locomotive and Rolling Stock
Standard Gauge
No. Class Builders Details. Date Completed Seats 1/2 Notes 501 Tm Moyse/Deutz 1967 509 Xm Beilheck/Deutz 1985 577.101 BDe4/4 SWS/MFO 1968 0/56 Reb.1998 577.102 BDe4/4 SWS/BBC 1980 0/48 587.111 De4/4 SWS/BBC/CJ 1980 50 36 29-03 921 Bt SWS/MFO/SIG 1963 Reb.1996 Metre Gauge
No. Name Class Builders Details. Date Completed Seats 1-2 Notes 7 C SIG 1913 0-32 Belle Epoch 70 BCe2/4 SWS/BBC/CJ 1913 4-32 Belle Epoch 401 De4/4 SIG/SAAS 1952 402 De4/4 SIG/SAAS 1952 411 De4/4 SIG/FFA/BBC 1953 Reb.1986 601 BDe4/4 SIG/SAAS 1953 0-32 603 ABDe4/4 SIG/SAAS 1953 9-16 604 BDe4/4 SIG/SAAS 1953 0-32 606 BDe4/4 SIG/SAAS 1953 0-32 Sold to NStCM,2003 607 BDe4/4 SIG/SAAS 1953 0-32 608 BDe4/4 SIG/SAAS 1953 0-32 611 BDe4/4 FFA/SIG/BBC 1985 0-39 612 BDe4/4 FFA/SIG/BBC 1985 0-39 613 BDe4/4 FFA/SIG/BBC 1985 0-39 614 BDe4/4 FFA/SIG/BBC 1985 0-39 621 BDe4/4 SIG/SWS/SAAS/CJ 1990 0-16 631 Pourilere ABe2/6 Stadler/BT 2001 9-68 632 Mont Soleil ABe2/6 Stadler/BT 2001 9-68 633 La Gruere ABe2/6 Stadler/BT 2001 9-68 634 Tabeillon ABe2/6 Stadler/BT 2001 9-68 641 ABe4/4 SWS/SAAS/CJ 1973 12-24 Reb.2000 642 ABe4/4 SWS/SAAS/CJ 1973 12-24 Reb.2000 702 Bt SWS/SAAS 1952 0-48 704 Bt SWS/SAAS 1952 0-48 711 ABt FFA/BBC 1985 12-39 712 ABt FFA/BBC 1985 12-39 713 ABt FFA/BBC 1985 12-39 714 ABt FFA/BBC 1985 12-39 721 BDt FFA/BBC 1986 0-32 722 BDt FFA/BBC 1986 0-32 751 B FFA 1986 0-64 752 B FFA 1986 0-64 753 B FFA 1986 0-64 754 B FFA 1986 0-64 755 B FFA 1986 0-64 756 B FFA 1986 0-64 Abbreviations
- BT......Bombardier Technologies
- BBC.....Brown, Boveri & Cie
- CJ......Chemin de fer du Jura
- FFA.....Flug- und Fahrzeugwerke Altenrhein
- SAAS....Société Anonyme des Ateliers de Sécheron, Geneva.
- SIG.....Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft, Heuhausen am Rheinfall
- SWS.....Schweizerische Wagon & Aufagefabrik, Schlieren
References
- This article has been freely translated from the French site with additional information from that in German.
- Locomotives and Rolling Stock details are taken from the CJ official stock lists backed up with photographic evidence.
External links
Categories:- Railway companies of Switzerland
- Railway lines in Switzerland
- Metre gauge railways in Switzerland
- Standard gauge railways in Switzerland
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