Blonay–Chamby Museum Railway

The Blonay–Chamby Museum Railway (, BC) is a short 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, Chamby Station on the Montreux–Lenk im Simmental line and at the lower end, 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 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 PictureNo.NameClassCyls.Built byWorks No.Date builtPrevious ownersNotes 1 Le Doubs G 3/3 OCSLM 618 1890RdB (), CMN ()On loan from Swiss Transport Museum Luzern. Not operational 3 HG 3/4 OCSLM 2317 1913BFD, FO Abt rack In service. 5 Bercher G 3/3 OCSACM 4172 1890LEB, , Hilti & Jehle, Feldkirch. used by EOS to build Dixence Dam. Awaiting repairs. 6 G 3/3 OCSLM 1341 1901Brünigbahn/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 Zellwww.echtdampfwelt.de, Herrmann Echtdampf, Echtdampfshop, Echtdampflok SEG-Mallet - 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) G 2x3/3 OCHanomag 104371925SEGMallet design, 0-6-6-0T, Compound. Under restoration. 105 Todtnauwww.drehscheibe-foren.de, Drehscheben Online, Forum, Schmalspurdampf ex Zell-Todtnau auf der GFM, 1973, mit 24 Fotos - first picture (Retrieved 13 August 2013) G 2x2/2 OCMBG 2051 1918Haspe–Voerde–Breckerfeld Light Railway, Mallet design, 0-4-4-0T, Compound. In service. 99 193 G 5/5 OCMFE 4183 1927DR, DB. Stationary, repainted in grey livery

Steam tramway locomotives PictureNo.NameClassCyls.Built byWorks No.Date builtPrevious ownersNotes 4 Rimini G 2/2 OC Krauss 4278 1900 Ferrovie e Tramvie Padane (FTP), Ferrara-Codigoro and Rimini-Novafeltria. Awaiting renovation 7 G 2/4 System Brown SLM 316 1882 Mulhouse Tramways Stationary

Electric locomotives, railcars and trams Locomotives PictureNo.NameClassBuilt byWorks No.Date builtPrevious ownersNotes 2 La Grisette He 2/2 SLM / CIE 1899 Bex–Villars–Bretaye (BVB)Abt rack functional but only the rack wheel is driven. 29 - HGe 3/3 SLM / MFO 1926 Bernese Oberland railway (BOB)Riggenbach rack, in service 75 - Ge 4/4 SLM / MFO 2328 1913 Georg Fischer (+GF+) temporarily out of service 81 - Ge 4/4 SLM / BBC 1916 Berninabahn (BB), Rhaetian Railway (RhB) in service

Railcars PictureNo.NameClass/typeBuilt byWorks No.Date builtPrevious ownersNotes 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 4/4I 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 PictureNo.NameClass/typeBuilt byWorks No.Date builtPrevious ownersNotes 7 - Ce 2/2 Rat / CIE 1904 Tramway de Fribourg (TF) stationary 28 - Ce 2/3 SWS / SAAS 1913 Tramways Lausannois (TL) in service 31 - Ze 2/2 SIG / EGA 1914 Rheintalische Strassenbahn (Rhine Valley Tramways) (RhSt) stationary 52 - Ce 2/2 SWS / MFO 1914 Städtische Strassenbahn, Bern (SSB) in service 76 - Ce 2/2 SIG / MFO 1911 Tramways de Neuchâtel (TN) stationary 151 - Fe 4/4 SIG / S&H 1911 Compagnie Genevoise des Tramways Électriques (CGTE) in service

Passenger coaches Railway passenger coaches PictureNo.NameClass/typeBuilt byWorks No.Date builtPrevious ownersNotes 2 - As2 SIG 1903 Ex-Rhaetian Railway Bernina Line (RhB) acquired 1972, last restoration 2023, in service 6 Kaiserwagen B3 SIG 1901 Bernese Oberland railway (BOB), Modelleisenbahnfreunde Eiger Zweilütschinen (MEFEZ)Riggenbach rack, acquired 2013, in service 7 - C4 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 - BC2 1908 Monthey-Champéry-Morgins (MCM), Aigle-Ollon-Monthey-Champery (AOMC)Abt rack, in service 11 - BC2 SIG 1890 Régional des Brenets (RdB) historical picture, acquired 1973 13 - C2 MAN 1905 Sernftalbahn (SeTB) historical picture, ex BC2 13, acquired 1969 15 - ABCFZ4 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 C2 Chevalier, Chailus & Cie à Paris 1865 Lausanne–Echallens–Bercher railway (LEB), original Mont Cenis Pass Railway acquired 2016, in service 21 - CF2 SIG 1900 Aigle–Leysin railway (AL) Abt rack, acquired 1973, in service 21 - BC2 SWS 1902 Chemins de fer électriques Veveysans (CEV) acquired 1971, in service 21 Giardiniera C2 SWS 1911 Lugano–Cadro–Dino railway (LCD)acquired 1990, in service 21 - CF2 SIG 1890 Régional des Brenets (RdB) historical picture, acquired 1973 22 - BC4 SIG 1915 Loèche - Loèche-les-Bains (LLB) Abt rack, acquired 1967, in service 22 - BC4 SIG 1902 Montreux–Lenk im Simmental line acquired 1971, in service 23 - C2 SWS 1903 Gruyère–Fribourg–Morat railway (GFM) acquired 1967, in service 44 - C4 SIG 1926 Berner Oberland Bahn (BOB) Riggenbach rack acquired 1967, in service 61 - B4 SIG 1906 Montreux–Lenk im Simmental line acquired 2016, in service 121 - AB2 SIG 1903 Rhaetian Railway (RhB) acquired 1972, in service 171 - C4 Herbrand 1891 Mittelbadische Eisenbahn Gesellschaft (MEG) acquired 1967, in service

Tramway passenger coaches PictureNo.NameClassBuilt byWorks No.Date builtPrevious ownersNotes 57 - C2 SIG 1930 Tramway Vevey–Montreux–Chillon–Villeneuve (VMCV), Bex–Villars–Bretaye Railway (BVB) acquired 1970, in service 370 - C4 SIG 1920 Compagnie Genevoise des Tramways Électriques (CGTE) acquired 1967, in service

Post and baggage coach PictureNo.NameClassBuilt byWorks No.Date builtPrevious ownersNotes 36 - FZ2 SWS 1903 Gruyère–Fribourg–Morat railway (GFM) in service

Goods wagons PictureNo.NameClassBuilt byWorks No.Date builtPrevious ownersNotes 30 - K Kirchheim 1874 Schweizerische Lokalbahnen (SLB), Appenzeller Bahn (AB) acquired 1968, stationary 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 lineacquired 2014, in service 153 - LO 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 MOBacquired 2005, in service. 712 - L SWS 1905 GFMacquired 2002, in service. 810 - O Busch 1903 MOBacquired 1989, in service

Diesel locomotives, shunters and maintenance vehicles PictureNo.NameClass/typeBuilt byWorks No.Date builtPrevious ownersNotes 1 - Tm 2/2 O&K, Berlin 20200 1930 Montreux–Lenk im Simmental line, Holzwerk Rieder St. Stephan in service 3 Biniou Dm 2/2 Billard SNCF, Réseau Breton (RB) under restoration 926 Bouc ("goat") Te 2/2 StStZ / MFO 1935 Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich (VBZ)Shunter, in service - Dm 1/2 Rhaetian Railway (RhB)Petrol Powered draisine - Dd 1/2 Rhaetian Railway (RhB)Hand driven draisine, operational

Rotary snowplough PictureNo.NameClassCyls.Built byWorks No.Date builtFormer OwnersNotes 9214 - Xrot d 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 PictureNo.NameClass/typeBuilt byWorks No.Date builtFormer OwnersNotes 1 - Xe 2/2 SWS / MFO 1915 Tramway de Bienne (TrB) Tank for fire service, under restoration 52 - X2 Chemins de fer électriques Veveysans (CEV) stationary. 52 - X2 SWS 1915 Loèche–Loèche-les-Bains (LLB) Abt rack, acquired 1967 as LLB M 52, since 2008 crane truck. Operational. 466 Trois Pattes C3 SIG 1889 JBL C3 466, preceding Swiss Federal Railways, Brünig line X3 9951 stationary.

Loaned-out rolling stock PictureNo.NameClass/typeBuilt byWorks No.Date builtPrevious ownersNotes 121 Baladeuse C4 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)

Former rolling stock PictureNo.NameClass/typeBuilt byWorks No.Date builtPrevious ownersCurrent owners 230 - C2 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. 111 - K Baume & Merpent 1886 YSteC scrapped in 2014 1011 - X GFM 1914 Gruyère–Fribourg–Morat railway (GFM) Former K 635, transformed 1955 into F 424, D2 424, transformed 1973 into emergency wagon, scrapped in 2014

Notes

Abbreviations for 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)