Montreux-Oberland Bernois

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MOB train at Les Avants on 11 July 1985.

The MOB railway, Chemins de fer Montreux-Oberland Bernois, located in southwest Switzerland,is one of the oldest electric railways in Switzerland; its main line, 62.4 km in length, built to 1 m (3 ft 338 in) gauge, connects Montreux, Gstaad and Zweisimmen where passengers can transfer to the standard-gauge Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon railway. There is also a 12.9 km. long branch line from Zweisimmen to Lenk.

History

The line was opened in stages, the first, from Montreux to Les Avants (10.9 km) on December 17, 1901 followed by the Les Avants to Montbovon (11.2 km) section on October 1, 1903. The next stages from Montbovon to Chateau d'Oex (10.6 km) and then Gstaad (13.1 km) followed on August 19, 1904 and December 20, 1904 respectively, the final 16.6 km of the line reaching Zweisimmen on July 6, 1912.

For the MOB, Zweisimmen is the terminus station; the branch line to Lenk continues in the opposite direction. Because of its poor state of repair, this line was closed on June 14, 1975, however, it was fully modernized between 1977 and 1979, having new tracks and overhead lines, reopening on September 27, 1979. Since then, it has been included in the regular operating schedule of the MOB with timetabled connections to the main line services.

From the very start the MOB had the character of a mainline railway and, at an early stage, through trains with dining and saloon coaches were introduced. The creation of the Golden Mountain Pullman Express in 1931, unfortunately at a time of world economic crisis accounted for its lack of success. The saloon coaches built for this train were sold to the Rhaetian Railway in 1939, where they are still in regular use. The modern successor of this luxury train is the Golden Panorama Express, which for the past few years has aroused growing enthusiasm.

Routes

The MOB begins its journey in Montreux, using platforms 4 to 6 of the town's station, between the Swiss Federal Railway platforms and those of the rack and pinion railway to the Rochers de Naye. Winding its way up through the vineyards above Lake Geneva via Chamby, as far as Les Avants, the line passes through the crown tunnel under the Col de Jaman to reach the Saane Valley. In Montbovon there is a connection to the GFM network. Following the Saane upstream, it leaves the French-speaking Canton of Vaud near Rougemont and enters the German-speaking Canton of Bern. Beyond Gstaad it begins the climb to the head of Saanenmöser Pass, the highest point on the line. On the other side it descends the Simmen Valley to Zweisimmen, where there is a connection to the standard gauge line of the BLS to Spiez.

Locomotives and railcars

For decades the traffic on the MOB had been handled by electric railcars available in four-, six- and eight-axle designs. In 1983, four locomotives of the type GDe4/4 were bought, to be followed in 1994 by four newer Ge4/4 locomotives from the same manufacturer. Any of these locomotives can be seen working the principal trains. Apart from the through trains between Montreux and Zweisimmen there is hourly local service serving Montreux - Les Avants, Gstaad - Zweisimmen and Zweisimmen - Lenk.

The MOB is run with 900 V d.c. and has gradients of up to 7,3 %.

de:Montreux-Oberland Bernois-Bahnfr:Chemin de fer Montreux-Oberland Bernois
No. Name Class Builders details Date Notes.
1 Tm2/2 1930
2 Tm2/2 1953 Ex- Juist Island(Germany)
3 Tm2/2 1955 Ex- Juist Island(Germany)
4 Tm2/2 1953 Ex- Ch. de Fer Rhetiques
27 De4/4 SIG/BBC 1924
28 De4/4 SIG/BBC 1924
36 BDe4/4 SIG/SWS/VBW/MFO 1913 Rebuilt 1951
37 BDe4/4 SIG/SWS/VBW/MFO 1913 Rebuilt 1958
2003 Montbovon Gm4/4 Moyse/CFD/Poyard 1976
2004 Albeuve Gm4/4 Moyse/CFD/Poyard 1982
1001 Montreux Be4/4 ACMV/SWS/MFO/BBC 1955 Ex- Lugana-Cadro-Dino Railway.
1003 Be4/4 SWS/SAAS 1951 Ex- Lugana-Ponte Tresa Railway
3004 BDe4/4 SIG/BBC 1944 2nd/Brake (36 seats)
4001 Suisse ABDe8/8 SIG/BBC/SAAS 1968
4002 Vaud ABDe8/8 SIG/BBC/SAAS 1968
4003 Bern ABDe8/8 SIG/BBC/SAAS 1968
4004 Fribourg ABDe8/8 SIG/BBC/SAAS 1968
5001 BDe4/4 SIG/SAAS 1976
5002 BDe4/4 SIG/SAAS 1976
5003 BDe4/4 SIG/SAAS 1976
5004 BDe4/4 SIG/SAAS 1976
6001 Vevey GDe4/4 SLM/BBC 1983
6002 Rossiniere GDe4/4 SLM/BBC 1983
6003 Saanen GDe4/4 SLM/BBC 1983 In 1983 this locomotive broke the record for Swiss narrow gauge trains with a speed of 110 km/h.
6004 Interlaken GDe4/4 SLM/BBC 1983
7001 Vevey Be2/6 Stadler/SLM/Adtranz 1997
7002 St Legier La Chiesaz Be2/6 Stadler/SLM/Adtranz 1997
7003 Blonay Be2/6 Stadler/SLM/Adtranz 1998
7004 Montreux Be2/6 Stadler/SLM/Adtranz 1998
8001 Ge4/4 SLM/ABB 1994
8002 Ge4/4 SLM/ABB 1994
8003 Ge4/4 SLM/ABB 1994
8004 Ge4/4 SLM/ABB 1994