Montreux-Oberland Bernois
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 33⁄8 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 |
