To coincide with the planned lecture in Zurich and the latest railway history feature on the VBZ Be 4/4 1501–1552 of the VBZ and its predecessor, the StStZ, we are presenting a factory photograph from bahnarchiv.ch of the StStZ Ce 2/2 217, which belongs to an even older generation of trams. A total of 87 of these two-axle motor cars with longitudinal seating were built from 1909 onwards, bearing the numbers 149–236. Around 1928, they were fitted with more powerful traction motors, and around 1937 the wheelbase was increased. Some vehicles were renumbered and some were also used as service vehicles. Two vehicles from this series are still in working order in Zurich: the Be 2/2 1208, which operates as the ‘Märlitram’, and vehicle 176, which belongs to the Zurich Tram Museum Association. Photo: (c) Factory photograph SWS/bahnarchiv.ch, SGEG_SWS_A_F27_StStZ_1413SGEG_SWS_A_F27_StStZ_1413
Here you will find information about our association, our planned and past excursions into the world of Swiss railway and industrial history, and lots of interesting facts about the world of railways.
VBZ Be 4/4 1501 to 1552 ‘Pedaler’“
There are two reasons for publishing a piece on Zurich’s railway history. Firstly, we are meeting on 30 October for a lecture by Werner Hardmeier in Zurich, and we would like to take this opportunity to remind you of that event once again.
Furthermore, the last remaining Tram 2000s («pony»-drawn carriages) are still in service in Zurich, for example on Line 7. Why not enjoy them once more on 30 October before the evening lecture?
However, the photographs in this railway history are not merely records of this tram series; they also depict scenes and buildings from times long past…
Let’s start with Line 6, which runs from the main station to Fluntern Church and, at weekends, on to the Zoo. The Be 4/4 trams 1530…1536, 1551 and 1552 usually operated on this route. The stabling tracks on Gessnerallee and the single-track link at Globus leading over to Bahnhofstrasse served as turning loops at the main station. On 19 May 1974, Be 4/4 1522 was exceptionally in service on Line 6. It is seen turning into the stabling yard at the main station. The main station is still enclosed by a wall and an additional track (today’s Track 3) does not yet exist. 19 May 1974 Photo: © Edi Meier, Bülach
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Ae 4/6 III 10851
Today we would once again like to commemorate a unique locomotive in the SBB fleet: the Ae 4/6 III 10851.
I first came across the Ae 4/6 III 10851 on 30 September 1970 in the Zurich main workshop, amidst pouring rain. The second time was on 11 August 1972 in Yverdon…
Visits to the workshop were not unusual, as this locomotive was, after all, a test vehicle and was deliberately breaking new ground. Furthermore, unlike with production locomotives, there were no large spare parts stocks available for this one-off. And as it was rarely in service anyway (one of the two BDe 4/4 II shuttle trains was sufficient for the regular Geneva–La Plaine service), there was little pressure for fewer and quicker repairs. Zurich, 30 September 1970 © Photo: Edi Meier, Bülach
30.10. lecture by Werner Hardmeier
Friday 30 Oct.26 special lecture 18:15–19:45
Rollschemel, Rollböcke und Dreischienengleise part 2
As a supplement to the special issue of Semaphor
Pädagogische Hochschule , Lagerstrasse 2, 8090 Zurich
(next to Zurich main station)
Doors open at 18:00
Lecture 18:15 – 19:45
Further information on the lecture
VBW Ge 4/4 111 with a rolling-frame train from the first part of the lecture. Why not read this report again… Photo: © Werner Hardmeier, Rümlang
OJB B 23 Part 3: mixed trains
In the railway stories of 30 September 2023 and 31 March 2026 referring to the B 23, we showed its transfer and use in dedicated photo-tourist trains. In addition to the BDe 4/4 4 and 5 railcars and B 17, 20 and 23 passenger carriages shown, we had three narrow-gauge goods wagons at our disposal: the covered goods wagons K 37 and K 40 and the open wagon L 42, supplemented by the OR 64 bogie loaded with an SBB K3. The latter was kindly taken out of regular service by SBB staff in Langenthal and transferred to the OJB for this purpose. Here follows the section of the photo trips featuring goods wagons…
Trains with goods wagons but without the B 23 carriage were also formed. However, we shall omit these today…
SNB BDe 4/4 5 + K 40 + B 23 are pictured in front of the monastery church of St. Urban. The K 40 was built in 1914 by SWS as the K 46 for the ESZ and was taken over by the SNB in 1958 following the ESZ’s closure. 24 March 1984 Photo: © Edi Meier, Bülach