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
The same train, comprising the SNB BDe 4/4 5 + K 40 + B 23, a little further up near Sängi. A train formation of this kind would certainly have existed in the past. 24 March 1984 Photo: © Edi Meier, Bülach
SNB BDe 4/4 4 also has a mixed train consisting of passenger and goods stock in tow. BDe 4/4 4 + B 23 + K 40 + K 37 above Untersteckholz. The K 37 was built in 1917 by SIG for the LMB (Langenthal–Melchnau Railway), which was later absorbed into the OJB. 24 March 1984 Photo: © Edi Meier, Bülach
There was a change of motive power at Untersteckholz. Instead of the SNB BDe 4/4 4, the SNB BDe 4/4 5 is now heading the same consist. Here it is about to reach St. Urban, the terminus of our photography trips. 24 March 1984 Photo: © Edi Meier, Bülach
A staged train crossing at St. Urban. The BDe 4/4 5 + B 23, leading the train towards Melchnau, has just pulled in, whilst BDe 4/4 4 + L 42 are on their way towards Langenthal. Beautiful old narrow-gauge charm with gravel-covered walkways over the tracks and narrow platforms. 24 March 1984 Photo: © Edi Meier, Bülach
The SNB BDe 4/4 4, together with the B23 and the open goods wagon L 42, made for a lovely composition. Here it stands in an open field near Sängi. Like the B 23, the L 42 was built in 1907 by Ringhoffer for the LJB (Langenthal–Jura Railway), so they also match in terms of year of manufacture and manufacturer. The LJB merged with the LMB in 1958 to form the OJB. 24 March 1984 Photo: © Edi Meier, Bülach
A short time later, the same train – comprising the BDe 4/4 4, B 23 and L 42 – reaches the brickworks just before St. Urban. The ochre-coloured brickwork provides a lovely contrast to the train. The old wooden masts were still standing in this area. 24 March 1984 Photo: © Edi Meier, Bülach
The SNB BDe 4/4 4, with the B 23 and the OR 64 bogie loaded with a K3, is travelling downhill just below Melchnau. The OR 64 was acquired second-hand from Wuppertal. 24 March 1984 Photo: © Edi Meier, Bülach
A few metres further down the valley, the same train – comprising the SNB BDe 4/4 4, B 23 and OR 64, loaded with a K3 – is pictured in front of a hillside with trees that are still bare. The fact that this train has been staged is revealed by the yellow lettering ‘Für Güter die Bahn’ (‘Rail for Freight’), which was affixed to most freight wagon doors at the time. Not pretty, but still better than today’s graffiti… 24 March 1984 Photo: © Edi Meier, Bülach
After the change of power car, the scene is slightly different: the SNB BDe 4/4 5 + B 23 + OR 64 with a K3 on its return journey at the end of the day near Kaltenherberg. 24 March 1984 Photo: © Edi Meier, Bülach
This has probably hardly ever happened before: the overtaking of a freight train consisting of the SNB BDe 4/4 4 + OR 64 with a loaded K3 by the SNB BDe 4/4 5 + B 23 + K 40 + K 37 at Untersteckholz on 24 March 1984. Photo: © Edi Meier, Bülach
The same overtaking manoeuvre from the other side. Thanks to the cloud cover, there was no need to take the position of the sun into account. Whilst this is an advantage here, a little more sunshine would still have been welcome… Untersteckholz, 24 March 1984. Photo: © Edi Meier, Bülach
A re-enacted crossing also took place at Untersteckholz: the SNB BDe 4/4 4, with the B 17 and the OR 64, made way immediately after the arrival of the oncoming train so that any travellers on the passenger train consisting of the BDe 4/4 5 + B 20 + B 23 could cross the tracks to the small station building. Untersteckholz, 24 March 1984. Photo: © Edi Meier, Bülach
Naturally, we re-enacted the train crossing scenario a second time. Here, the BDe 4/4 5 + B 23 + B 17 is en route to Melchnau, whilst the BDe 4/4 4 + OR 64, hauling the loaded K3, is travelling downhill towards Langenthal. 24 March 1984 Photo: © Edi Meier, Bülach
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