After a dry spell for narrow gauge fans, we have something for you again today!
Almost all railways used to have snow ploughs in use. These were often quaint vehicles that were built by the railway companies themselves on the old underframes of goods wagons. For railway photographers, it was also particularly attractive that mostly older, rarely used traction units were in use with the snow plough.
The GFM ABe 4/4 106 used in the following pictures was built in 1903 by SWS and MFO as a BCFe 4/4 6 for the opening of the CEG (Chemins de fer éléctriques de la Gruyère).
The four 35 hp engines were replaced by 65 hp engines as early as 1912. A lavatory (WC) was not installed until 1912. Thanks to the new gearboxes from 1912, the maximum speed could be increased from 40 to 45 km/h in 1913.
In 1917, the coach body was rebuilt and lengthened by 1.18 metres. The luggage compartment and the second-class compartment were converted into a third-class compartment, so that the railcar was henceforth operated as a Ce 4/4.
In 1933, the coach body was remodelled again and the 2nd class compartment was reintroduced, so that the railcar was now in service as a BCe 4/4. MFO again supplied new engines, again with 65 hp.
Around 1946, the vehicle was fitted with a BBC pantograph on end 1 and new step controllers from the same company.
In 1949, the second lyre bar was also replaced by an identical pantograph.
The ABe 4/4 106 was demolished in 1983.
The three snow ploughs X 1003 – X 1005 were built in 1950 by the Bulle workshop on underframes from old flat wagons M 805 – 807. The wooden house for operating the snow plough was added later in 1954.
The snow ploughs X 1004 and X 1005, which can be seen in the following pictures, were demolished in 1983.
The X 1003 snow plough was sold to the MOB in 1998.
On 31 January 1981, the GFM ABe 4/4 106 was out for a photo run with the X 1005 snow plough near Prayoud in bright sunshine. The snowdrifts next to the road and railway line show that there was plenty of snow on 31 January 1981. The railcar was no longer very well maintained. A window pane in a door was broken and I injured a finger on it. 31 January 1981 Photo: Edi Meier, BülachThe same consist ABe 4/4 106 and snow plough X 1005 taken on the same day near Vaulruz. The view slightly from below allows a great view of the filigree underframe additionally illuminated by the snow. Behind the railcar and on the far right of the picture were two of the typical narrow-gauge wooden catenary masts. 31 January 1981 Photo: Edi Meier, BülachA cross shot shows the ABe 4/4 106 with the X 1005 snow plough in front of a stately farm near Vaulruz. I think the posts of the fence, slightly sugared by the drifting snow are pretty, even though I’m not normally a fan of barbed wire fences for understandable reasons… The wooden fence in the backlight of the following picture is also very photogenic. 31 January 1981 Photo: Edi Meier, BülachThe same composition ABe 4/4 106 and snow plough X 1005 on the same day at Vuadens. It must have been quite cold for the operators in the wooden shed, and working the hand crank outside to adjust the plough must not have been pleasant either, especially when it was iced over with drifting snow. The windscreen wiper had to be moved by hand. 31 January 1981 Photo: Edi Meier, BülachA few days before the photo run, on 17 January 1981, I had already photographed the snow-clearing train in Châtel St. Denis, which was parked ready for operation. At this time, the ABe 4/4 106 had snow ploughs attached on both ends. The X 1005 on the end facing Bulle as during the photo run, the X 1004 on the opposite end. 17 January 1981 Photo: Edi Meier, Bülach The same train taken from the other end with the X 1004 in the foreground. Traces of snow on the plough shovel are evidence of an operation that had taken place shortly before. 17 January 1981 Photo: Edi Meier, BülachAs a supplement, Sébastien Jarne provided me with a photo of all three snow ploughs. Taken in Bulle on 06 December 1975 Photo Sébastien Jarne, Chexbres
For comments and additions to this railway history, please contact our Vice President Edi Meier. Thank you for your help.
