MOB DZe 6/6

The entire SGEG Board wishes our members and friends good luck and all the best for the new year 2025.

We started the ‘Railway Stories’ section three years ago in the hope that our homepage could regularly present something new and not remain unchanged for months on end, as was previously the case. Judging by (unfortunately only a few) reactions, we hope and are confident that this is appreciated. However, contrary to our initial plans, the section has sadly largely become a ‘one man show’. It shouldn’t stay that way! We would therefore like to open it up to other photographers and authors and ask for your support!
As the approximately 30 stories so far show, almost anything is possible. The story should normally look back at least 25 years and have a connection to Switzerland. Ideally, you should provide us directly with an illustrated story (in Word respectively JPG format). One language is sufficient; we will continue to organise the translations. If you are not so keen on writing, simply send photos with a few notes. We will then create a text. Perhaps you would like to write something about a great event, but don’t have any photos ? No problem: we’ll try to find something suitable… Incidentally, we reduce photos to around 200kB of data, so copying is not very useful.

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Now to today’s story: On 26 April 1981, the AGMT organised a photo trip on the MOB. Although a bad weather front was approaching, there was good reason to hope that the photo trip would still be able to benefit from sunny weather as desired. Unfortunately, the front was travelling a little faster than forecast, and on the return journey with a goods train consisting of the DZe 6/6 2001 + Bi 42 + Gk 558 + 553 + 563 + 515 + 529 + 560 + 526, cold rain set in at Montbovon. The higher we travelled up towards les Cases, the more the rain turned into snowflakes. Nevertheless, there were still photo stops, and a few brave souls actually got off the train. The result was the photos in this series, proving that the railway runs in all weathers, a fact that is (understandably) not very often documented photographically…

At the stopover in les Scièrnes, the heavy rain slowly began to turn to snow, and the dark clouds massively reduced the light… I think the photo has a special charm despite this, or perhaps because of it… 27 April 1981 Photo: Edi Meier, Bülach
At the photo stop in Allières, the snow began to stick. Fortunately, we were able to get out on level ground and wait until the train was pushed backwards into position. It would hardly have been possible to return by way of the steep railway embankment… The old wooden masts are beautiful, similar to those we encountered in the last published story (GFM 106 with snow plough). 27 April 1981 Photo: Edi Meier, Bülach
After the Jaman Tunnel at Jor came the big surprise. We found ourselves in a winter wonderland. It was already quite dark and we had to fight on with slow shutter speeds and open apertures. In my opinion, it was worth it. I find the shot very atmospheric, which is why I have chosen this story to kick off the year and give you some advice for the new year: Never let adverse circumstances discourage you! 27 April 1981 Photo: Edi Meier, Bülach

For comments and additions to this railway history, please contact our Vice President Edi Meier. Thank you for your help.

 

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