If you watched trains at Zurich main station between 12:30 and 13:30 in 1975, you could experience a beautiful vintage vehicle parade every day, or capture it photographically. Instead of queuing for lunch in the canteen, I undertook a pilgrimage to the scene of the action with a sandwich in my hand when the timetable was right and the weather was fine…
Shortly after 13:30, De 4/4 1682 arrives at Zurich main station with its mail train. Who remembers the guard’s post in the centre of the station, which can be seen just to the right of the De 4/4? At the back of the track is an Ae 3/6 I, possibly the locomotive that will take over the mail train for the onward journey. 24 February 1975 Photo: E. Meier, BülachThe same mail train on 16 February 1975, this time hauled by De 4/4 1675, enters the main station on track 11. Right next to it is the freshly repainted Re 4/4 II 11108. We will meet this locomotive and train again at the end of this story. 16 February 1975 Photo: E. Meier, BülachA little closer, the same train with De 4/4 1675 passes a mail van that is being loaded. Note the typical postal handcar with yellow wooden superstructure, used everywhere in those days. 16 February 1975 Photo: E. Meier, BülachA little later, an Ae 3/6 I, or more precisely locomotive no. 10630, took over mail train 16049. Who remembers the service bridge with some signals hanging just outside the platform roofs? The track connection immediately out of the platform roofs is also interesting. 24 February 1975 Photo: E. Meier, Bülach Clearly visible on the front of the Ae 3/6 I 10630 is the train number 16049 written in chalk. The locomotive presents itself with the gangway side and the characteristic Buchli drives. The first series of Ae 3/6 I locomotives, which were only authorised for a maximum speed of 100 km/h, had separate rosters at that time, so that an Ae 3/6 I 100 could almost always be photographed. 24 February 1975 Photo: E. Meier, BülachAn Ae 3/6 I 100 also took over on 16 February 1975. The train is somewhat shorter, which is why locomotive no. 10615 is still half in the shadow of the platform roof. It presents the apparatus side, and the sloping superstructure for the voltage entry to the transformer of the sub-series 10601 to 10616 is clearly visible. The small canopies above the driver’s cab windows are missing 16. February 1975 Photo: E. Meier, BülachOn 16 February 1975, Be 6/8 II 13256 appears running light. Presumably it is coming from the depot and has to make a hairpin bend to leave the main station. Was it about to enter gravel train service? The short stub track branching off from the track on the left edge of the picture is also interesting. There was probably hardly space for more than one Ee 3/3… 16 February 1975 Photo: E. Meier, BülachA shot of the departing Be 6/8 II 13256. The low platform edges with many people standing directly by the track and the wide wooden crossings are exciting. The RBe 4/4 is not yet in push-pull train use. Visible in the background: the central signal box that will replace the many switch posts. 16 February 1975 Photo: E. Meier, BülachIn the meantime, the mail train has departed and the De 4/4 1675 leaves the main station. On the right: a guard’s building. To the left of the De 4/4 you can see the old signalling bridge. All «tempi passati»… 16 February 1975 Photo: E. Meier, BülachThe De 4/4 1675 is parked at the side near the station concourse, waiting for its next assignment. 16 February 1975 Photo: E. Meier, BülachThe Ae 3/6 II 10453 comes from the depot and heads towards the main station to take over its train. 24 February 1975 Photo: E. Meier, BülachThe Ae 3/6 II 10453 is ready to depart at the head of its train. Behind the locomotive is a Z mail van, followed by a B and a D. Unfortunately, it is difficult to make out what follows in the darkness under the platform roof. I suspect they are goods wagons. Note the wide wooden crossings in front of the train to allow manoeuvering with the hand, mail and luggage wagons. 24 February 1975 Photo: E. Meier, BülachWe have already seen the Re 4/4 II 11108 standing by when the mail train with its De 4/4 arrived. Here is a picture in front of her train. In the center of the picture, the Z mail van is being loaded, which is possible thanks to the wide wooden crossings. The Swiss Express consists are not yet in service, which is why the matching locomotives are still in use with screw couplings in front of green trains. 16 February 1975 Photo: E. Meier, BülachAnd finally, as an encore: the pre-series conversion of the unified coach type I with the attached rubber diaphragm bulge. Contrary to this version, the car body was extended in the series modification process. Once again clearly visible: the service bridge with the hanging signals. 24 February 1975 Photo: E. Meier, Bülach
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