garden railway at the lake "Katzensee"

At SGEG and in the railway stories, we don’t normally deal with model railways…

But unfortunately, we have received the sad news that our long-time member Hanspeter ‘Hampe’ Landenberger passed away unexpectedly on 17 April 2025. For many, his name is associated with the Katzensee steam railway, but as an engine driver he was also professionally connected with the railway and he was often seen as a steam engine driver at the 150th anniversary of Swiss Railways. He was also actively involved in the restoration of various steam locomotives in the Brugg Steam Park. With the passing of Hanspeter Landenberger, the Swiss steam railway scene has lost one of its best-known faces.

Hanspeter Landenberger in his favourite function: as an engine driver on a historic steam locomotive, in this case the Ec 2/5 28. Photo: Werner Hardmeier, Rümlang

The garden railway at the lake Katzensee was our host at the legendary 2nd Ordinary General Meeting of the SGEG on 4 March 2006 and there were several centimetres of fresh snow in Zurich on this ‘spring day’!
In memory of Hanspeter Landenberger, we show a few pictures from back then and from more recent times in this story.

Thickly wrapped up participants of the SGEG AGM on their way to the waiting train, which was brought out of hibernation and heated up especially for us. 04.03.2006 Photo: Edi Meier, Bülach

Full steam ahead through the snow: A track plough in front of the steam locomotive ensures a safe journey. Snow pictures from a garden railway are certainly a rarity! March 04, 2006 Photo: Edi Meier, Bülach

The same steam train on the long bridge in front of the striking tower of the garden railway. March 04, 2006 Photo: Edi Meier, Bülach

The long steam train is pushed by a second steam locomotive: a replica of the legendary D 1/3 of the Spanisch Brötli railway. March 04, 2006 Photo: Edi Meier, Bülach

Speaking of the Spanisch Brötli railway: Shortly before our AGM, Rainer Siegenthaler discovered an ancient platform wagon with strange axles on the siding of the company Buntmetall AG at Buchs-Dällikon station. Underframes of demolished wagons used to be used as movable storage areas at a number of railway stations. To everyone’s great astonishment, the private station wagon from Buchs-Dällikon had original Wetzlich-type steering axles from the Swiss Northern Railway (Spanisch-Brötli-Bahn) from 1847! The steering axles of the Nordbahn wagons made for very poor running characteristics, so the wagons were all replaced by 1873. Their underframes survived as NOB station wagons until the SBB era. When Buntmetall AG Buchs took over a former NOB station carriage, it fitted a new platform on the old steering axles, which were the only original parts from 1847 to be preserved. Thanks to a lightning rescue operation, the fragment escaped scrapping and found shelter at the garden railway at Katzensee. March 04, 2006 Photo: Edi Meier, Bülach

A good 20 years later, the two steering axles without the superstructure are still in place at Katzensee, unfortunately outdoors. May 19, 2024 Photo: Edi Meier, Bülach

The passenger coach B 8023 with goose-neck bogies is a little younger, but not quite new either, and is also spending its twilight years at the Katzensee. May 19, 2024 Photo: Edi Meier, Bülach

Even less remains of the old Ae 3/6 II 10452 locomotive with rod drive.
But stop! That’s not really true!
What is proudly presented today as the historic locomotive Ae 3/6 II 10439 is essentially the original locomotive 10452.
How did this ‘mislabelling’ or number swap come about?
When the Ae 3/6 II 10439 was in the main workshop in Yverdon to become a historic locomotive, the 10452 was standing next to it at the same time. And it quickly became clear that the mechanical part of the 10452 was in much better condition. Most of the parts of the 10452 were therefore used, but the original plan to make it an Olten locomotive was retained for the number plate. May 19, 2024 Photo: Edi Meier, Bülach

If you would like to know more about the garden railway at the lake “Katzensee”: here is the link to the homepage (in German).

Comments and additions to this railway history can be sent to EG at sgeg dot ch, or use the form to our Vice President Edi Meier. Thank you for your help.

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