In 1879, the valley of the Linth river was connected to the Swiss railway network by the opening of the Weesen to Linthal line, but the side-valley of the Sernf river remained unserved. This impacted the local economy, and various proposals were brought forward to provide rail service to the Sernf valley. The eventual result was the Sernftal tramway, which opened on 8 June 1905.[1]
The line was largely constructed immediately alongside the road, with some narrow street running sections through the villages. This resulted in a difficult to operate line, with a minimum curve radius of 39 metres (128 ft) and a maximum gradient of 6.8%. The line was constructed to metre gauge (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in gauge), and was electrified using direct current (first 750, then 800 V) generated from the line's own hydro-electric power plants and diesel engine generators.[1][citation needed]
The line closed on 31 May 1969. Although the line closed, the operating company survived, changing its name to Autobetrieb Sernftal AG. This company still operates the bus service that replaced the railway, as well as several other bus services in the area, under the name Sernftalbus.[1][2][3]
Some rolling stock from the line still exists. One four-wheeled motor coach of 1928 (BDe 2/2 4) is preserved at the Blonay–Chamby museum railway, as is a trailer (B2 13) and a freight car (K31), both of 1905. The three more modern bogie railcars of 1949 (BDe 4/4 5-7) were sold to the Aigle–Ollon–Monthey–Champéry railway when the Sernftal line closed, and then resold in 1985 to Stern & Hafferl in Austria for use on their Vöcklamarkt to Attersee line. One of the cars (variously reported as 6 or 7) was destroyed in a fire in 1987, but the other two remain in use. It is expected that they will be retired in 2016, and a preservation society, the Verein Sernftalbahn, is campaigning for their return. The same society runs a museum, including two further freight cars from the line (K35 and K36), at Engi-Vorderdorf.[1][4][5]
The railcar BDe 4/4 6 has been relocated to the Verein Sernftalbahn's museum in October, 2016.[6]
Referencesedit
^ abcde"Sernftalbahn". www.eingestellte-bahnen.ch (in German). Retrieved 2015-04-18.
^ (in German). Autobetrieb Sernftal AG. Archived from the original on 2015-04-27. Retrieved 2015-04-20.
^ [Sernftalbus - Timetable 2015] (PDF) (in German). Autobetrieb Sernftal AG. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-04-27. Retrieved 2015-04-20.
^"Rückholaktion Triebwagen" (in German). Verein Sernftalbahn. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
^"Museum" (in German). Verein Sernftalbahn. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
^"Nach 47 Jahren ist der BDe 4/4 6 wieder zurück im Sernftal" [After 47 years, BDe 4/4 6 is back in Sernftal]. info24 (in German). from the original on 2016-10-06. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
External linksedit
Media related to Sernftalbahn at Wikimedia Commons
Verein Sernftalbahn web site
Swisstopo map showing route of line in 1944 and today
April 18, 2024
sernftal, tramway, german, sernftalbahn, setb, electrical, narrow, gauge, tramway, swiss, canton, glarus, which, operated, private, company, line, linked, schwanden, railway, station, weesen, linthal, railway, line, with, communities, valley, sernf, river, inc. The Sernftal tramway German Sernftalbahn SeTB was an electrical narrow gauge tramway in the Swiss canton of Glarus which was operated by a private company The line linked Schwanden railway station on the Weesen to Linthal railway line with communities in the valley of the Sernf river including Engi Matt and Elm where the line terminated The line served a total of 13 stations and its depot was situated at Engi Vorderdorf at roughly the half way point of the line 1 Sernftal tramwayElectric railcar BCFe 2 2 1 of the Sernftalbahn approximately 1905OverviewLocaleCanton of GlarusTerminiSchwandenElmStations13ServiceServices1Depot s Engi VorderdorfHistoryOpened8 June 1905Closed31 May 1969TechnicalLine length13 8 km 8 6 mi CharacterRural electric tramwayTrack gauge1 000 mm 3 ft 3 3 8 in Minimum radius39 metres 128 ft In 1879 the valley of the Linth river was connected to the Swiss railway network by the opening of the Weesen to Linthal line but the side valley of the Sernf river remained unserved This impacted the local economy and various proposals were brought forward to provide rail service to the Sernf valley The eventual result was the Sernftal tramway which opened on 8 June 1905 1 The line was largely constructed immediately alongside the road with some narrow street running sections through the villages This resulted in a difficult to operate line with a minimum curve radius of 39 metres 128 ft and a maximum gradient of 6 8 The line was constructed to metre gauge 3 ft 3 3 8 in gauge and was electrified using direct current first 750 then 800 V generated from the line s own hydro electric power plants and diesel engine generators 1 citation needed The line closed on 31 May 1969 Although the line closed the operating company survived changing its name to Autobetrieb Sernftal AG This company still operates the bus service that replaced the railway as well as several other bus services in the area under the name Sernftalbus 1 2 3 Some rolling stock from the line still exists One four wheeled motor coach of 1928 BDe 2 2 4 is preserved at the Blonay Chamby museum railway as is a trailer B2 13 and a freight car K31 both of 1905 The three more modern bogie railcars of 1949 BDe 4 4 5 7 were sold to the Aigle Ollon Monthey Champery railway when the Sernftal line closed and then resold in 1985 to Stern amp Hafferl in Austria for use on their Vocklamarkt to Attersee line One of the cars variously reported as 6 or 7 was destroyed in a fire in 1987 but the other two remain in use It is expected that they will be retired in 2016 and a preservation society the Verein Sernftalbahn is campaigning for their return The same society runs a museum including two further freight cars from the line K35 and K36 at Engi Vorderdorf 1 4 5 The railcar BDe 4 4 6 has been relocated to the Verein Sernftalbahn s museum in October 2016 6 References edit a b c d e Sernftalbahn www eingestellte bahnen ch in German Retrieved 2015 04 18 Sernftalbus in German Autobetrieb Sernftal AG Archived from the original on 2015 04 27 Retrieved 2015 04 20 Sernftalbus Fahrplan 2015 Sernftalbus Timetable 2015 PDF in German Autobetrieb Sernftal AG Archived from the original PDF on 2015 04 27 Retrieved 2015 04 20 Ruckholaktion Triebwagen in German Verein Sernftalbahn Retrieved 2015 04 18 Museum in German Verein Sernftalbahn Retrieved 2015 04 18 Nach 47 Jahren ist der BDe 4 4 6 wieder zuruck im Sernftal After 47 years BDe 4 4 6 is back in Sernftal info24 in German Archived from the original on 2016 10 06 Retrieved 2016 10 06 External links edit nbsp Media related to Sernftalbahn at Wikimedia Commons Verein Sernftalbahn web site Swisstopo map showing route of line in 1944 and today Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sernftal tramway amp oldid 1053411895, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
