Trains (watching, hobby)

Transportation, Travel and Trips
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Trains are great to travel around between 6h00 and 20h00, and if you like to stay cozy at home on Sundays. Anyway, I’m a happy train rider when I have to go to the office in ZH.

Beyond their utility, trains arise curiosity. I like seeing steam locomotives or riding trains pulled by them every time I can.

Other people have a deeper interest in them. YT recently showed up this in my feed. The video is about trying to explain the trams in Bern.

And there’s more interesting videos from this guy: an international tram in Basel.

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today in central zurich, while I was waiting for my tram, one of the old zurich trams went by - with the usual squeaking and noise etc. Brought back memories of my early days in zurich on these trams and going to bern and being amazed at how quiet trams in bern were …

I do sometimes miss the sound of the old zurich trams … )

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Here are a couple where we used to live–

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Milano is not too far away. Trams make all the noises :slight_smile:

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You need a PhD to navigate the Bern transit system, it is an unholy mess.

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Steam trains? Did you say steam trains?

And in the spring the Narcissus flowers are absolutely gorgeous.

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Our son was based in Heiden for his army répétition course last autumn and used to use that often to get to Rohrschach to pick up the IC5 to Neuchâtel. He said it was a lovely journey.

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Yes, will look for some pics later today :slight_smile:

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Switzerland is a train’s hobbyist paradise

My favorite dead-time wasting method is browsing https://www.openrailwaymap.org/ and looking for random spur lines and dream about traveling there one day :slight_smile: There’s just too many to get to in one’s life

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But this is my favourite…we looked at a farmhouse here once. It was snapped up from under our noses.

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IMHO one of the most spectacular train journeys in the world is the Albula/Bernina line from Chur to Tirano. It passes over some classic viaducts. The scenery on route is amazing.

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You can’t call yourself a Swiss train fan unless you know the answers to the following:
*What is the signifcance of the “Chilleli von Wassen”? (Church at Wassen)?
*What is an Re 10/10?
*Which Swiss Railway is UNESCO heritage listed?

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Well, I must be a fan.

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  1. I think it’s the name of a locomotive
  2. It’s a locomotive
  3. Does it matter at all?
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  1. No,
  2. Half right
  3. Yes
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You qualify as a fan!

Swiss railways have become somewhat clinical…rolling stock, stations and signalling have become very boring and homogenous.

Still, better than my home state of NSW Australia..which has gutted a once proud and charismatic railway.

My interest was always the signalling…

FUN FACT: Swiss signals are generally “approach clear”. This means they only turn green if a train is on approach.

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I made quick search.

1 - I had no idea
2 - I remembered seeing a similar number combination on the side of a locomotive, I just assumed it was another model. But, not a model, a combination haha
3 - Why does it matter? Sorry for the cynicism but the UNESCO protection may just serve a few NIMBYs who already own real estate there. All in the name of protecting the scenery.

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Well, either 40% or 60% right :smiley:

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One half produces 40%, the other 60%.

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Question 4. could possibly be “What is a Krokodil?”