Aigle-Sépey-Diablerets
Encyclopedia
Railways came to the Chablais area of Vaud and Valais in 1857 when the Lausanne - Simplon railway opened its line through Aigle. This was to act as the catalyst for other projects in the late 19th century which were designed to link the valley floor with communities in the mountains. The first scheme, which pre-dated the coming of the railway, was to link Aigle to Le Sepey by road. This opened in 1840 and services were provided by stagecoach.
Aigle's railway station is still served by the trains of the Swiss Federal Railways but also those of three, local, narrow-gauge railways: the Aigle-Ollon-Monthey-Champéry
(AOMC), the Aigle - Leysin
(AL) and the Aigle-Le Sépey-Les Diablerets (ASD).
The Federal Council accepted the railway's articles of incorporation on 28 February 1911.
On 6 July 1914 the last section of the line to Vers l'Eglise and Les Diablerets was completed and the following day Berne issued a permit to operate the entire line between Aigle and Les Diablerets.
The ASD put forward many railway projects in the early 20th century: a link with Gstaad
via the Col du Pillon
, connections with Chesières and Villars
forming part of a grand Boulevard des Alpes linking Interlaken
with Chamonix
. Another project, like the previous examples, which met with fierce opposition, involved a link between Gryon and the highest point at Les Diablerets at an elevation of more than 3000 m.
The line is built to gauge and has a length of 22.33 km with power, at 1500 V
d.c.
, supplied by the Société des Forces Motrices de la Grande Eau from its plant at Pont de la Tine.
Its lowest elevation is at the station at Aigle, 404 m (1,325 ft) above sea level, rising to 1,157 m (3,796 ft) at Les Diablerets Station, a total climb of 753 m (2,470 ft).
At the same time, a Westinghouse
system replaced the existing braking equipment so enabling the rolling stock to travel on the Chemin de fer Aigle-Ollon-Monthey-Champéry
line.
In 1985, the Federal Government informed ASD, and other privately operated railways, that it would cease all funding the following year, however they renewed a federal concession for a further period of 50 years. An agreement was signed between the Canton of Vaud, the communities served by the railway and the ASD and its partners to renew rolling stock and upgrade the track.
In the mid-1990s, faced with greatly increased operating costs, the Canton of Vaud and the communities served by the railway petitioned the Federal Government to revoke its 1985 decision. The Federal Government did so and in 1996, recognizing the importance of this regional line as a public transportation carrier, awarded the line with a contract to provide a public transportation service. This brought about, in 2000, the founding of Transports Publics du Chablais
as the parent body of local public transportation with the four local railway companies as founding members.
Details of investment in the TPC railway lines since 2000 can be found on the Transports Publics du Chablais
site.
Abbreviations:
Notes:
Aigle's railway station is still served by the trains of the Swiss Federal Railways but also those of three, local, narrow-gauge railways: the Aigle-Ollon-Monthey-Champéry
Aigle-Ollon-Monthey-Champéry
The Aigle–Ollon–Monthey–Champéry is a metre-gauge railway operating in the Chablais region of Switzerland. It was created in 1946 by the amalgamation of the Aigle–Ollon–Monthey Railway and the Monthey–Champéry–Morgins Railway . Today its starting point is two newly built bay platforms at the main...
(AOMC), the Aigle - Leysin
Aigle - Leysin
The Aigle–Leysin Railway, abbreviated AL, French Chemins de fer Aigle–Leysin, was the earliest of the narrow gauge line in the Chablais area of south west Switzerland...
(AL) and the Aigle-Le Sépey-Les Diablerets (ASD).
History
On 24 October 1898 both Houses of the Swiss Parliament approved a concession application by the ASD to build and operate a railway between Aigle, Le Sépey and Leysin. Nine months later both Houses of the Swiss Parliament awarded a concession for a railway, not only linking Aigle, Le Sépey and Leysin but beyond, to Les Diablerets, Pillon and Saanen. However, following a new series of projects and concession applications, on 23 May 1905 the Berne Government finally approved the construction of a line between Aigle, Le Sépey and Les Diablerets on the left bank of the Grande Eau.The Federal Council accepted the railway's articles of incorporation on 28 February 1911.
On 6 July 1914 the last section of the line to Vers l'Eglise and Les Diablerets was completed and the following day Berne issued a permit to operate the entire line between Aigle and Les Diablerets.
The ASD put forward many railway projects in the early 20th century: a link with Gstaad
Gstaad
Gstaad is a village in the German-speaking section of the Canton of Berne in southwestern Switzerland. Part of the municipality of Saanen, Gstaad is known as one of the most exclusive ski resorts in the world....
via the Col du Pillon
Col du Pillon
Col du Pillon is a mountain pass in the western Swiss Alps, linking Aigle, Le Sépey and Les Diablerets in the canton of Vaud.-See also:* List of highest paved roads in Europe* List of mountain passes*List of the highest Swiss passes...
, connections with Chesières and Villars
Villars
-In France:*Villars, Dordogne*Villars, Eure-et-Loir*Villars, Loire*Villars, Vaucluse*Villars-les-Dombes, Ain*Villars-le-Sec, Territoire de Belfort-In Switzerland:*Canton of Jura** Villars, Jura, Switzerland in the municipality Fontenais*Canton of Fribourg...
forming part of a grand Boulevard des Alpes linking Interlaken
Interlaken
Interlaken is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the Canton of Bern in Switzerland, a well-known tourist destination in the Bernese Oberland.-History:...
with Chamonix
Chamonix
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc or, more commonly, Chamonix is a commune in the Haute-Savoie département in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It was the site of the 1924 Winter Olympics, the first Winter Olympics...
. Another project, like the previous examples, which met with fierce opposition, involved a link between Gryon and the highest point at Les Diablerets at an elevation of more than 3000 m.
The line is built to gauge and has a length of 22.33 km with power, at 1500 V
Volt
The volt is the SI derived unit for electric potential, electric potential difference, and electromotive force. The volt is named in honor of the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta , who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery.- Definition :A single volt is defined as the...
d.c.
Direct current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
, supplied by the Société des Forces Motrices de la Grande Eau from its plant at Pont de la Tine.
Its lowest elevation is at the station at Aigle, 404 m (1,325 ft) above sea level, rising to 1,157 m (3,796 ft) at Les Diablerets Station, a total climb of 753 m (2,470 ft).
The Great Fire
The night of 26 June 1940 was probably the worst in the history of the ASD when a fire destroyed its depot. Not only were the railway's facilities destroyed but three electric railcars and 4 passenger cars were lost. Following the tragedy there was speculation that the railway might be abandoned. However, a decision was made to save and restore as much as possible and, in addition, ASD was able to lease rolling stock from other companies in order to ensure the continuation of the service.At the same time, a Westinghouse
Westinghouse Air Brake Company
The railway air brake was invented by George Westinghouse of New York state in 1869. Soon after, he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he established the Westinghouse Air Brake Company on September 28, 1869...
system replaced the existing braking equipment so enabling the rolling stock to travel on the Chemin de fer Aigle-Ollon-Monthey-Champéry
Aigle-Ollon-Monthey-Champéry
The Aigle–Ollon–Monthey–Champéry is a metre-gauge railway operating in the Chablais region of Switzerland. It was created in 1946 by the amalgamation of the Aigle–Ollon–Monthey Railway and the Monthey–Champéry–Morgins Railway . Today its starting point is two newly built bay platforms at the main...
line.
Coming up-to-date!
In 1975 the four local railway companies, Aigle-Leysin (AL); Aigle-Ollon-Monthey-Champéry (AOMC); Aigle-Sépey-Diablerets (ASD) and Bex-Villars-Bretaye (BVB) merged to form a single operating company, known as the Transports Publics du Chablais (TPC). This brought about increased co-operation between the companies in the provision of community based services.In 1985, the Federal Government informed ASD, and other privately operated railways, that it would cease all funding the following year, however they renewed a federal concession for a further period of 50 years. An agreement was signed between the Canton of Vaud, the communities served by the railway and the ASD and its partners to renew rolling stock and upgrade the track.
In the mid-1990s, faced with greatly increased operating costs, the Canton of Vaud and the communities served by the railway petitioned the Federal Government to revoke its 1985 decision. The Federal Government did so and in 1996, recognizing the importance of this regional line as a public transportation carrier, awarded the line with a contract to provide a public transportation service. This brought about, in 2000, the founding of Transports Publics du Chablais
Transports Publics du Chablais
In the interests of the communities in the Chablais region, at the eastern end of Lake Geneva, it was decided in 1999, to bring together passenger transport companies, to co-ordinate and develop services and investment in transport in the area...
as the parent body of local public transportation with the four local railway companies as founding members.
Details of investment in the TPC railway lines since 2000 can be found on the Transports Publics du Chablais
Transports Publics du Chablais
In the interests of the communities in the Chablais region, at the eastern end of Lake Geneva, it was decided in 1999, to bring together passenger transport companies, to co-ordinate and develop services and investment in transport in the area...
site.
Railcars and Rolling Stock.
Details from official stock lists, May 2006.- Railcars, Class "Bde4/4"
- Driving TrailersControl car (rail)A control car is a generic term for a non-powered railroad vehicle that can control operation of a train from the end opposite to the position of the locomotive...
, Class "Bt" and "Arst" - Non-Driving Trailers, class "B2"/"B2r", "Ars" and "By"
| Number | Name | Class | Builders Details. | Date Completed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BDe 4/4 | SWS/BBC | 1913 | Painted Alpine Livery | |
| 2 | BDe 4/4 | SWS/BBC | 1913 | Painted Alpine Livery | |
| 401 | Ormonts Dessus | BDe 4/4 | ACMV/BBC | 1987 | |
| 402 | Ormonts Dessous | BDe 4/4 | ACMV/BBC | 1987 | |
| 403 | Ollon | BDe 4/4 | ACMV/BBC | 1987 | From Summer 2010 liveried in new tpc two tone green scheme. |
| 404 | Aigle | BDe 4/4 | ACMV/BBC | 1987 | |
| 34 | B2r | 1913 | 24 seat trailer car | ||
| 35 | B2 | 1913 | 24 seat trailer car (1) | ||
| 421 | Ars | 1966 | Ex-BTB No.62. Rebuilt 1984, Painted with alpine meadow scene | ||
| 431 | Chez Rose | Bt | 1966 | Ex-BTB No.26. Rebuilt 1984, Painted, alpine rose livery | |
| 432 | Bt | Schindler Schindler Group thumb|200px|Schindler Test Tower in Ebikon, Lucerne, SwitzerlandSchindler was founded in Switzerland in 1874 and is the largest manufacturer of escalators and the second largest manufacturer of elevators world wide. Schindler produces, installs, maintains and modernizes elevators and escalators in... /BBC |
1966 | Ex-BTB No.21. Rebuilt 1984 | |
| 433 | Arst | Schindler/BBC | 1966 | Ex-BTB No.27. Rebuilt 1984 as "salon bar" coach | |
| 434 | Bt | Schindler/BBC | 1966 | Ex-AOMC, Rebuilt 2000 | |
| 881-9 | By | 1994 | |||
| 884-3 | By | 1995 |
Abbreviations:
- ACMV : Ateliers de constructions mécaniques de VeveyAteliers de Constructions Mécaniques de VeveyAteliers de constructions mécaniques de Vevey was an metal engineering company based in Vevey, Switzerland. Founded as Ateliers B.Roy & Cie in 1848 by Benjamin Roy it became Ateliers de constructions mécaniques de Vevey SA in 1895....
- BBC : Brown, Boveri & CieBrown, Boveri & CieBrown, Boveri & Cie was a Swiss group of electrical engineering companies.It was founded in Baden, Switzerland, in 1891 by Charles Eugene Lancelot Brown and Walter Boveri who worked at the Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon. In 1970 BBC took over the Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon...
.
Notes:
- (1) Coach returned from Chemin de fer de La Mure.