Chemins de fer électriques Veveysans

Chemins de fer électriques Veveysans

MVR Beh 2/4 72 leaving Lally in
MU behind 71 and 224 towards
the Les Pléiades terminus on 20 May 2007
Overview
Locale Vevey, Switzerland
Technical
Line length 10.51 km (6.53 mi)
Track gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 38 in)
Electrification 900 V DC overhead contact
Highest elevation 1,348 m (4,423 ft)
Rack system
  • Blonay – Les Pléiades: Strub
  • Vevey – Blonay: None
MVR Beh 2/4 71 and Bt 224 arriving from Les Pléiades in MU behind 72, Sunday, 20 May 2007
MVR BDeh 2/4 73 and Bt 221 on 20 May 2007 in Blonay. 71-75 originally were identical.
MVR Bt 223 and BDeh 2/4 74 in Vevey on 6 May 2005
MVR Gk 35, 36 and 38 in Vevey on 8 October 2006

The Chemins de fer électriques Veveysans (CEV) built and operated narrow gauge electric railway lines from Vevey to Blonay, Chamby, Châtel-St-Denis and Les Pléiades, in Switzerland. The first section to see service, that from Vevey to Chamby, was opened on 1 October 1902. Next section was the branch line from St-Légier to Châtel–St-Denis that opened on 2 April 1904. On 8 July 1911 the rack line from Blonay to Les Pléiades was opened.

On 23 November 1911, Blonay was also reached by the Clarens - Chailly - Blonay electric tramway operated by a separate company (CCB). This closed at the end of 1955, being replaced by buses.

The lines were constructed to a gauge of 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 38 in) and electrified from the outset. Presently it operates on 900 V DC, overhead contact. Train services were offered from Vevey to Chamby and Châtel-St-Denis, where the CEV connected to the MOB and GFM (now tpf). The electric motor coach from Vevey to Chamby conveyed coaches to Blonay, where they were taken over by a rack locomotive and brought up to Les Pléiades.

On 22 May 1966, the section Blonay–Chamby was closed, followed by St-Légier–Châtel-St-Denis on 31 May 1969. While the Châtel-St-Denis branch was torn up, track to Chamby remained. Railway enthusiasts formed an association which could set up a weekend museum operation starting on 20 July 1968. On 24 May 1998 CEV reintroduced regular trains but stopped these services again two years later because of low patronage. The infrastructure was always owned by CEV and the museum trains of the Blonay-Chamby museum railway operate in open access.

Of the remaining open sections, the Vevey to Blonay line is 5.72 km (3.55 mi) long and from there to Les Pléiades a further 4.79 km (2.98 mi). In that 10.51 km (6.53 mi). the line rises some 962 m (3,156 ft) reaching 1,348 m (4,423 ft) at Les Pléiades.

The line has its own workshops at Vevey although much work is undertaken at the MOB's Chernex works and also a small depot at Blonay.

In 2001, CEV was merged into the Transports Montreux-Vevey-Riviera (MVR) which is managed and operated by the MOB management under their Golden Pass Services banner.

Rolling stock

No. Name Class Builders details Date Built Notes.
1 HGe2/2 SLM/MFO/SIG 1911Rebuilt 2007, red livery, lettered 'Blonay-Les Pléiades' (Note 5)
2 HGe2/2 SLM/MFO/SIG 1911Red & White livery, lettered 'Blonay-Les Pléiades'
3 HGe2/2 SLM/MFO/SIG 1913Withdrawn 1984.
71 BDeh2/4SWP/SAAS 1970 Rack & Adhesion. Rebuilt (see below)
71 Beh2/4 Rebuilt from above 1999Train des Etoiles (Silver with stars) livery, single cab, permanently coupled to Bt 224
72 BDeh2/4SWP/SAAS/BBC 1970Rack & Adhesion. Rebuilt (see below)
72 Beh2/4 Rebuilt from above 2002Astro Pléiades livery, double ended (2 cabs)
73 BDeh2/4SWP/SAAS/BBC 1970Rack & Adhesion, red & white livery (Note 3)
74 BDeh2/4SWP/SAAS/BBC 1970Rack & Adhesion, red & white livery
75 BDeh2/4SWP/SAAS/BBC 1983Rack & Adhesion, red & white livery
81 Te2/2 SWS/MFO/CEV 1963Built in 1963 using parts from retired Luzern trams. Often found at Chernex working as "works shunter".
82 Te2/2 SWS/MFO/CEV 1938Built on frame of wagon K 39 and used spare motors from 101 series
91 Xrot SWS/CEV/Boschung 1910/66ex-L 401 Snowplough(Note 2)
101 Blonay BCFe4/4SWS/MFO/CEV 1903Rebuilt 1949. Scrapped 1983
102 BCFe4/4SWS/MFO/CEV 1903Scrapped 1975
103 BCFe4/4 SWS/MFO/CEV 1903Rebuilt 1951. Scrapped 2010
104 Vevey BCFe4/4SWS/MFO/CEV 1905Rebuilt 1945. Scrapped 1973
105 BCFe4/4
BDe4/4
SWS/MFO 1913Rebuilt 1964, not in running order, being restored as historic vehicle
221 Bt SWP/SAAS 1976 Driving Trailer
222 Bt SWP/SAAS 1976Driving Trailer.
223 Bt ACMV/BBC/SIG 1981Driving Trailer-used parts including bogies from coach 211 built by SIG,1949, 2009 sold to TPC
224 Bt ACMV/BBC/SIG 1990Driving Trailer - used parts including bogies from coach 212 built by SIG,1949. Burnt out 1996(see below)
224 Bt R+J/MOB/ABB 1999Driving Trailer, bogies SIG, 1949, frame rebodied and rebuilt with low floor, 1999, used as trailer car with rebuilt No. 71
7001Vevey Be2/6 Stadler/ACMV/Adtranz/SLM1997 Note 1
7002St Legier La ChiesazBe2/6 Stadler/ACMV/Adtranz/SLM1997 Note 1
7003Blonay Be2/6 Stadler/ACMV/Adtranz/SLM1998 Note 1 / Note 6
7004Montreux Be2/6 Stadler/ACMV/Adtranz/SLM1998 Note 1
7501 Stadler 2015 Note 7
7502 Stadler

Abbreviations

Sources

References

www.blonaychamby.ch (Histoire du chemin de fer Vevey-Blonay-Chamby de 1902 á 2002)

External links

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