Ex-SNCF steam locomotive No. 141 R 568 (2-8-2) made its first public excursion pulling the Swiss Classic Train on December 12 and 13, 2009. The overall excursion operated a round trip from Zürich Main Station to Brig, Switzerland and was divided into two segments: Zürich to Bern and Bern to Brig. The Zürich-Bern segment was handled by the steam locomotive, while the Bern-Brig segment was handled by BLS No. 205, an Ae 6/8 electric locomotive.
WRC team members John Rimmasch and Mike Lewis were on-site to assist with the steam locomotive’s operation from the locomotive shed in Schaffhausen to Bern, and back again. The operating crews (engineer and fireman) were selected members of the 141 R 1244 group based out of Brugg, Switzerland.
The WRC team arrived in Schaffhausen Thursday afternoon shortly after the fire was lit. The remainder of Thursday was spent preparing the locomotive for the two day trip. Also based at the Schaffhausen shed is the “Post, Telegraph, and Telecommunication” (PTT) car which has been converted to a crew car, parts and supplies car, and miniature workshop to support the operation of the steam locomotive. The car was loaded with supplies for the trip including tools, extra parts, lubrication products, food for the crew, and other sundry items.
The 568 made yard movements on Friday, December 11 in order to receive coal. The locomotive and PTT car moved to a freight track free of cantenary wires north of the shed. The coal was delivered and loaded soon after. Before the end of the day, the locomotive and PTT car returned to the shed to be ready for Saturday’s trip to Bern.
The locomotive and PTT car departed Saturday morning at 7:20 am from Schaffhausen, making a deadhead trip to Zürich where it would meet the Swiss Classic Train arriving from Basel. Once the train was put together, it was backed into Zürich Main Station on Track 12 for loading the passengers.
The train arrived in Bern without any incident. The steam locomotive and PTT car were separated from the train, and classic BLS Ae 6/8 electric No. 205 then took over to take the train over the remainder of the route from Bern to Brig. The steam locomotive and PTT car then made switching moves out of Bern and journeyed about 20 miles north to the small town of Lyss where it would remain overnight at the facility used by the Pacific 01 202 Club, which operates a former Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft 4-6-2. Shortly after the arrival, the 141 R 568 was coaled, watered, and serviced in preparation for the return trip to Zürich.
A night photo session was set up with lights powered by the PTT car for several photographers who had been chasing the 141 R 568 all day. Several night pictures captured by Mike Lewis are included above.
On Sunday morning, the locomotive steamed up and went back to Zolikofen to meet the Swiss Classic Train arriving from Brig. The train was under way back to Zürich once more when an unexpected stop was made at Olten. The locomotive crew had been unable to maintain steam for some time, and upon opening the smoke box it was discovered that the feed water system had been leaking, thus filling the smoke box with a mixture of wet cinder mud and restricting the draft. Although the train was stopped for an hour to clean out the smokebox, the time was utilized well to also take on water and service other parts of the locomotive. This meant that no further stops were required until reaching Zürich, resulting in an arrival time only 20 minutes behind schedule.
Despite this problem, the locomotive still performed very well. Once leaving the Swiss Classic Train in Zürich, the locomotive was watered and serviced once more for the return trip to Schaffhausen with the PTT car.
The locomotive will remain in storage over the winter season, and several projects are being planned for its wintertime maintenance. Updates will be posted here as progress is made on these projects.
A special thanks goes to Sigi Liechti, Fredy Gfeller, Philipp Zaugg, Roland Ravelli, and others of the 141 R 1244 group, as well as Urias von Meyenberg of William Cook Rail, and volunteers Marc and Daniel Baumgartner for their help, hard work, and dedication in making this trip possible.
