Blonay-Chamby museum celebrates 50th anniversary

SWITZERLAND’s leading metre gauge heritage railway and museum at Blonay-Chamby, near Lausanne, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2018.

Berninabahn line up at Blonay-Chamby museum depot, Chaulin, on September 8. From left to right: No. 161, EMU No. 35, Ge4/4 No. 81 and ‘Bernina Krokodil’ No. 182, plus steam snowplough No. 1052. This event was the first time Bernina locos Nos. 81 and 182 had been seen together since 1965. D LANGHAM

The museum and the 3km line began operation in 1968 after closure of the line by operator Chemins de fer électriques Veveysans (CEV), but it retains overhead DC electrification, enabling operation of historic electric trains as well as steam or diesel.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary a series of events were organised during 2018 with a Mega Steam event in May, culminating in early September with an electric traction gala, branded as Mega Bernina.

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