Aigle Leysin RailwayAigle Leysin RailwayThe Aigle-Leysin railway (French: Chemin de fer Aigle-Leysin, AL) was the earliest of the narrow gauge line in the Chablais area of south west Switzerland. The line was opened on 5 May 1900, a 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3/8 in)-gauge cog-wheel railway using the Abt rack system. Nowadays it is joined in Aigle's main railway station by express trains of the Swiss Federal Railways together with those of three other, local, narrow-gauge railways: the Aigle-Ollon-Monthey-Champéry Railway (AOMC), the Aigle-Leysin Railway and the Aigle-Sépey-Diablerets Railway (ASD). Aigle-Leysin Railway History 5 May 1900 : opening of the section from Aigle CFF station - Grand-Hôtel des Bains (Aigle). 5 November 1900 : opening of the section from Grand-Hôtel des Bains - Feydey (Leysin) 1912 : The line between Leysin-Village et Leysin-Feydey is doubled September 1915 : Extension of the line to the current terminus at Leysin-Grand Hôtel. In 1946, the rolling stock was renewed, and the traction current voltage was changed from 650 to 1300 volts. This allowed the journey time to be reduced to around 30 minutes. Aigle Leysin Railway Route The Aigle Leysin railway line is 6.5 km (4.04 mi) long and rises 1,047 m (3,435 ft) from its terminus outside the main line station in Aigle to its summit at the Grand Hôtel at Leysin. The first 1 km of the route is through the streets of Aigle from the railway station to the railway depot where the train reverses to enable the powered vehicle to be at the rear of the train for the uphill journey, normal working on a rack (cog-wheel) railway. From this point the line climbs steeply through the vineyards, the steepest gradient being 1 in 4.3 (23%). The operating voltage of the line has changed four times, increasing from 600 V DC at opening, first to 650 V DC, then in 1946 to 1300 V DC, and later to the present operating voltage of 1500 V DC. Aigle-Leysin Railway Mergers In 1975 the four local railway companies, Aigle-Leysin, Aigle-Ollon-Monthey-Champéry, Aigle-Sépey-Diablerets 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. Aigle-Leysin Railway Federal Involvement In 1985, the Federal Government informed the Aigle-Leysin Railway, 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 Aigle-Leysin Railway 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 1999, talks which resulted in the founding, the following year, of Transports Publics du Chablais as the parent body of local public transportation with the four local railway companies as founding members. The railway now operates as line A under the TPC banner. Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 12 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Class: He 2/2 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacturer: 1915 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Static monument, En Chalex Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 101 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Class: Te 2/2 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturer: Reb. AL Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacturer: 1949 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Rebuilt 2006/7, returned to traffic, 2008. Out of service, Les Diabrelets, Sept 2009. Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 201 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Class: Arseh 2/4 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturer: SLM/BBC Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacturer: 1946 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Converted to 1st class Restaurant Car Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 202 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Class: BDeh 2/4 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturer: SLM/BBC Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacturer: 1946 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 203 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Class: BDeh 2/4 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturer: SLM/BBC Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacturer: 1946 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 301 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Name: Aigle Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Class: BDeh 2/4 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturer: SIG/SAAS Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacturer: 1966 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 302 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Name: Leysin Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Class: BDeh 2/4 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Class: SIG/SAAS Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacturer: 1966 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 311 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Name: Yvorne Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Class: BDeh 2/4 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturer: Vevey/BBC Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacturer: 1987 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Ex-No. 303 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 312 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Name: Ollon Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Class: BDeh 2/4 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturer: Vevey/BBC Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacturer: 1987 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Ex-No. 304 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 313 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Name: La Berneuse Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Class: BDeh 2/4 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturer: Vevey/BBC Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacturer: 1993 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Ex-No. 305 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 351 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Class: Bt Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturer: SIG/SAAS Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacturer: 1966 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 352 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Class: Bt Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturer: SIG/SAAS Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacturer: 1966 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 361 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Class: Bt Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturer: ACMV/SIG/BBC Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacturer: 1987 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Ex-No. 353 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 362 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Class: Bt Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturer: ACMV/SIG/BBC Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacturer: 1987 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Ex-No. 354 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 363 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Class: Bt Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturer: ACMV/SIG/BBC Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacturer: 1993 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Ex-No. 355 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Class: B2 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacturer: 1900 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Class: B2 Aigle-Leysin Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacturer: 1955 Aigle-Leysin Railway Abbreviations BBC: Brown, Boveri & Cie ACMV: Ateliers Construction Mechaniques de Vevey SIG: Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft SLM: Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works Vevey: Vevey Technologies (previously ACMV). Aigle-Leysin Railway Overview Aigle-Leysin Railway Terminal Stations: Aigle / Leysin, Switzerland Aigle-Leysin Railway Operation Opened: 1900-1915 Aigle-Leysin Railway Owner: Transports Publics du Chablais Aigle-Leysin Railway Operator(s): Transports Publics du Chablais Aigle-Leysin Railway Depot(s): Aigle Aigle-Leysin Railway Line Length: 6.209 km (3.858 mi) Aigle-Leysin Railway Track Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3/8 in) Aigle-Leysin Railway Electrification: 1500 V DC Aigle-Leysin Railway Highest Elevation: 1,047 m (3,435 ft) Aigle-Leysin Railway Maximum Incline: 23 % Aigle-Leysin Railway Rack System: Abt | |||||
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