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This page shows postcards and images of la
Gruyère which operates metre and standard gauge railways in the Swiss
canton of Fribourg.
The main line of the narrow gauge network runs from Palézieux, on the SBB
main line from Bern to Lausanne, via Châtel-St-Denis and Bulle to Montbovon
and has a total length of 44.2 km. The short Bulle-Broc branch, which was
opened for traffic in 1912, leaves the main line just before La
Tour-de-Trême station and serves the nearby Nestlé chocolate factory
(previously Cailler), as well as the village of Broc. There is talk (in
2014) of converting the Broc branch to standard gauge.
The system was opened in stages, that from Châtel-St-Denis to Palézieux (CP)
in 1901, then over the following three years by the lines which made up the
Chemins de fer électriques de la Gruyère (CEG), originally named CBM, those
from Châtel-St-Denis to Vaudens, Vaudens to Bulle, Bulle to La Tour-de-Trême
and from La Tour-de-Trême to Montbovon. From 20 December 1907 the CP was
absorbed into CEG, and the branch line to Broc being added in 1912. Soon the
company extended its activity into the bus sector and built up a large
network. From 1 January 1942, and with the addition of two standard gauge
lines, Bulle-Romont and Fribourg-Murten- ns, they formed the Chemins de fer
Fribourgeois, Gruyère-Fribourg-Morat (GFM).
Bulle is the centre of operations with depot, workshops and, within its
modern station, the connection between the metre and standard gauge lines as
well as many bus routes. Transfer to the trains of the Montreux-Oberland
Bernois takes place in Montbovon, and until 1969, Châtel-St-Denis was also
reached by a line of the CEV from Vevey.
Railcars were the chosen motive power from the early days in the main due to
the reversal of trains at Châtel-St. Denis, and this has continued with
rebuilt or new modern units, working as single cars or in multiple. In 2000
the company was renamed Transports publics Fribourgeois SA (Freiburgische
Verkehrsbetriebe AG) and the city of Fribourg motor bus and trolley bus
routes were integrated.
Since 1958 goods traffic, much of which is shipped onwards by the standard
gauge, has been carried by a "piggy back" system where the standard gauge
wagons are transported on carrier trucks. In 2004 the Nestlé factory at Broc
Fabrique generated over 1500 wagonloads over the system. From December 2006
the TPF handed its freight traffic to the CFF/SBB/FFS and its two
locomotives, numbers 101 and 102 became surplus to requirements. In April
2007 they were sold to the MOB, who ran identical locos.
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Swiss Railways
Platform 5
European Handbook No.5 by Haydock, Fox, Garvin
Lokomotiven & Triebwagen der Schweizer Bahnen
Band 2: Privatbahnen Westschweiz & Wallis by Peter
Willen
Orell Fuessli Verlag
http://www..com
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copies which will open in a new window/tab
GFM/TPF No.11 - Te2/2
88kW/120hp - 16.5t - 30km/h
GFM/TPF No.11 was built in 1913 by MFO (Oerlikon) and
was being used at Bulle for shunting standard gauge wagon on transporters,
hence her oversized buffer beams.
GFM No.11 at Bulle
Photo: © Ian Boyle 1985
GFM No.11 and standard gauge No.84 at Bulle
Photo: © Ian Boyle 29th July 2004
GFM/TPF No.12 - Te2/2
74kW/100hp - 9t - 50km/h
GFM/TPF No.12 was built in 1913 by the railway (then
the Chemins de fer Électriques de la Gruyère (CEG)) with Alioth (later BBC)
equipment and was working at Montbovon. Unlike 11 & 13, she is not fitted
with beams to work standard gauge wagons.
GFM No.11 at Bulle
Photo: © Ian Boyle 29th July 2004
GFM/TPF No.13 - Te4/4
148kW/200hp - 25t - 45km/h
GFM/TPF No.13 was built in 1913 by the railway (then
the Chemins de fer Électriques de la Gruyère (CEG)) with Alioth (later BBC)
equipment and was working at Broc Fabrique shunting wagons that will be
transported to Bulle for transfer to the standard gauge, usually behind a
railcar. GFM/TPF No.13 was similar-looking and built the same year but only
104kw (140hp)
GFM No.13 shunting standard gauge wagons at Broc
Fabrique
Photo: © Ian Boyle 29th July 2004
GFM No.13 at Broc Fabrique
Photo: © Ian Boyle 29th July 2004
GFM/TPF No.101 Ville de Bulle -
GDe4/4
GFM/TPF No.102 Neirivue - GDe4/4
1053kW - 48.2t - 90km/h
GFM/TPF Nos.101/102 were built in 1983 by SLM/BBC to
work freight trains. There are the same design as MOB Nos.6001-6004, but
whereas the MOB locos hauled heavy express trains over a lengthy and hilly
route, the GFM locos hauled fairly light freights on a much less arduous
route. Somebody very persuasive must have put through the justification for
these massive locos (by light railway standards). In the event, they were
sold to the MOB in 2007, becoming 6005 and 6006, but retaining their names.
GFM No.101 Ville de Bulle at Bulle
Photo: © Ian Boyle 29th July 2004
GFM No.102 Neirivue at Montbovon
Photo: ©1988 Ian Boyle
GFM No.102 Neirivue at Bulle
Photo: © Ian Boyle 29th July 2004
Metre Gauge Railcars
& Trailers
GFM/TPF No.111 - Te2/2
88kW/120hp - 16.5t - 30km/h
GFM/TPF No.111 was built in 1903 by the Schweizer
Waggons und Aufzuegefabrik AG, Schlieren, with electrical equipment by
Alioth (now BBC). No.111 was rebuilt in 1968 with more modern ends and
windows. Fully restored and looking magnificent at Bulle below, but later
moved to the Blonay-Chamby preserved line.
GFM No.111 at Bulle
Photo: © Ian Boyle 29th July 2004
GFM No.114 at Bulle
Photo: © Ian Boyle 1985
GFM/TPF No.121 Remauffens -
BDe4/4
GFM/TPF No.122 La Tour de Trême - BDe4/4
GFM/TPF No.123 Broc - BDe4/4
GFM/TPF No.124 Vaudens - BDe4/4
640kW - 90km/h
GFM/TPF Nos.121-124 were built in 1992/1995 by the
ACMV, Vevey, with electrical equipment by ABB. They are double-ended
railcars with matching trailers in the 220 series.
GFM/TPF No.121 at Bulle with a freight
Photo: © Ian Boyle 29th July 2004
GFM/TPF No.121 at Bulle
Photo: © Ian Boyle 29th July 2004
GFM/TPF No.122 leaving Gruyère with trailer 223
leading
Photo: © Ian Boyle 29th July 2004
GFM/TPF railcar No.122 at Montbovon with single-ended
driving trailer 223 leading
Photo: © Ian Boyle 29th July 2004
GFM/TPF No.141 Gruyère - BDe4/4
GFM/TPF No.142 Semsales - BDe4/4
648kW - 38t - 70km/h - 40 seats
GFM/TPF Nos.141-142 were built in 1972 by SWP, with
electrical equipment by SAAS. They are double-ended railcars.
GFM/TPF No.141 at Bulle in GFM livery
Photo: © Ian Boyle 1985
GFM/TPF No.141 at Bulle in TPF livery, pulling trailer
252
Photo: © Ian Boyle 29th July 2004
GFM/TPF No.141 at Gruyère in TPF livery, pulling
trailer 252
Photo: © Ian Boyle 29th July 2004
GFM/TPF No.142 at Bulle in TPF livery
Photo: © Ian Boyle 29th July 2004
GFM/TPF No.142 at Broc Fabrique in TPF livery
Photo: © Ian Boyle 29th July 2004
GFM/TPF No.151 La Gruyère -
BDe4/4
GFM/TPF No.152 Châtel St.Denis - BDe4/4
448kW - 32t - 80km/h - 48 seats
GFM/TPF Nos.151-152 were built in 1992 by SIG, with
electrical equipment by SAAS. They are double-ended railcars. Matching
driving trailers 251-252 are single-ended.
GFM/TPF railcar No.152 at Montbovon
Photo: ©1985/1988 Ian Boyle
GFM/TPF railcar No.152 at Gruyère
Photo: ©1988 Ian Boyle
GFM/TPF railcar No.251 at Montbovon
Photo: ©1988 Ian Boyle
GFM/TPF trailer No.252 arriving at Bulle in GFM
livery, pushed by 141
Photo: © Ian Boyle 29th July 2004
GFM/TPF trailer No.252 at Gruyère in GFM livery,
pulled by 141
Photo: © Ian Boyle 29th July 2004
GFM/TPF No.837 084-3 - Tm
324kW - 45.5t - 40km/h
GFM/TPF No.837 084-3 was built in 1963 by KRUPP/MAN
and was being used at Bulle for shunting wagons. 084 worked at Deutsche
Shell, Ingolstadt until 1983.
GFM/TPF No.84 at Bulle
Photo: © Ian Boyle 29th July 2004
GFM/TPF No.91 - Tm
242kW/330HP - 30t - 75km/h
GFM/TPF No.91 was built in 1960 by SIG/BBC and was
being used at Bulle for shunting.
GFM/TPF No.91 at Bulle
Photo: © Ian Boyle 29th July 2004
GFM/TPF No.191 - Ae417
GFM/TPF No.192 - Ae417
2740kW - 100km/h
In 1960, a new prototype Bo-Bo electric locomotive
was built for the East German Deutsche Reichsbahn (DR). It was numbered E11
001, and production versions appeared from 1962. A lower geared version the
E42 was also developed, more suitable for freight operations. 292 of these
E42 locos were built (plus 96 of the higher speed E11). The class was later
re-designated by DR as E242. When DR was merged with the West German DB, the
class became 142. They were simple reliable locomotives that operated
throughout the electrified East German system, but withdrawals started in
the 1990s. A Swiss company Lokoop AG acquired 13 Class 142 locos and had
them overhauled and modified for Swiss use at the Samstagern works of the
Südostbahn (SOB) and by the Stadler company in Bussnang, Canton Thurgau.
They were allocated class Ae476 in the Swiss system and operated in the
north east of the country under hire. In March 1995, two of the class were
sold outright to the GFM, where they became class Ae417 numbers 191 and 192.
Their previous DB numbers were 142 110 and 142 145. They were used by the
GFM for freight trains and for push-pull passenger services, receiving the
GFM orange/grey livery. They were stored in 2005 when GFM/TPF freight
services were taken over by SBB, and sold in2006.
GFM/TPF No.191 arriving at Bulle with a push-pull
trailer
Photo: © Ian Boyle 29th July 2004
GFM/TPF No.191 arriving at Bulle with trailer 372.
With 2740kW (3674hp) the train is perhaps a little over-powered
Photo: © Ian Boyle 29th July 2004
GFM/TPF No.192 about to leave Bulle with a driving
trailer ahead and pulling freight
Photo: © Ian Boyle 29th July 2004
GFM/TPF No.161-167 - ABDe4/4 &
ABe4/4
736kW - 56t - 100km/h - 16+39 seats
GFM/TPF No.161-167 were built in 1946-48 by SIG/BBC
and were used on the standard gauge lines Bulle-Romont and Fribourg-Ins.
Only 161 was still listed as in stock in 2009.
GFM/TPF No.165 at Murten
Photo: © Ian Boyle 1985
GFM/TPF No.166 at Bulle
Photo: ©1988 Ian Boyle
GFM/TPF No.166 at Bulle
Photo: © Ian Boyle 29th July 2004
GFM/TPF No.171-173 - RABDe 567
1700kW - 70t - 125km/h - 12+31 seats
GFM/TPF No.171-173 were built in 19838 by SIG/SWS/BBC
and were used on the standard gauge lines Bulle-Romont and Fribourg-Ins.
Nos.181/182 are similar.
GFM/TPF No.171 at Murten
Photo: © Ian Boyle 1988