► Trainspotting in Thun, Switzerland [21.3.11]

Thun is the collection point for the regional freight traffic in the Bernese Highlands, making it an interesting place to train spot. It was especially interesting before 2013, when an Ae 6/6 (1952) was assigned to serve the area between Frutigen, Interlaken and Thun. I have a video entitled "A day with Ae 6/6 11426" where I followed it everywhere it went for those who are interested. At the end of 2013, Ae 6/6s were completely withdrawn from service.
At this time, the main shunters in Thun were Bm 4/4s, many of which have also since been retired.
Interesting here is the area behind the station, where the dock is for ships to and from the lake of Thun. There is also a dock for ships that transport gravel from where the river Kander enters the lake of Thun to this point. During the video you see a Bm 4/4 shunting with a number of the filled wagons. Hope you enjoy the video.
0:00 SBB Bm 4/4 18428 shunting
0:38 SBB Re 460 073 with SZU test train
1:47 SBB Bm 4/4
2:25 Tm 234 083-4 with Infrastructure train
3:27 SBB Ae 6/6 11440 with Region freight to Spiez
4:14 SBB Bm 4/4 18413 shunting
5:11 SBB Re 460 094 Mobility with IC
6:12 SBB Bm 4/4 18413 shunting
9:55 SBB Am 843 087-8 with freight
10:12 SBB Re 460 073 with SZU test train

[@briancooper562]

Can it be assumed the SZU coaches are a stock move from the builders to Zurich Giesshubel and /or Langnau-Gattikon yards? Are the roof boxes on early diesel locomotives air con on large locos and exhaust control on the smaller ones? The newer diesel that passed the ballast train had no such 'box'.

[@lorirocks777]

The SZU coaches were being tested. Air con was non existant in Swiss locomotives until the 90's as far as I know.

[@lorirocks777]

I'd be surprised if the Am 841 had air con.

[@GEES44DC]

3:40 is an unusual choice of routing. The dispatcher could have just sent them straight onto the track nearest us instead of that extra zig and zag.

[@GEES44DC]

They still would have ended up in the same spot in front of you. They were just taken through a more complex route to get there.

[@GEES44DC]

At 3:40, instead of hooking over to our left, they should have been routed straight at us. Because, at 3:58 they would have been at the very same place. You shouldn't put a train through more switches than required. The puzzle/double slip switch right in front of you would have taken them to the same place regardless of the route they came in on.

[@lorirocks777]

GEES44DC Ok, I see what you mean. Is that a rule of thumb in Canada? In Switzerland there are no rules like that. The people controlling the switches can route you anyway they want. Sometimes they take you side to side because they have to let at least one train per day in each possible direction over a switch. The other reason I could imagine that they routed the train like that could be to do with the way the system is programmed. They seem to use the outermost points whenever possible in order not to block other paths.

[@GEES44DC]

It's not a rule, it is just good practice.

[@lorirocks777]

GEES44DC It certainly makes sense with the length and weight of the trains you have over there.