Chemins de fer électriques Veveysans
| Chemins de fer électriques Veveysans | |
|---|---|
MVR Beh 2/4 72 leaving Lally in
MU behind 71 and 224 towards the Les Pléiades terminus on 20 May 2007 |
|
| Overview | |
| Locale | Vevey, Switzerland |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 10.51 km (6.53 mi) |
| Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) |
| Electrification | 900 V DC overhead contact |
| Highest elevation | 1,348 m (4,423 ft) |
| Rack system |
|
The Chemins de fer électriques Veveysans (CEV) built and operated narrow gauge electric railway lines from Vevey to Blonay, Chamby, Châtel-St-Denis and Les Pléiades, in Switzerland. The first section to see service, that from Vevey to Chamby, was opened on 1 October 1902. Next section was the branch line from St-Légier to Châtel–St-Denis that opened on 2 April 1904. On 8 July 1911 the rack line from Blonay to Les Pléiades was opened.
On 23 November 1911, Blonay was also reached by the Clarens - Chailly - Blonay electric tramway operated by a separate company (CCB). This closed at the end of 1955, being replaced by buses.
The lines were constructed to a gauge of 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) and electrified from the outset. Presently it operates on 900 V DC, overhead contact. Train services were offered from Vevey to Chamby and Châtel-St-Denis, where the CEV connected to the MOB and GFM (now tpf). The electric motor coach from Vevey to Chamby conveyed coaches to Blonay, where they were taken over by a rack locomotive and brought up to Les Pléiades.
On 22 May 1966, the section Blonay–Chamby was closed, followed by St-Légier–Châtel-St-Denis on 31 May 1969. While the Châtel-St-Denis branch was torn up, track to Chamby remained. Railway enthusiasts formed an association which could set up a weekend museum operation starting on 20 July 1968. On 24 May 1998 CEV reintroduced regular trains but stopped these services again two years later because of low patronage. The infrastructure was always owned by CEV and the museum trains of the Blonay-Chamby museum railway operate in open access.
Of the remaining open sections, the Vevey to Blonay line is 5.72 km (3.55 mi) long and from there to Les Pléiades a further 4.79 km (2.98 mi). In that 10.51 km (6.53 mi). the line rises some 962 m (3,156 ft) reaching 1,348 m (4,423 ft) at Les Pléiades.
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Wikipedia