Chemins de fer électriques Veveysans explained

Chemins de fer électriques Veveysans
Locale:Vevey, Switzerland
Successor Line:Transports Montreux–Vevey–Riviera

The Chemins de fer électriques Veveysans (CEV) was a railway company that built and operated narrow gauge electric railway lines from Vevey to Blonay, Chamby, Châtel-St-Denis and Les Pléiades, in Switzerland. It began operations in 1902. The CEV and three other companies merged to become the Transports Montreux–Vevey–Riviera in 2001. The Vevey–Les Pléiades railway line remains in active use.

History

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 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 Montreux–Lenk im Simmental line and the 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 5.722NaN2 long and from there to Les Pléiades a further 4.792NaN2. In that 10.512NaN2, the line rises some 962m (3,156feet) reaching 1348m (4,423feet) at Les Pléiades.

The line has its own workshops at Vevey although much work is undertaken at the MOB's Chernex works and also a small depot at Blonay.

In 2001, CEV was merged into the Transports Montreux-Vevey-Riviera (MVR) which is managed and operated by the MOB management under their Golden Pass Services banner.

Rolling stock

No.NameClassBuilders detailsDate BuiltNotes.
1 HGe2/2 SLM/MFO/SIG 1911Rebuilt 2007, red livery, lettered 'Blonay-Les Pléiades' (Note 5)
2 HGe2/2 SLM/MFO/SIG 1911Red & White livery, lettered 'Blonay-Les Pléiades'
3 HGe2/2 SLM/MFO/SIG 1913Withdrawn 1984.
71 BDeh2/4SWP/SAAS 1970Rack & Adhesion. Rebuilt (see below)
71 Beh2/4 Rebuilt from above 1999Train des Etoiles (Silver with stars) livery, single cab, permanently coupled to Bt 224
72 BDeh2/4SWP/SAAS/BBC 1970Rack & Adhesion. Rebuilt (see below)
72 Beh2/4 Rebuilt from above 2002Astro Pléiades livery, double ended (2 cabs)
73 BDeh2/4SWP/SAAS/BBC 1970Rack & Adhesion, red & white livery (Note 3)
74 BDeh2/4SWP/SAAS/BBC 1970Rack & Adhesion, red & white livery
75 BDeh2/4SWP/SAAS/BBC 1983Rack & Adhesion, red & white livery
81 Te2/2 SWS/MFO/CEV 1963Built in 1963 using parts from retired Luzern trams. Often found at Chernex working as "works shunter".
82 Te2/2 SWS/MFO/CEV 1938Built on frame of wagon K 39 and used spare motors from 101 series
91 Xrot SWS/CEV/Boschung 1910/66ex-L 401 Snowplough(Note 2)
101 Blonay BCFe4/4SWS/MFO/CEV 1903Rebuilt 1949. Scrapped 1983
102 BCFe4/4SWS/MFO/CEV 1903Scrapped 1975
103 BCFe4/4 SWS/MFO/CEV 1903Rebuilt 1951. Scrapped 2010
104 Vevey BCFe4/4SWS/MFO/CEV 1905Rebuilt 1945. Scrapped 1973
105 BCFe4/4
BDe4/4
SWS/MFO 1913Rebuilt 1964, not in running order, being restored as historic vehicle
221 Bt SWP/SAAS 1976Driving Trailer
222 Bt SWP/SAAS 1976Driving Trailer.
223 Bt ACMV/BBC/SIG 1981Driving Trailer-used parts including bogies from coach 211 built by SIG,1949, 2009 sold to TPC
224 Bt ACMV/BBC/SIG 1990Driving Trailer - used parts including bogies from coach 212 built by SIG,1949. Burnt out 1996(see below)
224 Bt R+J/MOB/ABB 1999Driving Trailer, bogies SIG, 1949, frame rebodied and rebuilt with low floor, 1999, used as trailer car with rebuilt No. 71
7001Vevey Be2/6 Stadler/ACMV/Adtranz/SLM1997Nameplates removed and passed to 75 . Sold. Note 1
7002St Legier La ChiesazBe2/6 Stadler/ACMV/Adtranz/SLM1997Nameplates removed and passed to 75 . Sold,. Note 1
7003Blonay Be2/6 Stadler/ACMV/Adtranz/SLM1998Nameplates removed and passed to 7502. Sold. Note 1 / Note 6
7004Montreux Be2/6 Stadler/ACMV/Adtranz/SLM1998Nameplates removed and passed to 75 . Sold. Note 1
7501St Legier-La ChiesazABeh2/6 Stadler/Stadler ABB 1.12.2015Acceptance at Chernex. Note 7
7502Blonay ABeh2/6 Stadler/Stadler ABB 1.4.2016 Acceptance at Chernex. Note 7
7503ABeh2/6 Stadler/Stadler ABB 1.4.2016 Acceptance at Chernex. Note 7
7504Vevey ABeh2/6 Stadler/Stadler ABB 1.4.2016 Acceptance at Chernex. Note 7
7505ABeh2/6 Stadler/Stadler ABB 1.12.2016Acceptance at Chernex. Note 7
7506ABeh2/6 Stadler/Stadler ABB 1.10.2016Acceptance at Chernex. Note 7
7507ABeh2/6 Stadler/Stadler ABB Acceptance at Chernex. Note 7
7508ABeh2/6 Stadler/Stadler ABB 1.2.2017 Acceptance at Chernex. Note 7

Abbreviations

Sources

References

www.blonaychamby.ch(Histoire du chemin de fer Vevey-Blonay-Chamby de 1902 á 2002)

External links