Sunday 25 August - Red Arrow in Zurich and a visit to a Garden Center

The 1939 Red Arrow was due to make an excursion out of Zurich and we went down early to see it come into the station.  It is sometimes known as the "Churchill Car" as it was used to transport Sir Winston Churchill during his visit to Switzerland after the war.
This train was running a brunch excursion and the tables were all laid out very nicely indeed

We then went to Brugg, but not by the normal route (direct from Zurich). From Dietikon we took the narrow gauge street tramway run by the BDWM over to Wohlen. From there we took a train to Brugg.

These cars are very comfortable and even have first class accommodation

This line has a number of very tight curves and it was easy to see the front of the tram from the back. The BDWM also had a couple of historic cars out on an excursion. There is a great view over the river and old town as the train takes the bridge at Bremgarten

Click here to see more pictures of the BDWM

https://www.flickr.com/photos/colinchurcher/albums/72157710538155102

At Brugg we took the bus to Schnitznach Dorf Baulmeschule where there is an enormous garden center which has a 60 cm gauge railway.  The trip only took 15 minutes or so but it was very easy as each stop came up on the screen so we knew when we had to get off. It was very popular today and they were running trains at ten minute intervals using one steam and two diesel hauled trains. The center is enormous and it was pleasant passing through fields of every color. The line even goes through a very large greenhouse.

This 0-4-0T was built by Henschel in 1939

The layout is quite extensive and allows trains to start from the station by the railway shop and return after a couple of circles, including one through a large greenhouse on the left close to the main road

Running through the greenhouse

There was a special event this weekend for the owners of air cooled VW cars and vans. It was a great gathering. We had hamburger and fries for lunch rather than go to the more formal restaurant.
For (many) more pictures of this wonderful ride though the gardens please click below.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/colinchurcher/albums/72157710536715843

The bus back to Brugg was due at ten minutes past each hour. Ours was seven minutes late and several local people tut tutted while they waited.  On the way back to Zurich we caught sight of an historic railcar SOB no 80 which was on a one coach excursion.

It was pretty hot today and looks like being that way for the first part of the week. Just have to make sure we drink plenty of liquids.