Tuesday 3 September - The Emosson Barrage

This was truly an amazing day today. We had delayed this trip to ensure good weather as we would be in the mountains. This was worthwhile as we had a cloudless sky with just a little early low level mist.

We caught an early train to Lausanne and then a train to Martigny which was headed for Brig.  At Martigny we joined a very full narrow gauge train of the Mont Blanc Express which was going to Valorcine in France. It was full and standing with a large group of elderly people as well as a large group of schoolchildren who got out quite early.

This part of the journey was pretty spectacular in itself as we entered the rack to climb out of the valley. The views were spectacular and many of the valleys had very steep walls covered in forest.

View from the train on the rack section. We had been down there just a few minutes before

We left the train at Le Chatelard Village, a request stop.  The place was little more than a large warehouse and a power station used by the SBB. We had to make our way around the back and eventually found the funicular.  Our Swiss Passes gave us a 50% discount so we only had to pay ChF 20 each.

As we ascended the views of the mountains became better and better.

At the top of this funicular we had a short walk to board a 60 cm (two foot) gauge train that was originally constructed to build the Emosson Barrage. This took us on a 1.6 km ride along the side of the mountain with sheer drops towards Mont Blanc on one side and a vertical wall on the other side.

Arriving at the base of the mini funic

We quickly came to the "mini funic" which was a small funicular to take us up to the level of the dam itself.  Here there was a restaurant and some amazing views over the barrage and towards Mont Blanc. The sky was clear and there as only a gently wind - not enough to ruffle the waters of the lake. There were a lot of swallows zooming around catching insects close to the warm concrete of the barrage.

Having enjoyed the view we came down the same way, stopping off at the top of the main funicular to examine the battery electric locomotive which hauled our train and to look at the small exposition in the carriage shed which was mainly shop weighing machines and meat/cheese/sausage slicers.

Back down at Le Chatelard village we watched a helicopter which was picking up pallets of cement and taking them to a work side close by.

The next train took us to Le Chatelard Frontier from where we returned to Martigny and back to Yverdon-les-Bains with a transfer at Lausanne.

The Mont Blanc Express uses both overhead and third rail pick up. At Le Chatelard one can see the two systems

Train for Martigny at Le Chatelard

At Martigny there was just time to see the St. Bernard Express which is standard gauge running to Orsieres and Le Sable

Bonus Train Stuff

Last night we caught sight of a side rod switcher of which there are only some three left,  one or two at Yverdon-les-Bains

An orange Re 4/4 of which there are only two, originally used on the Trans Europ Expresses

At Lausanne we were treated to a visit by an SBB emergency train, The first car is a tool car, the second one fire extinguishing and the third car is a wrecking car. It is diesel powered and self contained

Click here to see all pictures taken at the Emosson Barrage