At the Show in Arlesley yesterday I managed to pick up this interesting German Language Book.
The Waldenburgerbahn is an interesting Swiss Railway as it is currently the (to my best belief) only 750mm Gauge non rack Railway in Switzerland. Currently Electrified and possibly a plan to be converted to Metre Gauge sometime it is well worth a trip if you are in that neck of the woods. A short hop from Basel it runs from Liestal to Waldenburg through a pretty Valley. There may still be some Steam action with one of the original GE 3/3 0-6-0t Steam Locomotives dating from around 1903, though you would need to check before travel as to this availability. Earlier Locomotives included some System Brown 0-4-0’s and an 1883 0-6-0 with Stainz Type Valve Gear and skirts to hide the motion, most odd. Another 0-6-0 with outside frames and angled Pistons certainly enlivened the variety in the earlier years. In 1936 an 0-8-2 appeared which appeared to be still working in the 50’s later with 298.14 an Austrian 0-6-2 appearing in the 70’s to delight the locals.
What interested me a great deal was the Stock list for this predominantly Passenger Railway. This in 1966 included 10 Bogie Coaches, 4 Permanent Way Wagons and 20 Goods Wagons comprising 8 Ko Vans, 10 Mo Opens and 2 OMo Bogie Opens. This strikes me as a good balance to aim for with a resonance sized Garden Railway. Of course for a line with a greater preponderance of Freight things would be somewhat different.
There is a lovely Picture of a Mixed Train stopping at Hölstein with 2 Vans next to the Engine, 2 Coaches and an indeterminate amount of Wagons on the rear. This pic shows Staff checking out Large Parcels either from or to the the Train and a Trolley being perambulated away from the Train by a Local with what looks like Fruit of Chicken boxes. Meanwhile the Driver of the 0-6-0 ”Waldenburg” looks anxiously back awaiting the Right Away. Marvelous value for just £5.00