Club 1889 - Rhatische Bahn, Switzerland - News.

Hello,

In July, August and September this year, a 4th working steam loco joined the Rhatische Bahn's historic fleet. G3/4 (2-6-0T) no. 11 "Heidi" made return loaded test runs between Samadan and Alvaneu, Samadan and Wiesen, Samadan and Spinas and Samadan and Disentis/Muster. Like preserved Visp - Zermatt HG2/3 (0-4-2 Rack Tank) no. 7 "Breithorn," RhB no. 11 is now Light Oil fired to reduce fire risk, and once certified for passenger use it is hoped that it will be used on a regular heritage train service between Davos Platz and Fillisur next year.

Details and photos (in German - Google Translator can convert this to readable English) can be found on the Club 1889's website here: http://www.club1889.com/aktuell.html

In related news, the Ballenberg Dampfbahn's (the group based at Interlaken Ost, which runs steam trips on both the Zentralbahn (Brunig) and Berner Oberland Bahn lines) ex SBB Brunig G3/4 no. 208 is currently undergoing a major overhaul in the RhB's Landquart workshops, after it was badly damaged in the BDB's depot fire in Interlaken last year. No word on whether it will be test-run on the RhB network, especially since it's air-braking equipment will be incompatible with the RhB's vacuum-braked stock, but the possibility surely exists.....

Chris