"Electric Tiger" Steam Loco back in Action in Switzerland

This summer the former SBB shunter 8522 (and 0-6-0 "Tiger" built in 1913) returned to service after a boiler and running gear overhaul during the past winter. On Oct. 25th it made a final public outing for this year at its home base on the non-electrified branch line between Sursee and Triengen in Central Switzerland, just north of Lucerne. Fun fact, this is one of the few lines in Switzerland without wires! It is freight-only and just has the occasional steam special on it otherwise. Public transport there is provided on the parallel road by the yellow postal buses. The line was already closed to regular passenger traffic in 1971, due to low demand.

Here are some current pictures of 8522 in action in late October for its final run of the 2020 season. 8522 remains fully main line certified!

->>> https://www.classicandcurrent.net/steam


Also worth noting, 8522 was one of 2 steam engines fitted with an electric pantograph and electric firebox heater during WWIII, due to the shortage of coal in Switzerland during the war. The whole history of that outlandish (but successful) engineering innovation is detailed here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric-steam_locomotive
http://www.douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/swisselec/swisselc.htm

Anyway, since 1953 No. 8522 has been sans electrical equipment and also now and after its overhaul, it looks better than ever, in original mint condition like factory-new from 1913, straight out of the SLM shop in Winterthur.

Fun Fact 2: The Sursee - Triengen line is also where they shot the most recent rendition of "Murder on the Orient Express" with Kenneth Branagh, using the ex-SNCF 4-8-2 giant 241 A 65 from 1931.
https://www.241a65.ch/mord-im-orientexpress-mit-der-241-a-65/