Bischofszellerbahn

Bischofszellerbahn
Sitterbrücke near Sitterdorf
Timetable field :	852
Route length:	22.94 km
Gauge :	1435 mm ( standard gauge )
Power system :	15 kV 16.7 Hz  ~
Maximum slope :	17  ‰
Sulgen-Gossau
Legend from Weinfelden S 5 S 55 0.01 Sulgen 449  m above sea level M. to Romanshorn 2.12 Kradolf 457  m above sea level M. 6.78 Bischofszell North 476  m above sea level M. Sitter Sitterdorf 134 m 8.20 Sitterdorf 485  m above sea level M. 05/10 Bischofszell city 506  m above sea level M. Sorental 96 m 14.37 Hauptwil 561  m above sea level M. 18.59 Arnegg 621  m above sea level M. from Winterthur 22.95 Gossau SG 638  m above sea level M. Transition to the Gossau SG – Wasserauen railway line to St. Gallen S 5 S 55

The Bischofszellerbahn ( SG , for Sulgen – Gossau ) is a former Swiss railway company . Its 23 km long, standard-gauge line has belonged to the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) since 1902 .

history

After an evaluation, the Bischofszellerbahn decided on the route from Gossau in St. Gallen via Bischofszell to Sulgen in Thurgau . The other route in question was Uzwil –Bischofszell– Amriswil . Since the city of St. Gallen could not have benefited from the second variant and a great potential would not have been used, the Bischofszellerbahn decided on the Gossau – Sulgen route. It was the first connection between St. Gallen and the Thur Valley .

The railway line was leased by the Swiss Northeastern Railway (NOB) as early as 1875 and it became their property on July 31, 1885. The railway started operating the Sulgen - Bischofszell section on February 1, 1876. The Sulgen - Gossau line opened on July 5, 1876. The line was electrified on May 15, 1936.

business

Today the line is owned by SBB and operated by Thurbo . The S5 St. Gallen– Weinfelden of the S-Bahn St. Gallen runs on the route of the Bischofszellerbahn.

Due to two bridges between Bischofzell-Nord and Hauptwil , which only allow low loads, only light locomotives are permitted on this part of the Bischofszellerbahn - the only SBB section in Switzerland. This fact often caused headaches during operation, as light locomotives such as the Re 4/4 ^I (their last domain) had to be used for freight transport as the Ae 6/6 were too heavy. Today, Stadler GTW low-floor wagons operate on this route.

The problem with the bridges is the maximum permissible load per meter of 6.4 t / m between Bischofszell Nord and Hauptwil, because today an axle pressure of 22.5 t is permitted without any restrictions. In the past, this value was massively lower. Only vehicles with a meter load of 3.6 t and 16 t axle pressure could be freely used, whereby axle pressures of 20 tonnes were permitted for two-axle wagons if the speed on the bridges was reduced to 30 km / h. Even with a certain sequence, wagons up to a meter load of 5.0 t / m could be transported (2 wagons max 3 t / m, 1 wagon up to 5 t / m, 2 wagons max. 3 t / m, or 2 wagons max 3 t / m, 1–2 wagons up to 4 t / m 2 wagons max. 3 t / m).

Driving on the Re 4/4 ^II has only been permitted since the elevation. For a long time the line was closed to this type of locomotive. For this reason, Thurbo initially used the Re 4/4 ^{I to} cover the Frauenfeld-Chur parcel mail trains . Since their departure, the SOB Re 456 (formerly BT) have been used.

Official publication, opening of the Sulgen-Gossau railway line

Web links

• Newspaper article from the daily newspaper from November 19, 2016: The upswing is a long time coming, by Ernest Menolfi

Individual evidence

1. ↑ R 301.21 Implementation Regulations FDV Local regulations for train journeys and shunting movements, 741/742 S. 01/04 valid from December 9, 2007
2. ↑ R 310.2 Appendix FDR Implementing Regulations, Chapter 37, page 3, valid from September 26, 1999

• Die Eisenbahn, Orell Füssli , 1875: Swiss journal for construction and transport, Volume 2
• Die Eisenbahn, Orell Füssli , 1876: Swiss journal for construction and transport, volumes 4–5