Bremgarten-Dietikon Railway

Bremgarten-Dietikon Railway
A diamond railcar on the Reuss Bridge in Bremgarten
Timetable field :	654
Route length:	18.8 km - of which double-track: 1.6 km - former three-rail track: 6.6 km - on public road: 0.8 km
Gauge :	1000 mm ( meter gauge )
Power system :	up to 1969: 750 V = from 1969: 1200 V  =
Maximum slope :	60  ‰
Minimum radius :	25 m
Train control :	ZSI-127
Legend The operating years in small letters after the station name 0.0 Wohlen 1876– 423  m above sea level M. 1.4 Wohlen Oberdorf 1883– 431  m above sea level M. 2.9 Wohlen Sound Arena at events 451  m above sea level M. 4.0 Erdmannlistein 1912– 441  m above sea level M. 7.0 Bremgarten West 1876– 401  m above sea level M. Bremgarten Isenlauf 1986– Reuss bridge Bremgarten 156 m 1912– Bremgarten Obertor 1902–1958, 1994– 8.2 Bremgarten 1958 390  m above sea level M. Bibenlos-Sonnenhof 1902–1942, 2007– 9.1 Zufikon 1902– 421  m above sea level M. 9.7 Zufikon Hammergut 1990– 10.3 Widen Heinrüti 1902– 475  m above sea level M. 10.8 Zufikon Belvédère 1910–1946, 1968– 521  m above sea level M. 11.8 Belveder start of double track 12.2 Berikon - Widen 550  m above sea level M. Zelgrank 1902-1946 13.5 Rudolfstetten Hofacker 1990– (end of double track) 14.1 Rudolfstetten 1902– 471  m above sea level M. 16.2 Reppischhof 1902– 428  m above sea level M. Holenstrasse 1904–1946 Honert 1902–1913 17.3 Dietikon Stoffelbach 1990– 17.6 Bergfrieden 1913- 413  m above sea level M. Dietikon Schöneggstrasse 1985– Blacksmith's room 1902–1954 Badenerstrasse 1902–1942 18.9 Dietikon 1902– 388  m above sea level M.

The Bremgarten-Dietikon-Bahn ( BD , initially BDB ) is a former private railway company in Switzerland that built a narrow-gauge line from Bremgarten in the canton of Aargau to Dietikon in the canton of Zurich . Later she leased the normal-gauge line from Bremgarten to Wohlen of the former Wohlen-Bremgarten railway and provided it with a three -rail track . This resulted in a continuous operation from Wohlen to Dietikon.

In 2000, BD merged with Wohlen-Meisterschwanden-Bahn (WM) to form BDWM Transport AG, which in turn merged with Wynental and Suhrentalbahn to form Aargau Verkehr AG (AVA) on June 19, 2018 . The line has been integrated into the Zurich S-Bahn since 1990 as the S 17 and since 2008 also into the Aargau S-Bahn . The standard gauge of the three-rail track Wohlen and Bremgarten West was dismantled in summer 2016.

history

Share for 500 francs in the Bremgarten-Dietikon electric tram company on November 1, 1901

The line between Wohlen and Bremgarten West was built by the Wohlen-Bremgarten Railway as a standard-gauge branch line of the Aargau Southern Railway ( Aarau - Wohlen - Rotkreuz ). At that time, a bridging of the Reuss was waived for cost reasons. The line was opened on September 1, 1876 and operated by steam locomotives . From 1882 there were through trains Brugg - Lenzburg - Wohlen - Bremgarten. The newly founded SBB took over the branch line on January 1, 1902.

1902: Opening of the Bremgarten-Dietikon-Bahn

The route to Wohlen had three disadvantages for Bremgarten: the timetable was poor, the train station was too far from the center and there was no connection to Zurich . In 1895 the city of Bremgarten had a project for an electric tram to Dietikon drawn up. Construction work began in 1901, the rails were only laid on the road. The route was opened on May 1, 1902.

But there was still a gap of around one kilometer between Bremgarten and Bremgarten West, and passengers had to change to a stagecoach . BD conducted negotiations with SBB and in 1910 was able to conclude a lease for the Wohlen-Bremgarten railway. The line was electrified with 750 V direct current and received an additional meter gauge track, over the Reuss a bridge was built. Continuous electrical operation between Wohlen and Dietikon began on February 8, 1912.

BDe 8/8 at the Mutschellen Pass

From 1930 the route over the Mutschellen was gradually separated from the road. After 1950, thanks to new rolling stock and new technical equipment, the little train was transformed into a modern suburban railway. On the 1969 summer timetable, the contact line voltage was increased to 1200 V and only the newly delivered BDe 8/8 trains were used for passenger traffic and the BDe 4/4 10 and 11, which were adapted for the increased contact line voltage, were used for freight traffic. The opening of the Zurich S-Bahn on May 27, 1990 led to a surge in development. The route was integrated into the S-Bahn network, the timetable was condensed and three new stops were created with alternative options. Since 1995 there has been a double track section between Rudolfstetten Hofacker and Berikon-Widen, which was extended two years later to the “Belveder” stop.

The route is particularly important for commuter traffic to and from Zurich. Monday to Saturday there is a quarter of an hour between Bremgarten West and Dietikon from the morning rush hour until around 9 p.m. At the rest of the time, the trains run every half hour. The tariff structure of the Aargau section of the route is integrated into the A-Welle tariff association , while that of the Zurich section of the route is integrated into the Zurich transport association .

At the Erdmannlistein stop , a diamond railcar overtakes a special DSF run on the standard gauge track. A preserved railcar of the Wohlen-Meisterschwanden-Bahn was used for this, which was pushed on this section without catenary by an Em-3/3 diesel locomotive.

Due to the closure of several industrial companies, freight traffic between Wohlen and Bremgarten had declined so much that it has been largely inactive since 1995 and the three-rail track was only used sporadically for special trips. Operations ceased on June 30, 2015 and the track was dismantled in summer 2016. The Wohlen – Bremgarten West section will be extensively renovated by 2019, at a cost of CHF 25 million. The Bremgarten West station will be rebuilt, as will the Wohlen Oberdorf stop.

future

Modern Bibenlos-Sonnenhof stop

For many years there has been a project for a tunnel between Bergfrieden and Dietikon in order to be able to remove the tram-like section. But in times of tight finances, such a project (the benefit of which is controversial) is probably not feasible. A link with the planned Limmattalbahn , on the other hand, appears significantly more realistic .

The crossing on the Mutschellen is a bottleneck. Coming from Dietikon, the train crosses the road towards Berikon or Birmensdorf immediately before entering the Berikon-Widen train station . The train also blocks the already overloaded intersection, which often leads to long traffic jams during rush hour. A complete redesign of the intersection is planned in the medium term. One idea is a large roundabout with a railway viaduct that leads over the intersection, similar to what was already implemented in "Zufikerrank" in 2007/2008. Relocation of the railway line under the road is also being considered. A level crossing between rail and road is definitely favored, but is associated with very high costs.

route

Train at Bahnhofplatz in Wohlen

BDe 8/8 in the tram-like section through Dietikon

The route begins at the Wohlen train station on a covered platform opposite the SBB train station (height 426 m). The route climbs up to 451 m and then drives through the Bremgarten forest. The Erdmannlistein stop is located in the middle of the forest and is used exclusively for excursion traffic. After 6.6 km, the Bremgarten West train station (404 m) is reached.

Up to this point the route is rather flat (maximum 1.5% gradient), has wide curve radii (minimum 300 m) and the route is more similar to a normal SBB line than a narrow-gauge railway. This is the route of the former Wohlen-Bremgarten railway . After the Bremgarten West station, the character of the route changes completely. After two very tight bends, the Reuss is crossed with a 156 meter long bridge. The operational center with depot and administration is located at Bremgarten train station (389 m).

From here on, the route always runs to the right of the main road through densely populated area. The route climbs up to 5.6% uphill. After four tight bends, the Berikon - Widen station (551 m) is reached on the Mutschellen pass . From this apex of the route it goes downhill again. After a sharp left turn just before Rudolfstetten , the slope gradually flattens out. Between Reppischhof and Stoffelbach , the railway line changes for a few hundred meters to the left side of the street. After the Bergfrieden stop, there is a tram-like section where the track is laid on the street. The route ends at Dietikon train station (391 m) on a covered platform next to the SBB tracks.

In 2009 the line was equipped with the ZSI-127 train control system from Siemens .

Originally four rectifier stations were set up to supply the catenary with 1200 V direct current, and another was installed at Widen Heinrüti in 2010. In 2013 another one followed in Wohlen and a seventh rectifier station is planned in Dietikon. The expanded power supply allows the operation of triple traction of diamond trains.

Rolling stock

italics: no longer in stock

Italic : not in daily use, historical vehicle in working order

Meter gauge

Traction vehicles

Series and company number	number	Construction year	Discarded Sold	Manufacturer	comment	image
ABe 4/8 5001-5014	15th	2010-11		Stadler	Designation diamond is an acronym for D ynamic, i NNOVATIVE, a ttraktiver, m odern and a Giler N ahverkehrs t riebzug
Be 4/8 21-25	5	1993	Rebuilt in 2011 and WSB issued	SWA , FIG
BDe 8/8 1-9 BDe 8/8 7	9	1969	Retired in 2010, except No. 7	SWS , MFO	No. 7 received as a working historical vehicle. Christened Sebni in 2012 . The vehicle is equipped with ZSI-127 equipped
Tm 2/2 51-52	2	1967-1968		Stadler , BBC , Sourer	Shunting tractors with an output of 120 HP, initially designated as Em 2/2. Factory number Stadler: 122 and 128.
Te 2/2 401	1	circa 1947	1969		converted from Ce 2/2 No. 1, used as a shunting vehicle in Dietikon
BDe 4/4 10 BDe 4/4 11	2	1928, 1932	No. 10 retired in July 2009	SWS , MFO	Nos. 10 and 11 1956–1957 provided with a new box and used in freight traffic, at times in orange and white VST standard paint No. 10 has been preserved as an operational historical railcar with restoration facilities with the name Mutschälle -zahni . No. 11 first received and used as a party car, then broken off due to asbestos-containing insulation.
Ce 4/4 6-8	3	1947	1969 sold to the Frauenfeld-Wil-Bahn , where it operates as the Be 4/4 204-206	SWS , MFO	Large-capacity motor car, 460 hp
Ce 4/4 7-9	3	1912, 1915	retired in 1969	SWS , MFO	four-axle railcars with four engines. Output 320 hp. No. 9 was exhibited at the 1914 State Exhibition in Bern .
Ce 2/2 1-5	5	1902-1911	retired	SWS , MFO	two-axle railcars with two engines Numbers 1-3 had 70 hp, no. 4-5 had 90 hp drive power.

dare

(not a complete list)

Trailer

Series and company number	number	Construction year	Discarded Sold	Manufacturer	comment	image
C11	1	1999		own workshop	Replica of the summer car from 1903
C 11-14	4th	1902-1903	circa 1949	SWS	C11 was rebuilt in 1999 C14 was converted into the X302 weed spraying trolley in 1953
C 16-18	3	1912	1969	SWS	Two cars were converted into three-axle vehicles in 1945/46.
C 24-25	2	1912	1969	SWS
C 26-29	4th	1906	C 26 scrapped in 1971 The C 27 was converted into the DZ 105 luggage / mail car in 1961. C 28 and 29 installed at the Hotel Stalden in Berikon since 1971	MAN	Used in 1930, taken over by the Neuötting – Altötting steam tram	another picture
C 31-32	2	1920	1968	Baume & Marpent	Cars built in Belgium.
C 41-43	3	1949	1969 sold to BTI , in 1978 B41 and 42 came to NStCM , B43 to OJB	SWS		B41 and B42 on the way to the NStCM

Freight cars, company cars and mail cars

Series and company number	number	Construction year	Discarded Sold	Manufacturer	comment	image
Double room 105	1			SWS	converted from K2 42 (year of construction 1902)
Roller stool	2	1954, 1957	1977		In 1977 the company switched to roll-head operation, and in 1989 the transport of standard gauge wagons was completely discontinued.
P 105	1	1907		SWS	Beer transport trolley of the Löwenbräu brewery in Dietikon
X 302	1	1953		own workshop	Conversion from C 14, weed spraying trolley
X 350	1	1972		SWS, own workshop	Trolley for the transport of a trough , VST standard painting
Z 101-103	3	1909-1912		SWS

Standard gauge

Series and company number	number	Construction year	Discarded Sold	Manufacturer	comment	image
Fe 2/2 251	1	1912	Retired in 1969, canceled in 1972	SWS, MFO	Delivered with a pantograph that was replaced in 1916 by a pantograph with a simple contact strip. 1925 provided with double grinding strip.
Em 2/2 102	1	1966	1994 sold to Benkler, Villmergen. The owner was later bought by Sersa . In 2016 the vehicle had the number Tm 237 897-4	SIG , BBC, Sauerer	Taken over by WM in 1968	similar vehicle of the ST
Em 2/2 103	1	1984	sold to Sersa in November 2012 . New number Tm 37 862-8 Factory number Stadler: 162	Stadler

business

The S 17 runs between Dietikon and Bremgarten West every 15 minutes, extended every half hour to Wohlen. In Wohlen there are connections to the S 26 in both directions. From around 9:30 p.m., the entire line will only run every 30 minutes. During rush hour there are some additional trains that run only on a partial section or at an accelerated rate.

literature

• Florian Inäbnit, Jürg Aeschlimann: Bremgarten – Dietikon Railway; From the overland tram to the S-Bahn. Prellbock Druck & Verlag, Leissigen 2002, ISBN 3-907579-22-4 .
• P. Hausherr, K. Heid: The Dietikon Public Transport Company, Part 3: The Bremgarten – Dietikon Railway . In: Commission for local history Dietikon (Hrsg.): Neujahrsblatt von Dietikon . tape 21 . Oscar Hummel, Dietikon 1968.
• The Bremgarten – Dietikon electric tram . In: Schweizerische Bauzeitung . tape 40 , no. 19 , November 8, 1902, pp. 199-204 , doi : 10.5169 / seals-23448 .

Web links

Commons : BDWM Transport  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• BDWM Transport AG. In: www.bdwm.ch. Retrieved December 19, 2016 (Official Site). 
• Max Hintermann: BDB Bremgarten-Dietikon-Bahn - Part 1: Wohlen - Bremgarten. In: Bahnbilder by Max.Robi Sturzenegger, accessed on December 19, 2016 . 
• Max Hintermann: BDB Bremgarten-Dietikon-Bahn - Part 2 Wohlen - Bremgarten and miscellaneous. In: Bahnbilder by Max.Robi Sturzenegger, accessed on December 19, 2016 . 

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Historic event: The merger of all Aargauer Bahnen has been achieved. Retrieved on June 7, 2019 (Swiss Standard German). 
2. ↑ BDWM three-rail track dismantled . In: Swiss Railway Review . No. 10 , 2016, p. 484 .
3. ↑ Train or bus. In: www.bdbahn.ch. Retrieved December 18, 2016 . 
4. ↑ Toni Widmer: The Wohlen-Bremgarten railway line will definitely become a narrow gauge after 140 years. Aargauer Zeitung , February 17, 2015, accessed on February 17, 2015 . 
5. ↑ BDWM three-rail track dismantled . In: Swiss Railway Review . No. 10 , 2016, p. 484 .
6. ↑ ^{a b} “Diamonds” on the Bremgarten-Dietikon Railway are not running optimally . In: az Aargauer Zeitung . August 31, 2010 ( aargauerzeitung.ch [accessed December 18, 2016]).
7. ^ Bremgarten-Dietikon-Bahn; Service agreement for infrastructure financing 2013–2016; Large credit. June 13, 2012, p. 10 , accessed December 18, 2016 . 
8. ↑ Stadler BDWM Diamond. In: www.tde.ch. Texat decor engineering AG, accessed December 18, 2016 . 
9. ↑ Tm 2/2 51-52. In: The Bremgarten-Dietikon Bahn information page. Michael Briner, accessed December 18, 2016 . 
10. ↑ Stadler 122. In: www.rangierdiesel.de. Retrieved December 19, 2016 . 
11. ↑ Stadler 128. In: www.rangierdiesel.de. Retrieved December 19, 2016 . 
12. ↑ The SEAK's end-of-year trip on December 15, 2012 with the Mutschälle -zahni. Swiss Amateur Railway Club Zurich SEAK, accessed on December 19, 2016 (bottom photo). 
13. ^ BDB Bremgarten-Dietikon-Bahn - Part 1 Wohlen - Bremgarten. Retrieved on December 19, 2016 (image 1450). 
14. ↑ Farewell to freight transport. In: The Bremgarten-Dietikon Bahn information page. Retrieved December 20, 2016 . 
15. ↑ ^{a b} Fe 2/2 (photo: Arthur Meyer archive). In: The digital railway archive. Retrieved December 19, 2016 . 
16. ↑ Stadler 162. In: www.rangierdiesel.de. Retrieved December 19, 2016 .