Zurich Museum Railway
The Zürcher Museums-Bahn (ZMB) is a standard-gauge museum railway that has been running on the Sihl Valley-Zurich-Uetliberg Railway (SZU) between Sihlbrugg and Zurich Wiedikon with its over 100-year-old steam locomotives since it was founded in 1996 . In addition to the steam locomotives, the ZMB also maintains two electric multiple units, two diesel tractors, and passenger and company cars. With one exception, they are all vehicles that were used by the "old" Sihl Valley Railway and whose maintenance is the aim of the ZMB. The ZMB is a non-profit association under Swiss law.
society
The trigger for founding the ZMB was the threatened scrapping of the last steam locomotive in the Sihltal, the locomotive number 5 called "Schnaaggi-Schaaggi", built in 1899. The SZU could not raise the money for the necessary boiler overhaul. Two old passenger cars built in 1927/1929 were also still there. In order to prevent the scrapping, the later ZMB founding members Heinrich Billeter and Ruedi Krauer, then chief locomotive driver of the SZU, developed a concept in 1995 that provided an association with the old vehicles, as well as the old depots in Sihlwald station, on loan free of charge. This concept, which was approved by the management of the SZU, finally led to the establishment of the ZMB on March 2, 1996.
The ZMB, constituted as an association in accordance with Article 60 of the Civil Code , aims to collect, renovate and preserve historical rail vehicles, namely those of the old Sihl Valley Railway, as well as the preservation of historically valuable operating facilities on the SZU route network. The ZMB runs regularly in the tight schedule of the S4 . It is the only museum railway in Switzerland that runs on an active route network. The technical responsibility for the rolling stock lies with the SZU. In the Sihltal (main network) the ZMB operates under the EVU (railway company) SZU, outside under the EVU TR Trans Rail; Depending on the occasion and route, a trip can also be carried out under the EVU DVZO .
Routes traveled
Main line with the two steam locomotives
The main route of the ZMB is between Sihlbrugg and Zurich Wiedikon train station . The ZMB regularly runs on this route on the last Sunday of the month from April to October. Extra trips are made with steam from Wiedikon on the lake route via Thalwil, Horgen Oberdorf, Sihlbrugg and then back to the Sihl valley. Driving on other routes with the steam locomotive is de facto not possible due to the high occupancy of the routes by public transport and the very low maximum speed of around 35 km / h.
Further routes
With the FCe 2/4 No. 84, Vmax 50 km / h, the oldest standard-gauge multiple unit in Switzerland with a wooden body, trips can be made in the Zurich region. The youngest member of the ZMB's museum collection, the BDe 4/4 No. 92, can travel on the entire Swiss route network thanks to its very high maximum speed of 70 km / h. Due to its characteristics, trips to neighboring countries are also possible. In 2013 this electric multiple unit was on a long journey to Uebelbach near Graz in Styria.
Rides
Public rides
The aim of the ZMB is not only to look after and maintain the old witnesses of railway history, but also to make them accessible to a broader public. On the last Sunday in the months of April up to and including October, the ZMB carries out public trips with its steam locomotives and passenger cars. The journeys start at Sihlwald station with the following stops: Langnau-Gattikon, Zurich Leimbach, Saalsporthalle and Wiedikon station . In Wiedikon station, the steam locomotive bypasses the train and drives back up the Sihl valley to Sihlbrugg and then back to Sihlwald station. There are two trips each Sihlwald - Zurich Wiedikon - Sihlbrugg - Sihlwald.
Special events
In addition, the ZMB offers public trips with a special character / theme:
- Easter Sunday: every year on Easter Sunday there is a trip to the Easter Bunny in the Sihlwald, including an organized egg hunt
- Nostalgia trips: nostalgia trips are organized twice a year: start with the steamboat in Zurich, continue with a historic post bus and return with the ZMB steam train.
- Santa Claus ride: Drive to Sihlwald train station, where Santa Claus and Schmutzli are waiting for the children
Special trips
All ZMB vehicles can also be rented for private excursions and events: steam trips in the Sihltal and around the Zimmerberg , with the older railcar FCe No. 84 in the Zurich region and with the BDe No. 92 on the entire Swiss route network.
further activities
The ZMB also offers rail-specific training. As one of the few railway associations in Switzerland, the ZMB offers suitable candidates the opportunity to complete an apprenticeship / examination to become an A40 shunting engine driver in close cooperation with the SZU and then handle the shunting traffic as an engine driver / shunting manager in Sihlwald station. Suitable interested parties also have the opportunity to be trained as a train conductor / train manager and to take the relevant exams.
The vehicles of the ZMB
Steam locomotives
- E 3/3 No. 5 "Schnaaggi-Schaaggi": built in 1899, builder SLM. The name Schnaaggi-Schaaggi: the first part of the word refers to the slow "creeping" speed of the locomotive. “Schnaaggen” means “to crawl on your knees” in Swiss German. Schaaggi is the Swiss German Jakob
- E 3/3 No. 2 "Hansli": built in 1893, builder: SLM Winterthur. The name Hansli reminds of the former owner of the steam locomotive, Hans Arnold, Bouveret
These two steam locomotives are used for public journeys as well as journeys in the immediate vicinity. If the "Schnaaggi-Schaaggi" drives on the public journeys, it leads the entire train combination alone. If the "Hansli" is used, the historic FCe 2/4 No. 84 railcar supports the train combination at the other end of the train.
Electric traction vehicles
- FCe 2/4 No. 84: built in 1924, builder: SWS / MFO
- BDe 4/4 No. 92: built in 1968, builder: SWS / BBC
These two railcars are used for special trips in the region, respectively. used on the entire Swiss standard gauge network.
Diesel vehicles
- Tm 2/2 No. 10, built in 1949 Builder: RACO Mercedes (formerly SBB Tm 536, bought from SZU in 1980)
- Em 2/2 No. 7 Mutz, built in 1961, builder: SIG BBC Saurer
The Tm 2/2 No. 10 is used in particular for shunting the steam locomotives in Sihlwald station. The Mutz is particularly suitable for difficult maneuvering tasks, and is also very often used for training trips within the club but also by private companies.
Passenger cars
- C22, built in 1892, builder: SIG
- C68, built in 1927/1929, maker: SIG
- C69, built in 1927/1929, maker: SIG
The passenger cars have remained true to their purpose over time: they are still used today for passenger transport, especially on public journeys.
Special wagons
- WR 251 ("Spiiswägeli"), built in 1893 (restoration 1999), builder: SIG
- Fz 54 ("Chuchiwagen"), built in 1898 (restoration 2001)
- D 403 ("Packwagen"), built in 1891 (restoration 2001); On permanent loan from the SOB, the former generator wagon of the Oswald Steam Train (the only non-Sihltaler in the museum's collection)
The nicknames of the special wagons reveal their use: the “Spiiswägeli” is the ZMB's mobile restaurant. A menu is served to guests on the journey between Sihlwald and Zurich Wiedikon and Sihlbrugg. Today, the ZMB is the only railway in Switzerland that still prepares fresh food on the train. This happens in the “Chuchi car” before and during the journey. The "baggage car" generally serves as storage space on the journeys, for example to transport prams or water for the steam locomotives.
