Aigle metre gauge in 1977

The station for the three metre gauge lines was very primitive. Nowadays trains arrive at modern platforms!

The AL's rack section seen from the street running section by Aigle Depot station.

Aigle Depot.

Leysin train street running in Aigle.

AL202 at Aigle.

AOMC train on the now closed street section in Aigle.

The now closed AOMC line at Aigle - AOMC trains now continue alongside the SBB main line before picking up the original route outside Aigle.

(All pics 15.2.1977 copyright Steve Sainsbury/Rail Thing)

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My first trip to the continent in winter was in February 1977. The first port of call was Aigle with its three street running metre gauge railways, these shots were all taken on the morning of 15 February.

Forty years on there are a few changes. The old 'station' at Aigle, in 1977 just a series of sidings with a few signs, has now been replaced by a modern platformed station alongside the main SBB station. The short street running section of the Aigle-Ollon-Monthey-Champery (AOMC) has now gone, the line now follows the main line for about a kilometre out of Aigle before picking up the old route. The vehicles have gradually been replaced by more modern units, though many of the older units survive, some in service, some used on specials and a few just hanging around.

In 2017 Aigle is still a great place for the rail enthusiast to visit. All three metre gauge lines are busier than ever, and there are still a few streets in Aigle where regular passenger trains pass every hour. The main line station is thriving with plenty of locomotive hauled passenger and freight trains.

a trip down the mountain

Foggy Leysin Village station.

Past vineyards on the outskirts of Aigle.

Starting on the street track past Aigle Depot station.

Aigle Place du Marche halt.

Tight squeeze!

Station approach.

Entering the station forecourt area.

All pics copyright Steve Sainsbury/Rail Thing 14.9.2011

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RAILFILE - AIGLE-LEYSIN

You never really get used to it, and I must have done this trip 40 times! The Aigle-Leysin line starts from a brand new station adjacent to the main SBB station in Aigle and immediately runs on street to Aigle Depot station, just over a mile, before reversing and taking the rack up the mountainside to eventually reach, via a couple of wayside halts, the four stations in Leysin.

The street running includes a stretch along a narrow one way street which always delights! Whether from the train or from the pavement it's always entertaining.

The line is busier than ever and replacement of the street running section is not even on the radar so you can safely wait a little longer before visiting. The line itself is absolutely essential, taking just 20 minutes to link Aigle and Leysin, a much longer journey both in miles and time if you're unfortunate enough to have to drive!

There are two other metre gauge lines at Aigle, the long Aigle-Ollon-Monthey, Champery line which has lost its street running stretch in Aigle - it was a simple job to lay a new line along the SBB route and regain the original route just outside town. There is however street track remaining on this line in Collombey, plus a decent amount of roadside running. The other line is the Aigle-Sepey-Diablerets route which still uses street running to exit Aigle, and also has a very rural roadside stretch (traversed twice on every journey) into Le Sepey.

Aigle-Leysin

Aigle

Leysin Feyday

Aigle

Aigle

Leysin Grand Hotel

Aigle

Aigle

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RAILFILE - AIGLE-LEYSIN

The line I know best in Switzerland is the CF Aigle-Leysin, locally known as the Cog. This runs from Aigle on the main line up to the skiing town of Leysin. I have spent many months in Leysin, including a whole winter. This is the easiest way to travel, the road is 15km whilst the railway is 5km, thanks to using the rack. Leysin has four stations, all at different levels. The line runs tramway style in Aigle to the Depot, where it reverses and immediately gains the rack. The first section runs through vineyards, many of which have their own monorail systems for gathering the grapes.

There's an excellent service, hourly in both directions from about 5am to midnight. Some of the older trains still run, there are also some very modern units. The line is metre gauge, there are two other metre gauge lines originating in Aigle, so it's narrow gauge heaven!

trains in the street

(All 17.6.1987)

Aigle in Switzerland is just about unique in that it has three separate metre-gauge lines that start in the town, each reaching the outskirts via street running. Well, almost, as the top line featured (Aigle-Ollon-Monthey-Champery AOMC) has just been relocated alongside the main SBB line, the former street track is still in situ, and there is still street-running further along the line in Collombey.

Second shot is of the Aigle-Sepey-Diablerets (ASD) again in Aigle. This is an adhesion only route that makes some amazing meanders in the vicinity of the castle in Aigle, before heading into the mountains.

Bottom shots are of the Aigle-Leysin (AL) route in Aigle. This runs down a very narrow street right through the middle of town, before reaching the outskirts, reversing, then taking the rack up through the vineyards to my old home town of Leysin. The line is locally known as the cog.

I still visit Leysin regularly and the line has a lot of new rolling stock. There is also a whole new station in Aigle used by the metre gauge trains, now under common management.

For all the recent changes you can still experience the sight of regular street running trains every day.