Switzerland by Rail ..1986
 

 
In 1986 we chose Switzerland for our main summer holiday. But we also fulfilled a long held ambition to cruise up the Rhine. So we combined the two, and cruised up the Rhine to Basle. There we travelled on by rail to Lugano, situated towards the south of Switzerland close to the Italian Border. 

So on Saturday 26th July 1986, we joined, at Basle station, the 5.00pm service which would take us first to Lucerne, then, after reversal, on to Lugano. The journey took over 4 hours in total, all of it spectacular. Leaving Basel at 5.03pm (3 minutes late) with Electric loco no 11138, we called at Liestal, Sissach, Olten, Zofingen, Sursee, arriving at Lucerne at 6.19pm. Here we reversed, then fresh loco 11668 continued with the 11 coach train. We called at Arth Goldau, Brunnen, Fluelen, Erstfield, then climbed to Goschenen, through the tunnel to Airolo, on to Faido, Biasca, then Bellinzona, and finally Lugano, arrival being 7 minutes late at 9.26pm. The whole of the journey from Lucerne was spectacular. At first the views of Lake Lucerne, then the climb to Goschenen, and the spirals at Airolo. 
 

 
On Tuesday 29th July, our day included the short ride on the Ferrovia Lugano-Ponta Tresa,  from Lugano to and from Ponta Tresa, a small town on the Italian border. On the 3ft gauge railway, we travelled out on 2 car electric unit no 21 FLP Lema, and returned on unit no 23 FLP Vedeggio. The journey took 24 minutes each way.
 
The following day, Wednesday 30th July, we decided on a day trip to Locarno. This involved journeys of about an hour each way, with a change and reversal of direction at Bellinzona. From Lugano to Belinzona we travelled on the 9.23am Milan to Schaffhausen, loco 11634, departing Lugano at 10.56am. Then the 11.37am Bellinzona to Locarno, with loco 10017, arriving 12.06pm. After an enjoyable four hours or so, we returned to Lugano, with 10001 on the 4.49pm to Bellinzona, then the 5.26pm from Bellinzona to Lugano, with loco 11625, named Oensingen. Arrival on time at 5.41pm.
 
On Friday, we had an afternoon tripby boat to the Model Village at Melide, situated on the causeway that crosses the lake. We returned from Melide by rail on the 3.36pm service with loco 10010 on a short 4 coach train.
 

To the left Italy, to the right Switzerland
 
And so, on Saturday 2nd August 1986, our holiday over, we headed to Zurich for our flight back to the uk. The journey, of almost 3 hours, was on a through Inter City service from Italy. The loco was no 11657, named Estavanger-le-Lac, and our 16 coach load weighed 622 tons tare. Leaving Lugano at 10.54am, we called at Bellinzona, then followed the same route as our outward journey as far as Arth Goldau. Here we headed north, calling at Zug, then on to Zurich, arriving at 1.51pm.  

 

 

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