European Railroad Discussion > Reason for Parade of Swiss electric locos - passenger + freight??

I have noticed short videos posted on the Internet/social media the past couple days of long "trains" of separate passenger (SBB) and freight locos (private carriers) and then combined for a super long train.  I have not been able to determine the reason for this activity.  Appears to be a celebration of an anniversary or something.  Any ideas?
jb



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/17/24 18:36 by boejoe.

IN 2022 the Rhätische Bahn and Stadler combined to operate a train
of 25 new Capricorn EMU coupled together to form a 2 kilometer long
passenger train and operated it from Sagläins to Klosters through the
Vereina Tunnel. Other than that I can't think of special trains.

Thanks SOO6617.  I'm aware of that occasion and have seen some of those videos.  My inquiry results from a much more recent event.  In one scene, two "trains" of electric locos approach each other (single track, I believe) from opposite directions and touch couplers with a crowd watching from further back from the track.  The SBB passenger locos are coming slowly from the left and what appear to be the private carrier freight electrc locos coming from the right.  A different video showed the entire "train" moving and I counted approximately 25 units.
jb

i just saw like a million locos of various different paint jobs  and models heading one direction, didn't watch the whole thing, with a few photogs on the inside of a grassy curve.

dan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> i just saw like a million locos of various
> different paint jobs  and models heading one
> direction, didn't watch the whole thing, with a
> few photogs on the inside of a grassy curve.

Seems to be what I saw!  (Thanks for confirming - beginning to think I was seeing things.  Now we have to determine the reason for that super, duper long train of locos)
jb

boejoe Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > i just saw like a million locos of various
> > different paint jobs  and models heading one
> > direction, didn't watch the whole thing, with a
> > few photogs on the inside of a grassy curve.
>
> Seems to be what I saw!  (Thanks for confirming -
> beginning to think I was seeing things.  Now we
> have to determine the reason for that super, duper
> long train of locos)
> jb

I think you're referring to the 60th anniversary parade for the SBB's iconic Re4/4 (now Re420) locomotives.

https://youtu.be/uYNAOhbL6QE?si=w5-eugA1G2JtF-X1



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/21/24 23:56 by 86235.

Many thanks to T.O. member 86235 (Nick Slocombe) for solving this mystery.  It took five days, 265 views and a few posts from T.O. members to finally get the explanation and some terrific video (one being 27 minutes in length)  I've determined that the area of the 'Parade of Locomotives' is within the triangle of Basel, Bern, Lucerne with the stretch between Balsthal and Oensingen being the center of activity.
Now to go back and watch some additional video.  Once again, the resolutions to inquires posted on Trainorders.com have been satisfied
jb

All locomotives built by SLM, no Alstom, Bombardier(Henschel) or Siemens to be seen.

Do any Re 4/4 IV still exist (only four built for SBB). Otherwise a representative of every
batch of Re 4/4 II and all of her descendents on display, including little sister from the RhB.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/23/24 18:27 by SOO6617.