Switzerland - tpf - Transports publics Fribourgeois, former Chemins de fer Fribourgeois Gruyère-Fribourg-Morat GFM
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tpf's metre gauge trains
tpf, Transports publics Fribourgeois, formerly Chemins de fer Fribourgeois Gruyère-Fribourg-Morat GFM, also known by the marketing trademark name La Gruyère, is a local train
company in the canton of Fribourg. The center point of the network is in Bulle. Their main line is from Palézieux normal gauge SBB railway station (at Palézieux-Gare),
via Châtel-St-Denis and Bulle to Montbovon. Most of tpf's trains run on metre gauge tracks using 900V DC electricity, but tpf runs also normal gauge trains with 15 kV AC on two
lines, Fribourg–Murten–Ins and Bulle–Romont now using modern Stadler FLIRT trains.
This motor wagon, Be 4/4 no. 122 named "La Tour-de-Trême" was built in 1992 and is now considered as one of their old trains, used mainly at peak traffic times.
Picture from Bulle 4.5.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.
This motor wagon, Be 4/4 no. 123 named "Broc" is similar to the one shown above. It was built in 1996.
Picture from Bulle 4.5.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.
tpf's BDe4/4 no.124 with two coaches is stopping at the station of Palézieux. Note how they use both pantographs up at the same time, because the voltage is just 900V DC.
Otherwise there could be so strong currents that there would be a risk of some parts or cables melting. 124 is called "Vuadens" and it was built in 1996.
Picture from Palézieux 3.5.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.
Another view of the BDe4/4 no.124 "Vuadens".
Picture from Palézieux 3.5.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.
The same train as above, BDe4/4 no.124 "Vuadens", but now at its end station St Denis. Note the very special coupling at the front of the motor wagon. tpf uses the motor
wagons 122-124 also for moving normal gauge cargo wagons which have been mounted on narrow gauge so called "Rollschemel" bogies thus transforming them into narrow gauge. But
they lift the cargo wagons higher up, so a long coupling rod is needed.
Picture from Châtel St Denis 3.5.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.
The steering cab coach Bt 225 is permanently a pair of the BDe4/4 no.124 "Vuadens". It is also from the year 1996.
Picture from Palézieux 3.5.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.
These Stadler trains were brand new at the time when this photo was taken. This three coach train is classed as ABe 2/4 + B + Be 2/4 105. Altogether ten different narrow gauge
train operator companies ordered jointly these trains from Stadler, thus getting them by far cheaper as usual. Other users of this type include MOB, Zentralbahn, Chemins de Fer du Jura,
Appenzeller Bahnen, Frauenfeld-Wil-Bahn and many others. These trains now take care of the majority of tpf's narrow gauge traffic.
Picture from Bulle 4.5.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.
One of the new Stadler trains no. 102 is ready to leave towards Broc and Fabrique on S-Bahn line S60.
Picture from Bulle 4.5.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.
One of the new Stadler trains no. 104 is arriving at the station of Palézieux.
Picture from Palézieux 4.5.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.
This motor wagon, Be 4/4 no. 152 named "Châtel St. Denis" was built in 1977 and is now one of tpf's oldest motor wagons. It is special in that it has just one driver's cab.
Picture from Bulle 4.5.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.
Be 4/4 no. 152 seen from the other side.
Picture from Bulle 4.5.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.
The old BDe 4/4 no. 141 "Gruyères" with its old steering cab coach is hardly ever needed anymore now that the new Stadler trains have become available. This motor wagon is
already from 1972.
Picture from Bulle 4.5.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.
The old electric shunter locomotive Te 4/4 no.13 is from 1901, modernised and rebuilt in 1959. It's still in full use.
Picture from Bulle 4.5.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.
Another picture of the oldie Te 4/4 no.13.
Picture from Bulle 4.5.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.
The old metre gauge electric shunter locomotive Te 2/2 no.11 is from the year 1913. It was thoroughly renovated in 1991.
Picture from Bulle 4.5.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.
The metre gauge electric locomotive Te 2/2 no.12 is from the year 1913. Luckily is has been kept in much the same shape as it originally was
and it hasn't been spoiled by too much modernisation.
Picture from Montbovon 6.5.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.
tpf's normal gauge trains
RABe 527 no.198 is one of tpf's newest trains. It is a standard gauge Stadler FLIRT. At the time when this picture was taken it was fully covered by edvertisement tapings of
the Freiburger Kantonalbank.
Picture from Bulle 4.5.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.
Another view of the same FLIRT train RABe 527 no.198 as shown above.
Picture from Bulle 4.5.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.
One of tpf's new Stadler FLIRT RABe 527 trains, no.197 for normal gauge traffic.
Picture from Neuchâtel 5.5.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.
RBDe 567 no. 171 "La Sarine" is an example of tpf's older normal gauge trains. It was built in 1983.
Picture from Bulle 4.5.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.
This steering cab coach, here attached to the RBDe 567 no. 171 "La Sarine" is actually an old SBB coach which has been part of a so called NPZ or Neue Pendelzug composition.
In between this coach and the motor wagon "La Sarine" there was a new, partly low-floor Stadler made coach so that persons with disablities could easly use even such an old
train composition.
Picture from Bulle 4.5.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.
The same normal gauge motor wagon "La Sarine" seen from the other side. This picture shows also nicely how tpf has been able to extend old trains' operational life by adding to each
composition one new Stadler made low-floor coach in the middle.
Picture from Bulle 4.5.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.
One of tpf's normal gauge trains similar to the "La Sarine" shown above is here stopping at the station of Ins. These trains were built in 1983.
Picture from Ins 5.10.2002 by Ilkka Siissalo.
Pictures of the predecessor railroad company GFM Chemins de fer Fribourgeois Gruyère-Fribourg-Morat
This old metre gauge steering cab coach Bt 253 is still in the colours of the predecessor company GFM.
Picture from Bulle 4.5.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.
tpf and its predecessor GFM used to have two large metre gauge locomotives for metre gauge cargo traffic, numbers 101 and 102, but they were sold to MOB,
Montreaux - Oberland Bernois and MOB operates now the rarely needed movements of cargo wagons on tfp's network. MOB's and tfp's nets are connected. MOB
had already earlier almost similar locomotives. This one was the no.102 still in GFM's colours.
Picture from Bulle 5.10.2002 by Ilkka Siissalo.
GFM's locomotive GDe 4/4 no.102.
Picture from Bulle 5.10.2002 by Ilkka Siissalo.
Metre gauge motor wagon RBDe 4/4 173 still in GFM's colours in 2002.
Picture from Bulle 5.10.2002 by Ilkka Siissalo.
Normal gauge motor wagon RBDe 4/4 no.173 in GFM's paintings.
Picture from Bulle 6.10.2002 by Ilkka Siissalo.
The same normal gauge motor wagon RBDe 4/4 no.173 seen from the other side.
Picture from Bulle 6.10.2002 by Ilkka Siissalo.
GFM's motor wagon Be 4/4 no.151 "La Gruyère", built in 1977 with one steering cab coach.
Picture from Montbovon 18.6.1994 by David Othen.
A GFM train in such a livery which they used to carry in the 1960s. This was the GFM Re 4/4 no.166.
Picture from Bulle 6.10.2002 by Ilkka Siissalo.
GFM's motor wagon Be 4/4 no.115 was already from the year 1905 but it was thoroughly rebuilt in 1959 when it also received a totally new metal chassis.
It was kept in its 1950s green livery and used for historic special trains.
Picture from Bulle 6.10.2002 by Ilkka Siissalo.
Metre gauge motor wagon BDe 4/4 no.123 still in GFM's colours. This motor wagon is named "Broc" and it is from 1996.
Picture from Bulle 6.10.2002 by Ilkka Siissalo.
Metre gauge motor wagon Be 4/4 no.152 from the year 1977 still in GFM's colours.
Picture from Bulle 6.10.2002 by Ilkka Siissalo.
After the collapse of communism in East Germany the state DDR needed desperately western money. DR rented and sold many of its best locomotives
to western companies such as DB, the Südostbahn, Lokoop and GFM. GFM bought two DDR made so called Holzroller ("wooden scooter") normal gauge
locomotives of the East German series E42 (DR Br 242, later Br 142). GFM renamed their locomotives as Ae 417 no.191 and 192. It was a 100 km/h fast
machine with a modest power rating of 2920 kW. GFM / tpf used the machines until 2005. In 2006 what remained was sold to the German Erzgebirgsbahn.
This one was the Ae 417 192.
Picture from Bulle 6.10.2002 by Ilkka Siissalo.