Blonay–Chamby Museum Railway, Heritage railway in Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut District, Switzerland.
The Blonay-Chamby Museum Railway is a meter gauge heritage line running from the village of Blonay, above Lake Geneva, up to Chamby. The track winds through forests and open hillside terrain, hauled by restored steam and electric locomotives from the early twentieth century.
The line was built in the early twentieth century to link hill villages in the region to the wider rail network, as the narrower gauge suited the terrain better. In the 1960s, a group of railway enthusiasts saved the nearly closed route and began a long effort to preserve rolling stock from across Switzerland and beyond.
The railway takes its name from the two villages it connects, Blonay and Chamby, which gives it an immediately local feel. Passengers can watch how the old vehicles handle tight bends and steep gradients using the same mechanics as they did over a century ago.
The railway runs on weekends between May and October, and visiting on a clear day makes the most of the open sections of the route. The stations are small and easy to reach on foot, but sturdy footwear is a good idea since some paths around the depots are unpaved.
The collection is considered the largest surviving fleet of meter gauge rolling stock in the world, drawing railway professionals from many countries. Some of the vehicles were brought from abroad after being retired from regular service in their home networks.
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