These railcars were introduced from 1959 onwards.
Most have been withdrawn by now, but two railcars, built in 1979, are still kept in reserve.
One of these vehicles stands in the yard at Samstagern.
[Aug 2015].
In 1995 the SOB place four NPZ trains (new pendular trains) in service, which were of the same design as the
NPZ of the SBB (class 560).
The four trains were long designated RBDe 566, but are now known as class 561.
From 2013 onwards they have been used on the Voralpenexpress, with a motor car at each end.
This is a view of the Voralpenexpress between Biberbrugg and Altmatt.
[Aug 2015].
A class 561 railcar arrives with the Voralpenexpress in Rothenthurm.
The Voralpenexpress runs hourly from St. Gallen to Luzern via Pfäffikon and Arth-Goldau.
[Aug 2015].
For the project Bahn 2000 the SBB ordered four prototype locomotives,
which were designated Re 4/4IV when they were delivered in 1982.
But the SBB decided not to produce the locomotive in series.
Instead, a new locomotive type was developed, the later class 460.
In 1995 the SOB took over the four prototype locomotives.
One of the engines in Biberbrugg.
[Aug 2015].
The engines were designated class 446.
The SOB uses them mainly on the Voralpenexpress.
On each end a locomotive is required as there are many steep gradients on the line.
A class 446 loco arrives in Biberbrugg.
[Aug 2015].
The class 446 locos had a variety of liveries during their time at the SOB.
This locomotive sports advertising for the Voralpenexpress.
She was seen in the samstagern yards.
[Aug 2015].
I grew up in the 1980s. It's little wonder then that I still find the design of these locos appealing.
That's why this view of a class Re 446 locomotive near Altmatt is one of my favourites.
[Aug 2015].
In the 1980s the Swiss rolling stock manufacturers BBC and SLM developed this locomotive with thyristor technology.
The model was purchased by several Swiss private railway companies, among them the BT (Bodensee-Toggenburg-Bahn),
which ordered six locomotives.
The SOB continued to use these engines.
Some of them ran on the Voralpenexpress, such as this loco arriving in Rothenthurm.
[Aug 2015].
The locomotives were designated class 456.
On the Voralpenexpress they are also usually used in pairs, one at each end.
The engine at the front of this train near Samstagern carries advertising for central Switzerland,
while the rear engine advertised the 700th anniversary celebration of the Battle of Morgarten.
[Aug 2015].
This class Re 456 locomotive sports advertising for the retailer Vögele Shoes.
It hauls a Voralpenexpress near Samstagern.
The carriages are old standard carriages, which have been upgraded and equipped with air conditioning.
[Aug 2015].
At the other end of the train was this locomotive with advertising for Eastern Switzerland.
[Aug 2015].
The same two locomotives were seen on a Voralpenexpress near Küssnacht am Rigi.
I took the photo from Mount Rigi.
[Mar 2015].
For S-Bahn lines in the wider Zürich and St. Gallen networks the SOB ordered several FLIRT railcars,
which entered service from 2007 onwards.
An S-Bahn train in the rural landscape near Samstagern as S13 from Einsiedeln to Wädenswil.
[Aug 2015].
A FLIRT railcar has just left Wädenswil on the shores of Lake Zürich and travels towards Einsiedeln.
[Jul 2015].
The causeway across Lake Zürich between Pfäffikon and Rapperswil is also part of the SOB network.
A SOB FLIRT railcar crosses the bridge near Rapperswil.
[Sep 2014].
Between Wädenswil and Einsiedeln the S13 runs every 30 minutes, and between Rapperswil and Einsiedeln
the S40 operates at the same interval, so that there is a 15 minute S-Bahn frequency between
Samstagern and Einsiedeln.
[Aug 2015].
The FLIRT railcars of the SOB were designated class 526.
One of the railcars arrives with a S-Bahn train in Biberbrugg.
[Aug 2015].
The S61 operates hourly between Biberbrugg and Arth-Goldau.
One of the class 526 railcars arrives in Altmatt.
[Aug 2015].
A class 526 railcar travesl through the valley near Rothenthurm.
From 2013 onwards these railcars operated nearly all passenger trains on the SOB, apart from the Voralpenexpress.
[Aug 2015].