The Zentralbahn (ZB) und the Meiringen-Innertkirchen-Bahn (MIB)

The Zentralbahn (ZB - Central Railway) was formed by separating the narrow gauge Brünig Railway from the SBB and the merging those operations with the Luzern-Stans-Engelberg-Bahn (LSE). The Zentralbahn operates the railway line from Interlaken Ost across the Brünig Pass to Luzern via Meiringen, Giswil, Alpnachstad and Hergiswil. It also operates the line from Luzern to Engelsberg, which between Luzern and Hergiswil uses the same tracks as the line to Interlaken. There are several rack sections on the network of the ZB, but between Interlaken and Meiringen and between Luzern and Giswil trains can operate only by adhesion. As the ZB has recently renewed most of its rolling stock, I unfortunately hardly have any photos of older trains.

At a time when the Brünig Railway was still part of the SBB, I took this photo of a class 101 locomotive in Interlaken Ost. These locos were developed together with the Furka-Oberalp-Bahn (FO) and entered service form 1986 onwards. For many years they hauled nearly all trains across the Brünig Pass. [May 2002].

On a winter night this class 101 locomotive waits in Interlaken Ost with a train to Meiringen. The loco carries the colours of the Zentralbahn. By this time class 101 locomotives had been replaced by newer railcars for trains across the Brünig Pass. [Jan 2016].
The Golden-Pass-Route runs from Montreux via the Chemin de Fer Montreux Oberland Bernois (MOB) to Zweisimmen, from there via the BLS to Interlaken Ost, and then via the Brünig Railway to Luzern. For severl years, therefore, many carriages of the Brünig Railway carried the Golden-Pass livery. Such a train is travels through Ebligen on Lake Brienz behind a class 101 loco. [Jul 2005].
Even though the Zentralbahn was already in existence, at this time many vehicles still operated in the colours of SBB Brünig Railway. A class 101 locomotive arrives with its train from Luzern in Brienz. [Jul 2005].
In Brienz it is easy to change trains to the 800mm-gauge Brienz-Rothorn-Bahn. This mountain railway leads to Rothorn Kulm at 2,244m altitude. Most of the trains are operated by steam locomotives. Nevertheless many of the locomotives are newer than the class 101 of the ZB. Loco No. 12 is the first of a new generation of steam locomotives that addressed many of the disadvantages of steam through new technology. It entered service in 1992. It pushes a train up the mountain near Brienz. [Jul 2005].
The class 130 railcars were still ordered by SBB, but then entered service in Zentralbahn livery from late 2004 onwards. One of these railcars is seen in Niederried. [Nov 2015].
I took this photos from the ship Jungfrau on Lake Brienz. A class 130 railcar travels above the lakeshore in Niederried. [Jul 2015].
The class 130 railcars are also called SPATZ (sparrow). That stands for Schmalspur-Panorama-Triebzug (narrow gauge panorama train set). These railcars do not have rack propulsion and only can be used on the adhesion sections between Interlaken and Meiringen and between Luzern and Giswil. A SPATZ arrives in Oberried. [Nov 2015].
The car bodies of the railcars are quite angular. That allowes for a new door system. The lower part of the door folds out and becomes a ramp so that people with a wheelchair or pushchair can easily board the train. As the floor level of the trains is just 40 cm above the rail, the platforms of the ZB are quite low. [Nov 2015].
Between Interlaken and Brienz the line follows the shore of Lake Brienz closely. A class 130 railcar near Ebligen. [Jul 2005].
The SPATZ railcars have been developed from the GTW of Stadler Rail. The central panorama section was a new concept. One of the trains arrives in Ebligen. [Jul 2005].
Brienz station is right beside the water and not far from the ship landing bridge. This allows a connection between ship and train. One of the class 130 railcars arrives in Brienz on a summer evening. [Jul 2015].
In 2012 the Zentralbahn began a sweeping fleet renewal. It purchased four of these class 150 train sets. They consist out of two parts with three carriages each plus a dining car at the centre of the train, so that the trains are seven carriages long. One of the trains waits in Interlaken Ost. [May 2014].
In addition, six three-part class 160 railcars also entered service. They are built to the same design and can be used together with class 150 train sets for longer trains. One of the railcars is in Interlaken Ost on a winter night. [Jan 2016].
Close to its exit from Lake Brienz, the river Aare is bridged by the Zentralbahn. A class 150 train set leaves Interlaken across the bridge. [Aug 2015].
The class 150 train sets area also called ADLER (eagle), though this time it is not an acronym. And as majestic as an eagle this train rushes through Niederried. [Nov 2015].
The smaller railcars are called FINK (finch). One of the FINK trains arrives in Niederried. [Nov 2015].
An ADLER train set in Oberried, where it crossed a Regio train. Oberried station was long in the range of model house producer Faller. I had always wanted this station on my model railway, but never got it. Still, it was great to see the original. [Apr 2015].
An ADLER train set in Oberried. These trains are used for the Luzern-Interlaken-Express, which connects the two tourist centres every hour. If one of the train sets is not in service, a carriage train or several class 160 railcars have to be used. [Nov 2015].
That's the view from one of the train sets across Lake Brienz. [Nov 2014].
The interior of the train. The greater part of the trains are panorama sections. Many of the compartments have tables. [Nov 2014].
Near Brienz the line crosses this long bridge near the shore. A class 150 train sets crosses the bridge. [Apr 2015].
As a Regio train between Interlaken and Meiringen this class 160 railcar crosses the bridge. On this section the rack propulsion is not used. In late 2016 a further five FINK railcars entered service, so that the Zentralbahn now has eleven of these railcars. [May 2014].
On trains for which many passengers are expected, an ADLER train set and a FINK railcar are joined into a 10-car train. Even though the FINK is partly obscured by trees in this photo, it shows one of these long trains on the bridge near Brienz. [Aug 2015].
A class 150 train set (ADLER) arrives in Brienz. The trains between Luzern and Interlaken are called Luzern-Interlaken-Express, but in the official timetable they operate as InterRegio (IR). [Jul 2015].
A class 160 railcar leads a class 150 train set into Brienz on a Luzern-Interlaken-Express. [Jul 2015].
On a nice summer's day a FINK and ADLER (finch and eagle) combination arrives in Brienz. Some of the passengers would have changed to the waiting paddle steamer. [Aug 2015].
The trains of the Zentralbahn have to reverse in Meiringen. The class 150 train set on the right has come from Interlaken and now changes direction to travel over the Brünig Pass to Luzern. The class 160 railcar on the left will soon depart as Regio train to Interlaken. [Nov 2014].
On the Brünig Pass at an elevation of 1000 m there is already snow in November. A class 150 train set (ADLER) arrives in Brünig station. [Nov 2014].
In Meiringen there is a connection to the Meiringen-Innertkirchen-Bahn (MIB). This line also has a gauge of 1m, but the electrification is at 1200V DC, and not 15kV AC as on the Zentralbahn. [Nov 2014].
The line between Meiringen and Innertkirchen is only 5km long, but there are 7 stops along the line. Two of them give access to the Aare Gorge, which the line passes through a tunnel. This is the view from the railcar near Meiringen. The river Aare is on the right. [Dec 2014].
The railcar of the MIB, called class Be4/4, was built by Stadler in 1996. It is the only one of its kind. It travels without any carriage and therefore the whole train only has 40 seats. The railcar arrives in Innertkrichen Grimseltor, from where in summer busses depart for the alpine passes. [Dec 2014].
The church of Innertkirchen, where my ancestors also served as pastors. [Dec 2014].
The MIB is a subsidiary of the Kraftwerke Oberhasli (KWO - hydro-electric stations Oberhasli). The railway ends at the operational centre of the KWO. The driver has just taken her bicycle from the shelter to ride home after the end of her shift. [Dec 2014].
On the Sunday after Christmas a lot of snow fell in Innertkirchen. There are plans to build a railway and electric line tunnel underneath the Grimsel Pass. This would connect the narrow gauge networks of the ZB and the MGB. The line of the MIB would form part of that new connection. [Dec 2014].