Ed 2 x 2/2 is one of the most remarkable items with the
collection of historic SBB locomotives.
The
handsome Mallet built by Maffei in 1893 for the "Schweizerische Centralbahn"
SCB was designed for heavy duties on mountainous sections of the
railroad. Later with the nationalization of the mayor Swiss
railroads in 1902 it came to federal
railways SBB, has survived there for decades and was finally reserved
for preservation.
Today,
it is the only workable standard gauge Mallet engine in western
Europe.
For
the recent years, a experienced group of staff and enthusiasts has taken care
of the Mallet at the workshop
in Balsthal on the Oensingen - Balsthal Bahn (OeBB), a local railway in the canton of
Solothurn.
The
OeBB is a railroad that features an impressive collection of
interesting vehicles. For many decades, it could only afford
used rolling stock that elsewhere was withdrawn and destined for
the scrap line.
But
unfortunately, the short line railroad lacks of
anything that would resemble even remotely to the Mallet's era, so the engine
could be seen at best with
the railroads big dining cars from the 1930ies with its odd
livery.
So
the announcement, that SCB 196 would make a trip to 'Zürcher Oberland' and
spend some two weeks with DVZO, allowing it to see with a
wonderful, matching rolling stock was no less than a little
sensation to me.
Many
thanks to the people involved from Ed 2x2/2 operation-group, SBB/
SBB historic and DVZO for organizing that event!
