2023-05-13 16:30:00
The old age
Sold for 10,300 francs – historic railcar of the Pilatus Bahnen remains in Alpnachstad
At the gate of the Pilatus cog railway in Alpnachstad, two people fought a bidding war for the historic railcar no. 26 from 1937. In addition, many large and small leftovers from the old vehicles were sold.
Who gets the bid for the 85-year-old railcar that can be seen in the background?
The first visitors arrive early at the valley station of the Pilatus cable car in Alpnachstad. At a flea market you can expect a range of historical posters and books as well as smaller objects from the discarded vehicles.
Before the auction, the goods must be inspected by an expert.
Most buyers have a personal connection with the railway. Many have taken the red railcars of the steepest rack railway in the world countless times in their lives. This is not surprising, following all, they were in reliable use for 85 years.
Historical posters arouse great interest among visitors and ensure happy faces.
A good 300 people gather for the auction and listen to the greeting from Gantrufer Bruno Furrer. It is a special auction for him as he usually sells livestock and farming equipment. After the first items sold, he acknowledged that there were probably some real connoisseurs and enthusiasts present.
Certain goods primarily arouse the interest of former train drivers. About a reversing switch, with which the direction of travel is changed. Anyone who has operated it with their own hands for years is happy to pay around 50 francs for such a souvenir. Two compartment doors, which each find a new owner for several hundred francs, bring in significantly more. Factory signs, speedometers, tools and benches are also extremely popular.
Such green train sequence signals are also very popular on the Gant.
The hammer falls at 10,300 francs
Towards the end of the Gant, the tension mounts. As a highlight, a complete rack vehicle will be auctioned off with the railcar no. 26. This left the depot under its own power and would still be drivable. Because the car was built for the unique Locher gear system, it cannot run on any other railway line in the world. So what would you like to do with such a railcar?
The railcar that was auctioned on Saturday.
The two bidders who are competing for the purchase of the historic car can provide information. Joel Mühlethaler from Zurich has a large railway collection and would set up the railcar in his garden at home. After an exciting bidding war, his competitor, who did not want to be named, finally won the race. But he reveals that he lives in Alpnachstad and that the car shouldn’t go far. He had previously agreed on a maximum amount with a colleague and brought the corresponding amount with him. After the cash payment of 10,300 francs, there was even something left over.
At the end there are lots of happy faces. Many have succeeded in obtaining a tangible reminder of the old railcars.
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