Switzerland - 1981, 1987 and 1990

Saturday 14 November 1987 – Zugerland Verkhersbetriebe (ZVB) number 48 had just arrived back in Zug from Rotel (Weidstrasse), a ten minute journey, and was departing Bundesplatz to continue to the railway station. The bus has Hess bodywork on NAW chassis. NAW (Nutzfahrzeug Arbon-Wetzikon A.G.) was created by a merger the chassis manufacturers Saurer (based in Arbon) and Franz Brozincevic (based in Wetzikon). NAW later came part of Mercedes-Benz.

Saturday 14 November 1987 – Zugerland Verkhersbetriebe (ZVB) number 38 (ZG 3388), a Hess bodied FBW articulated, pauses for a driver changeover in Gotthardstrasse in Zug having worked the 1232 service 40 from Hunenburg via Cham where I boarded the bus.

Saturday 14 November 1987 – Zugerland Verkhersbetriebe (ZVB) number 32 (ZG 3382), a Hess bodied FBW articulated, travelling along Vorstadt in Zug alongside Zugersee (the lake of Zug). It was returning from Baar (Lattich), the locality where the Swiss Lego factory was located. At the end of Vorstadt, just visible in the distance, it is necessary for articulated busses to swing out to the right in order to negotiate the left hand turn into Postplatz. Note the traffic sign advising of this danger.

Saturday 14 November 1987 – Zugerland Verkhersbetriebe (ZVB) number 12, a Hess bodied Mercedes-Benz, setting down in Bundesplatz in Zug having worked the 1340 service 6 from Steinhausen.

Saturday 14 November 1987 – Zugerland Verkhersbetriebe (ZVB) number 5 (ZG 3355), a Hess bodied FBW, stands outside the ZVB enquiry office in Alpenstrasse, Zug ready to work service 1 to Oberägeri. Part of the railway station can be seen in the background. Zug station is a ‘Y’ shaped junction where many long distance trains call when travelling through Switzerland between Germany and Italy. I returned to Zug in June 2008. The railway station had been completely modernised featuring a large glass building visible in the background of these photographs: www.ipernity.com/doc/davidslater-spoddendale/39215246/in/album/810906 www.ipernity.com/doc/davidslater-spoddendale/39215278/in/album/810906

Saturday 14 November 1987 – Drawbar trailers boost passenger capacity at busy times without the need for extra staff and costs. Seen at the garage of Zugerland Verkhersbetriebe (ZVB) is Hess bodied FBW bus number 1 with drawbar trailer 149 attached. The trailer carried its own licence plate number (ZG 80409) which was different from that carried by the bus.

Saturday 14 November 1987 – Drawbar trailers boost passenger capacity at busy times without the need for extra staff and costs. Seen at the garage of Zugerland Verkhersbetriebe (ZVB) is Hess bodied FBW bus number 1 with drawbar trailer 149 attached. The trailer carried its own licence plate number (ZG 80409) which was different from that carried by the bus.

Saturday 14 November 1987 – Zugerland Verkhersbetriebe (ZVB) buses outside the railway station in Zug. The bus nearest the camera (ZG 3375 of which I didn’t note the fleet number) is a Ramsier und Jenzer bodied FBW on the stand for service 11 to Schönegg from where there is a funicular railway connection to Zugerberg. Behind that is Hess bodied FBW number 5 (ZG 3355) which was about to go round the roundabout to face in the opposite direction and park on the loading stand for service 1 to Oberägeri. Whilst it is not too obvious from this angle the latter is towing a drawbar trailer which appears to look like a third bus. Drawbar trailers boost passenger capacity at busy times without the need for extra staff and fuel costs. On the left is part of Zug’s railway station which comprises a ‘Y’ shaped junction. The platform visible is for the line towards the Gotthard tunnel and Italy. I returned to Zug in June 2008. The railway station had been completely modernised featuring a large glass building visible in the background of these photographs: www.ipernity.com/doc/davidslater-spoddendale/39215246/in/album/810906 www.ipernity.com/doc/davidslater-spoddendale/39215278/in/album/810906

Thursday 12 November 1987 (approx. 1200) – Many Swiss Postal Authority services are operated by contractors. LU 15590 is a Ramsier und Jenzer bodied Saurer seen at Inseliquai in Luzern prior to working the 1205 departure to Neuenkirch and the village of Lippenrüti (about 2 minutes beyond Neuenkirch).

Thursday 12 November 1987 (approx. 1200) – Many Swiss Postal Authority services are operated by contractors. Robert Bucheli of Kriens near Luzern was the operator of LU 15543 seen at Inseliquai in Luzern. It had arrived a short time before having worked the 1105 service from Rotkreutz and stands ready to work the 1205 service to Udligenswil on a short trip of the service about 25 minutes along the road towards Rotkreutz. The incoming mail had been taken off the bus and was on its way to the nearby Postal Sorting Office on the mini-train visible at the rear of the bus.

Thursday 12 November 1987 – Many Swiss Postal Authority services are operated by contractors. Robert Bucheli of Kriens near Luzern was the operator of LU 15543 seen at Inseliquai in Luzern. It had arrived a short time before having worked the 1105 service from Rotkreutz and stands ready to work the 1205 service to Udligenswil on a short trip of the service about 25 minutes along the road towards Rotkreutz. A large door for the loading of mail can be seen in the rear panel. Inside the bus there was a fold down bulkhead which can be seen through the rear windows. When mail was carried this was made vertical, the ceiling profile of the bulkhead is visible.

Saturday 14 November 1987 (1105) – Many Swiss Postal Authority services are operated by contractors. Robert Bucheli of Kriens near Luzern was the operator of LU 15550 which was seen loading at Inseliquai in Luzern when working the 1110 service to Rotkreutz, a distance of 19km taking 43 minutes. Chassis is FBW (Franz Brozincevic of Wetzikon). I travelled on this bus for the full route.

Saturday 14 November 1987 (1125) – Many Swiss Postal Authority services are operated by contractors. Robert Bucheli of Kriens near Luzern was the operator of LU 15550 which was seen at Adligenswil Post Office when working the 1110 service from Luzern to Rotkreutz, a distance of 19km taking 43 minutes. Chassis is FBW (Franz Brozincevic of Wetzikon). I travelled on this bus for the full route.

Saturday 14 November 1987 (approx. 1155) – Many Swiss Postal Authority services are operated by contractors. Robert Bucheli of Kriens near Luzern was the operator of LU 15550 which was seen at Rotkreutz having just worked the 1110 service from Luzern, a distance of 19km taking 43 minutes. After arrival at 1153 it then worked the 1157 service to Udligenswil on a short trip of the service about 14 minutes along the road towards Luzern. Chassis is FBW (Franz Brozincevic of Wetzikon). I had travelled from Luzern on this bus. A large door for the loading of mail can be seen in the rear panel. Inside the bus there was a fold down bulkhead which can be seen through the rear windows. When mail was carried this was made vertical, the ceiling profile of the bulkhead is visible. The bulkhead also incorporated what was a fold down rear bench seat.

The bus in the previous three photographs had worked the 1110 PTT (Swiss Post Bus) service from Luzern to Rotkreutz via Udligenswil on which I travelled. My bus ticket was issued from a 'T.I.M.' ticket machine manufactured by Ticket Issuing Machines of Cirencester, England. This particular ticket (number 0867) is valued 7.40 Swiss Francs and was issued on 14 November 1987 for a journey from Luzern (stage number 21) to Rotkreutz on line number 665. The ticket machine number is 917 and the ticket class is shown as 'E' (Einwegfahrkarte - one way journey).My ticket, priced at 7.40 Swiss Francs, is a classic TIM style ticket from a British made machine. On the left is the front of a little fold up timetable card for the service.

The bus in the previous three photographs had worked the 1110 PTT service from Luzern to Rotkreutz via Udligenswil. This was the timetable for the service current from 31 May 1987 to 28 May 1988.

Monday 4 May 1981 – Verkhersbetriebe der Stadt Luzern (VBL) employed a small number of contractors to work some of its services. In this view the Mercedes-Benz O 302 in the background carries a blue based livery resembling that of VBL but LU 15646 is unlettered in the colours of PTT, the Swiss Postal Authority. I suspect the contractor (possibly Robert Bucheli or Gottfried Waser) had buses for both VBL and PTT contracts in their fleet and this one had ‘strayed’.

Monday 4 May 1981 – Inseliquai, Luzern alongside the piers on the Vierwaldstättersee (Lake Luzern), a PTT contractor’s bus awaits departure. It was more than likely operated by Robert Bucheli of Kriens. Services to Rotkreutz via Adligenswil and Udligenswil and to Neuenkirch departed from this point.