Swiss Steam Locomotives from 1900

This is the first in-depth description of Switzerland’s steam locomotives from a UK perspective. At first sight, such a book might seem surprising as many Swiss railways were electrified in the 1920s and very nearly the whole network had been electrified by 1960. But pockets of steam operation survived for many years. Although nationalised operator SBB received its last new steam locomotive in 1917 it still had 148 steam locos in 1960 and its last steam-hauled passenger train ran in November 1968. Happily, a number of Swiss steam locos passed into preservation and can still be enjoyed today. This book was conceived as one about the SBB’s steam locomotive fleet of about 1,560 locos, mostly standard gauge. But the book also includes 400 steam locos operated by Switzerland’s independent railways, both standard and narrow gauge, some using adhesion, some rack-and-pinion and some both methods. Most types in use after 1900 are illustrated. There are also technical diagrams, tables, and maps.