The Blonay-Chamby Museum Railway operates a 3 km metre-gauge line in the hills above Vevey and Montreux, served by vintage steam and electric trains. At the Chaulin depot, you can explore a collection of historic railway vehicles.
Themed museums
Main highlights
- Historic trains in service : vintage steam locomotives and electric railcars running on the line
- Over 70 vehicles dating from 1868 to 1940, restored and maintained by volunteers
- 3 km line across viaducts and tunnels, through vineyards and forests, with views of Lake Geneva and the Alps
Overview
The Blonay-Chamby Museum Railway was founded in 1968 by a group of enthusiasts. It is Switzerland’s first living railway museum. It operates a 3 km stretch of metre-gauge track between Blonay and Chamby stations, on a disused branch line overlooking Lake Geneva.
The museum keeps its rolling stock in working order : steam and electric locomotives, railcars and passenger coaches. The collection includes more than 70 vehicles dating from 1868 to 1940. Around 200 volunteers drive the trains, restore the vehicles and welcome visitors.
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What to see and do
Riding the historic trains is the main attraction. The route crosses viaducts and tunnels through a landscape of vineyards and forests, with views of Lake Geneva and the Alps. Depending on the day, trains are hauled by steam locomotives or vintage electric railcars.
Halfway along the line, the Chaulin depot is the heart of the museum. In the shed and on the outdoor tracks, you can see metre-gauge rolling stock from Swiss and European railways : the Bière-Apples-Morges G 3/3 No. 5 from 1890, billed as the oldest working steam locomotive in Switzerland, a 1908 Martigny-Châtelard electric locomotive, trams from Geneva, Bern and Zurich, and Belle Époque coaches with finely crafted woodwork.
Information panels and volunteer guides explain the history and engineering of the vehicles. The museum also holds themed days several times a year.
Practical information
Getting there : regional train from Vevey or Montreux to Blonay, then connect with the museum train. By car, take the A9 motorway, Vevey exit, towards Blonay.
Visit duration : at least 2.5 hours for the depot and a return trip on the line.
On site : parking at Blonay station, refreshment bar at Chaulin, outdoor picnic areas.
Groups : tours by reservation.
Visitor tips
The types of trains running vary from day to day, so check the timetable before you go. Steam days draw bigger crowds. Morning offers the best light for photographing the trains, especially from the Cornaux viaduct. Pushchairs are difficult to bring aboard some trains.
This place is part of the selection Vevey and Montreux : gems of the Vaud Riviera.
Nearby
- Chillon Castle is a medieval fortress set on the shores of Lake Geneva.
- Les Pléiades, at 1,362 m above Vevey, is served by a historic rack railway.
- The Swiss Museum of Games in La Tour-de-Peilz traces the cultural history of board games.
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