Chemins de fer du Jura

The Chemins de fer du Jura (CJ), the railways of the Jura canton in north-western Switzerland, came about as the result of an amalgamation, in 1944,[1] of four independent companies connecting Porrentruy to Bonfol, Saignelégier to La Chaux-de-Fonds, Glovelier to Saignelégier and Tavannes to Tramelan and Le Noirmont. The lines extend for a total of 84.8 km of which just over 73 km is metre gauge, the remaining 11 km, the first named, between Porrentruy and Bonfol, being standard gauge. Nowadays the CJ also operates local bus services throughout the area.

Chemins de fer du Jura
Saignelégier train station
Technical
Line lengthTotal: 84.8 km (52.69 mi)
metre gauge: 73.8 km (45.86 mi)
standard gauge: 11 km (6.84 mi)
Rack systemNone
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3 38 in) metre gauge
1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in) standard gauge
Electrification1,500 V DC (metre gauge)
15 kV 16 2/3 Hz (standard gauge)

History

The first company to open a line in the region was the Chemin de fer Tavannes-Tramelan in 1884, the metre gauge line linking the villages in its name. This line was extended under the guise of the Chemin de fer Tramelan-Les Breuleux-Le Noirmont to reach Le Noirmont and the whole was electrified in 1913. In 1927 the two companies amalgamated to form the Chemins de fer Tavannes-Le Noirmont.

On 7 December 1892 the longest of the region's line, the Chemin de fer Saignelégier-La Chaux-de-Fonds (SC) was opened linking the places noted in its title. The line, with a length of 25 km (15.5 mi) ran from Saignelégier (Place d'Armes) to La Chaux-de-Fonds, the final kilometre being laid along the streets to the town centre.

To these lines was added that between Porrentruy and Bonfol in 1901, between Glovelier and Saignelégier in 1904, both of these being laid to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in) (standard gauge) and finally, in 1910 the 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 38 in) (metre gauge) line between Bonfol and Pfetterhouse, this last named being the only closure to date, seeing its last passenger train in 1970. The Chemin de fer Régional Saignelégier-Glovelier (RSG) was relaid to metre gauge in 1953.

Following the amalgamation of the companies in 1943 a plan to restructure the rail system was put together and over the period from 1946 to 1953 it was put into action. Within this plan was the total electrification of the system which was completed in 1953, some 40 years after the first electric traction had run on the lines.

Locomotive and Rolling Stock

Standard Gauge

No. Class Builders Details. Date Completed Seats 1/2 Notes Picture
501TmMoyse/Deutz1967
509XmBeilheck/Deutz1985
577.101BDe 4/4SWS/MFO19680/56Reb.1998
577.102BDe 4/4SWS/BBC19800/48
587.111De 4/4SWS/BBC/CJ1980
560.141RBDe 4/4FFA/BBC19840/56NPZ prototype, bought 2008
50 36 29-03 921BtSWS/MFO/SIG1963Reb.1996
55 85 29-34 941BtFFA1984Bought 2008 together with RBDe 4/4

Metre Gauge

No. Name Class Builders Details. Date Completed Seats 1/2 Notes Picture
7CSIG19130/32Belle Epoch
70BCe 2/4SWS/BBC/CJ19134/32Belle Epoch
401De 4/4SIG/SAAS1952
402De 4/4SIG/SAAS1952
411De 4/4SIG/FFA/BBC1953Reb.1986
601BDe 4/4SIG/SAAS19530/32
603ABDe 4/4SIG/SAAS19539/16
604BDe 4/4SIG/SAAS19530/32
606BDe 4/4SIG/SAAS19530/32Sold to NStCM, 2003
607BDe 4/4SIG/SAAS19530/32
608BDe 4/4SIG/SAAS19530/32
611BDe 4/4FFA/SIG/BBC19850/39
612BDe 4/4FFA/SIG/BBC19850/39
613BDe 4/4FFA/SIG/BBC19850/39
614BDe 4/4FFA/SIG/BBC19850/39
621BDe 4/4SIG/SWS/SAAS/CJ19900/16
631PourilereABe 2/6Stadler/BT20019/68
632Mont SoleilABe 2/6Stadler/BT20019/68
633La GruereABe 2/6Stadler/BT20019/68
634TabeillonABe 2/6Stadler/BT20019/68
641ABe 4/4SWS/SAAS/CJ197312/24Reb.2000
642ABe 4/4SWS/SAAS/CJ197312/24Reb.2000
702BtSWS/SAAS19520/48
704BtSWS/SAAS19520/48
711ABtFFA/BBC198512/39
712ABtFFA/BBC198512/39
713ABtFFA/BBC198512/39
714ABtFFA/BBC198512/39
721BDtFFA/BBC19860/32
722BDtFFA/BBC19860/32
751BFFA19860/64
752BFFA19860/64
753BFFA19860/64
754BFFA19860/64
755BFFA19860/64
756BFFA19860/64

Abbreviations

References

  1. "Chemins de Fer du Jura - Description". www.rail-info.ch. 1998. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  • This article has been freely translated from the French site with additional information from that in German.
  • Locomotives and Rolling Stock details are taken from the CJ official stock lists backed up with photographic evidence.
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