Our child’s obsession with trains is well documented by now, and clearly there’s no better place for him to get his fix than Switzerland. Just up the hill from Chernex lies the terminus of a beautifully restored steam train that runs on weekends between Blonay, the train museum at Chaulin, and Chamby. This weekend, we decided to surprise Cedar with a trip to the museum aboard the steam train.
The plan was simple: a short train ride to Fontanivent, then a bus to Blonay to catch the steam train. Sabine, the girls, and cousins Sophia and Alexandre joined us, giving us a front-row seat to Sabine’s expert “cat herding” skills—keeping kids and adults moving on and off trains and buses like a seasoned professional. Just as we reached Blonay station, the skies opened up with a heavy rainstorm, but before long, the old steam engine came puffing into the station, and we climbed aboard—grateful to be (mostly) out of the rain.
The Blonay–Chamby steam train and museum is like stepping straight into a Belle Époque time machine. Run entirely by volunteers, this heritage railway has been literally chugging along since 1968, preserving Switzerland’s narrow-gauge rail history in style. The vintage steam and electric trains make their way up the 3 km route between Blonay and Chamby, crossing viaducts, through tunnels, and offering a pretty spectacular view of Lake Geneva— all while the sweet scent of coal and hot steam drifts through the open windows.
At the Chamby terminus, the museum at Chaulin is literally paradise for train lovers. Home to more than 70 beautifully restored locomotives, trams, and wagons, the kids spent hours climbing, exploring, and pretending to drive every single one. We wrapped up the visit with a ride back on a restored electric tram to Chamby, then walked home to Chernex. Cedar, of course, was in his absolute glory from start to finish.
Later that afternoon, we decided as a family to brave the unsettled weather and head down to Montreux for the final night of the jazz festival. The sky couldn’t decide between rain, clouds, or sun, but we were determined to see the festival off in style. We ended up joining the party at the Super Bock tent, listening to incredible live music and capping off the evening with a spectacular sunset over the lake. Time feels like it’s speeding up now, and with only a couple of weeks left, we are all feeling that pull to squeeze in as much as possible. But this was one of those important moments that warranted a late night —after all, it’s not every day you can experience a world-class festival right in your own backyard.
