AB4ü 101 - 102 (Golden Mountain Pullman Express)

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AB4ü 101 - 102 "Golden Mountain Pullman Express"

Also known as:

As 101 - 102Ars 101 - 102

Vehicle type:

Regular passenger coach

Registration country:

Switzerland

Railway companies:

MOB - Chemin de fer Montreux Oberland bernois / Montreux Berner Oberland Bahn

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Vehicle's history

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1913

The history of the MOB saloon coaches 101 and 102 begins nearly two decades before the "Golden Mountain Pullman Express", as they were originally built to serve the high-end tourism market of the pre-World War I era. These vehicles were constructed in 1913 by the Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft (SIG) in Neuhausen. Unlike the CIWL Pullman cars AB4ü 103 - 106 that arrived later, these two coaches were owned directly by the Montreux Oberland Bernois (MOB) railway from the outset and were classified as As 101 and As 102.

Sources: https://www.e-periodica.ch/cntmng?pid=sxp-001%3A2016%3A0%3A%3A427

1931

When the MOB collaborated with the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (CIWL) to launch the "Golden Mountain Pullman Express" in 1931, coaches 101 and 102 were selected to complement the four new CIWL Pullman cars AB4ü 103 - 106. To ensure visual and service consistency within the luxury train, these 1913-built coaches underwent significant modification. They were repainted into the prestigious blue-and-cream livery and their interiors were refurbished to match the high standards of the Pullman saloon service.

Following the rapid collapse of the "Golden Mountain Pullman Express" in September 1931, the four CIWL cars were eventually sold off to the Rhaetian Railway (RhB), but coaches 101 and 102 remained with the MOB and they were integrated back into the standard fleet. Over the subsequent decades, they underwent several reclassifications and technical updates, eventually becoming Ars 101 and Ars 102.

In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, these coaches were restored to a "Belle Époque" style, reminiscent of their early 20th-century origins. Today, they are most famous for their roles in the "Train du Chocolat" (Chocolate Train) and the "Belle Époque" services between Montreux and Zweisimmen, where they continue to operate as high-end first-class saloon cars, featuring luxurious wooden interiors and plush seating

Sources: https://www.e-periodica.ch/cntmng?pid=sxp-001%3A2016%3A0%3A%3A427

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Latest update on the 18th of January 2026 at 13:00

Contributor(s): Tudor C.

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