The tunnel lighting car OKT # 3991, visible on the left in the picture, is a brand new addition to the “Berg.Strecke.” exhibition by SBB Historic in Erstfeld. The car was converted from a two-axle freight car by the Gotthardbahn in 1883. The car was then used to inspect tunnels throughout the entire steam era until 1920. A steam engine built into the car, which was supplied with fresh steam from a pushing steam locomotive, generated electricity via a dynamo for a powerful spotlight mounted in the open front door. This provided optimum illumination of the tunnel profile for inspection purposes. After the car was taken out of service around 1920, it survived for decades in the Vallorbe depot. On the 75th anniversary of the Gotthard line, the car was carefully restored and then exhibited at the Swiss Museum of Transport (VHS) in Lucerne since 1959. It is now on loan from the VHS and can be seen in the “Berg.Strecke.” exhibition in Erstfeld, together with the E 2/2 # 11 steam locomotive from the Gotthard Railway. On the right is "Rehbock" Be 4/6 # 12332 for passenger trains on the Gotthard line.
