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TRAINS on POSTAL STATIONERY Switzerland - SBB/CFF pictorial cards

Courtesy of TG, who explains: There are six basic series of cards plus the fifth series uprated from 10c to 20c. In addition there are special series for cards for customs (i.e. international) traffic, as well as special cards for the use at certain important stations. I know very little indeed about the designs on series 1-3. Once we get to series 4 (12 designs) I believe the same designs are used in series 5 and 6 and also the special series for customs traffic and important stations. There are therefore just 12 designs for series 4 onwards of which I attach scans of 11. Note - My renderings of the German/French/Italian are not to be regarded as translations but only to give an approximate idea of what the text is about. I have put them in because the text is not too clear on the scans.

SWI.8: Two cards from the first series of 18 designs, dated May 1954 with a printing of 1,500,000. All these cards show aspects of railway operation. In 35 years I have found two of the 18. Where are the other 1,499,999 cards of each type? - The inscription on the upper card praises pallets as perfect for rail transport. - The inscription on the lower card says "We solve your packaging problems." SWI.9: Card from the second series of 16 designs, dated March, 1957 with a printing of 1,2000,000 - The inscription says "For economical transport use small containers." SWI.10: This is a card from a special series for international traffic which has to go through customs. Dated May, 1957, printing 30,000. (How many there are in this series or whether the designs are the same as those in series 2, I have no idea. There simply isn't the material around to study. I think to make any real progress we should have to contact the Helvetia Society. I have an article from their journal dated 1983 and it doesn't answer the questions because the writer obviously knew about as much as I do. However they may have made some progress since 1983) - The inscription says "In SBB/CFF depots all kinds of merchandise is stored in ideal conditions." SWI.11: Card from the third series of 12 designs, dated February, 1960, with a printing of 500,000 - The inscription says "With a season ticket you have freedom of movement." SWI.12A: Card from the fourth series of 12 designs, dated May, 1961, with a printing of 1,500,000 - The inscription reads "Use of pallets ensures the best use of space." SWI.13A: Card from the fifth series of 12  designs, dated August, 1963, with a printing of 1,500,000 - The inscription reads "Use of standard SBB/CFF pallets ensures the best use of space." SWI.13B: Fifth Series: "The use of 'box pallets' simplifies the sending of fragile merchandise." (They are very keen on pallets!) SWI.14A: Special series for use at Bern Hauptbahnhof, dated February, 1963, printing 10,000 - The inscription reads "By car through the Alpine railway tunnels." SWI.15A: Special series for use at Luzern Hauptbahnhof, dated June, 1963, printing 10,000 - The inscription reads "Parcels should have the sender's address." SWI.15B: As for 15A "Transport from house to house in large closed SBB/CFF containers." SWI.15C: As for 15A "SBB/CFF electro-hydraulic tipper trucks for coal, coke, rock etc." SWI.16A: Fifth series surcharged, 1967. - I can't translate this into good English.  It says "SBB/CFF depots offer great possibilities for the rationalisation of merchandise traffic by rail." SWI.16B: Again I am not sure of the meaning. It is something like "Private enterprises and the Railway Company use pallets with rigid frames and exchangeable protective panels." But then there is something about the transport of empty pallets which I don't understand. SWI.16C: "Use of flexible cartons for railway traffic results in economy in time and cost of transport." (Doesn't make an awful lot of sense does it? The carton doesn't look very flexible but it certainly says "caisses pliables") SWI.17A: Card from sixth series of 10 designs, dated January, 1968, printing 1,500,000. - "Crane-tractors of 5 or 10 tons with SBB./CFF driver for the loading and unloading of cumbersome loads."

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