Gotthard Route – Now electrified

Original poster created by Anton Trieb (1883-1954), announcing the electrification of the Gotthard line by the Federal State Railways (SBB) in 1920 or 1921 – electric operation between Erstfeld and Bellinzona began namely after four and a half years of construction in three stages between September 1920 and May 1921.
Those who are now wondering why a steam locomotive is still depicted on the poster and any power lines are missing: For one thing, the motif had probably already been used years earlier for other advertising purposes, which is why the SBB spared themselves a new design and merely had the corresponding text added to the upper section. Secondly, electrification was not completed until 1922, as not enough electric locomotives were ready at the beginning – so the motif is not wrong.
Either way: a rare testimony to Swiss industrial history, excellently preserved.