Did you know that trains in Switzerland have a unique rule when it comes to the number of axles they can have? While they are allowed to have up to 255 axles or 257+ axles, trains are not permitted to have exactly 256 axles. But why is that?

According to the Historic Railways of Switzerland (HECH), this restriction is in place due to how the train’s axles are counted along the track. Detectors placed on the track count the number of wheels passing over them, crucial for informing train operators about track occupancy. In Switzerland, a binary counting system is used, and when the count reaches 11111111, it resets to 00000000. This means that a train with 256 axles would essentially disappear from the count, posing a risk of undetected trains on the track.

To prevent accidents and ensure safety, Swiss trains are not allowed to have exactly 256 axles. Updating the counting system would be costly and time-consuming, so the decision was made to enforce this rule. So, the next time you spot a train in Switzerland, remember that this unique rule is all about safety and avoiding potential mishaps on the tracks.