Ütlibergbahn is a fairly strange railroad. It is one of the small private railways of Switzerland, running a U-shaped track from Zürich city up to the top of the Ütliberg mountain. It´s one of the steepest normal adhesion railroads in the world with some 70 o/oo steep rises. SZU Uetlibergbahn runs a tram-like service as part of the Zürich city S-Bahn network to the top of Ütliberg mountain, almost 900 m above the city centre. Track width is that of a normal railroad, but the line is electrified in a strange way, with 1200V DC: it was originally planned as a part of the Zürich tram network. The line was opened for service in 1923.
Be 4/4 (today Be 556) of SZU Uetlibergbahn. The Be 4/4 EMUs were built in 1992. It weighs 43,5 tonnes and has a maximum speed of 70 km/h. They are normally used in pairs. Photo in January 1999 by I.Siissalo.

A Be 4/4 (today Be 556) electric multiple unit of SZU Uetlibergbahn.
Notice the pantograph which is not at the centre of the roof. This is because the railroad was in 1923 planned to become a part of the tram system and runs on 1200 V DC. From the time when Uetlibergbahn and Sihltalbahn first time formed a common company, they tried to create some synergies and created EMUs which can operate both on normal 15kV AC and the tram like 1200V DC, but the implementation was strange: the 1200V pantographs - and aerial wires - are placed sideways off the centre of the roof so that the same roof can simultaneously have both pantographs. SZU has had also old dual-purpose Be 8/8 EMUs that had two pantographs and could run both on Uetlibergbahn and their normal Sihltalbahn. However these newer EMUs shown on these pictures do no longer have this strange feature.
Photo from ûtliberg end station in January 1999 by I.Siissalo.

This Be 511 is one of the newest series of Uetlibergbahn's trains. They were built by Stadler. The train type is specifically designed fot Uetlibergbahn and it is called SZU Be 510. These trains have both the different electric systems that SZU uses, the 1,2 kV DC from aerial cables placed sideways off from the center of the roof plus also the 15 kV AC system with normal center of the roof electric cables. The pantographs are built in such a way that they can be moved sideways 1,3 metres to match the electric system used. Typically these trains operate as pairs of two train units, but it's technically possible to combine three to form a single train. The trains were built 2013-14 and there are six units altogether.
Picture from the underground SZU station under Zürich main station 2.10.2015 by Ilkka Siissalo.

Another one of the new Class Be 510 three coaches long trains built by Stadler. This is the number Be 512.
Picture from the underground SZU station under Zürich main station 2.10.2015 by Ilkka Siissalo.

A pair of the new class Be 510 trains with unit Be 511 first is stopping at the Zürich Binz station.
Picture from Zürich Binz station 2.10.2015 by Ilkka Siissalo.

This picture shows clearly how the pantographs of the new class Be 510 trains have been mounted on sledge-like structures which allow the pantograph to be moved 1,3 metres sideways from the centre of the roof to match Uetlibergbahn's peculiar electric system.
Picture from Zürich Binz station 2.10.2015 by Ilkka Siissalo.

The new train Be 511 leaving Zürich Binz station.
Picture from Zürich Binz station 2.10.2015 by Ilkka Siissalo.

A pair of the older single electric system DC only trains stopping at the station of Zürich Binz. The picture shows clearly how the train's pantograph is sideways 1,3 metres off from the center of the roof.
Picture from Zürich Binz station 2.10.2015 by Ilkka Siissalo.

The older train pair with the motor wagon Be 521 first, seen from its front.
Picture from Zürich Binz station 2.10.2015 by Ilkka Siissalo.

A similar older train like the one pictured above, with Be 525 being the leading motor wagon. But this train is no longer two coaches long as usual, but three. An additional new low-floor coach built by Stadler has been attached in the middle of the train.
Picture from Zürich Binz station 2.10.2015 by Ilkka Siissalo.

A side view of the motor wagon Be 525.
Picture from Zürich Binz station 2.10.2015 by Ilkka Siissalo.

A closer look at the new unmotorised low-floor middle coach B223, built by Stadler.
Picture from Zürich Binz station 2.10.2015 by Ilkka Siissalo.