There are two clocks on the front of Basel SBB.

One has a second hand that rotates normally.

The other has a second hand that rotates for one minute then rests for one minute.

Is there some obscure Swiss reason for this?

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I'd noticed this too. As far as I can figure out the right hand clock is just broken! Given how the clocks work it would only need to run 3 secs slow and the system would hold it until the next minute hence the delay.


I must say I love the railway clocks - something about the 2 sec pause feels special. But maybe that's just me

The one which rotates "normally" is a modern clock, the one which waits a minute and then jumps forward is a "traditional" SBB clock

It's a Swiss tradition to "rotate for one minute then rest for one minute" ?

hah. so they invented a clock which shows the incorrect time except when it is exactly zero seconds...

Must be hard to be neutral. Must have one of everything to please everyone...

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whatever, that kind of clocks dominated SBB stations happily into the 1960ies and 70ies


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the SBB clocks were absolutely superior as they were the ones who at least once per minute, 60 times per hour were correct !

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Most church-tower clocks still work like that, in fact all over Europe. Just watch them carefully and you will see !