The Electrotrén Basculante 443, better known as "Platanito", was
Spain's first contact with high speed. Its Italian conception,
designed to increase speeds in curves, made use of the so-called
Active Tilting, a pioneering technology that consisted of tilting
the car bodies in curves, increasing the speed of the trains as
they passed through them, without interfering with the comfort of
the passengers. Amazed by the results of the Italian prototype,
RENFE management decided at the end of the 1970s to request a
prototype adapted to the Spanish network, which was delivered in
1976. The "Platanito" reached 200 km/h during its first year of
testing, and visited a large part of our geography, even providing
commercial service on several lines of the National Network. For
years it held the speed record in Spain, 206.8 km/h. Unfortunately,
during these tests it suffered a breakdown from which it was unable
to recover. The lack of spare parts and the cost involved, as it
was a single unit, precipitated its decommissioning. Since then it
remained in the Fuencarral depot with an uncertain destiny, even to
the point of signing a scrapping order. Fortunately, it was saved
and, since 1994, it has been stored on one of the tracks of the
Castejón de Ebro station, under the disinterested care of a group
of volunteers who continue to watch over it. Such a popular and at
the same time unique vehicle deserved to be reproduced and to roll
around the models of the enthusiasts. This is our way of paying
tribute to this mythical automobile. And the fact is that, the
"Platanito" is, above all and just like us, an Electrotren.
Characteristics of the model: - Couplers with electrical connection
between cars. - 5-pole motor with flywheels. - Metal chassis for
all cars - Detailed interior - White or red lights depending on the
direction of travel - Interior light - Exterior and interior
lighting control in digital mode - 21-pin MTC connector (NEM660) -
Digital versions with sound using ESU LokSound V5 decoder - Fine
and robust metal pantographs with different versions according to
era - Length between ends: 1230 mm - Minimum radius: 356.5 mm
...