Set (2) with four coaches for the Interregio train 1617 of the
Swiss Federal Railways.
The set contains two 2nd class coaches EW-II, type B and two 1st
class coaches EW-IV, type A.
■ One EW-IV coach with silver window frames
■ EW-IV coaches without corner signets/sling dampers
■ EW-II coaches in green livery with comfort stripes
The train in the picture travelled via Delsberg to Basel but came
from Brig as IR 51. Its formation is typical for that time,
carrying the express train coaches D EW II, 2 A EW IV and 4 B EW II
on the line Brig-Lausanne-Biel-Basel/Zurich-Romanshorn (hourly
service, Brig-Lausanne not hourly and Brig-Sion as a regional
train).
The quantity of A EW IVs made it possible to provide the 1st class
of long-distance express trains with modern coaches. In contrast,
the 2nd class still had to get along with only slightly modernised
EW IIs ("Komfortstreifen", internally referred to as B(r)). Re 4/4
II usually hauled these trains. However, it was not uncommon for
these locomotives to be replaced by Re 460s. Depending on the time
of day and section, reinforcement coaches (usually 1 or 2 B EW I,
if necessary for the Zurich area also an additional A EW I) and 1-2
Z or Z2 were coupled to side D or side B of the train, subject to
the operational benefit.
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