Also known as: Type 1974 / UIC 74
UIC / EVN numbering: 51 87 00-80 / 50 87 00-77 / 51 87 00-70
Vehicle type: Postal / Luggage car
Registration country: France
Railway companies: PTT - Postes, Télégraphes et Téléphones
1976
The construction is in all respects identical to that of the UIC PA 26,40 m units, with two exceptions:
- to save weight, the roof pavilion will be made of aluminium alloy sheets (AG3) and will be riveted to the framework;
- each side has 2 larger sliding doors (2'040 mm) with 2 panels, allowing for easier and faster transfer of mail bags to and from the wagon.
As there is very limited mail sorting taking place on board, the interior layout is simplified:
- only one sorting table in the centre with 2x 30 small sorting boxes;
- there is only one toilet with sink (there is no kitchen nor a cloakroom);
- heating only by hot water radiators (there is no water-air exchanger);
- lighting is provided by a central ramp of fluorescent tubes.
The electrical equipments also differ slightly:
- when the vehicle is parked, it can be powered from two accumulator batteries providing 24 V / 495 Ah or via a 380 V / 50 Hz socket (a three-phase transformer with rectifier supplies the car's electrical system and the battery charge);
- in circulation: two 4.5 kW alternators, one per bogie and each charging one battery.
However, a design flaw will prevent the construction of any further units: despite the size of the vehicle, the maximum admissible load is only 21 t, similar to PEz 20,28 m (21,60 m) wagons. Thus, it is cheaper to continue the transformation program of older PAz 20,28 m (21,60 m) units, all the more so as the notion of comfort on wagons for transporting mail is obviously not essential.
NB: French postal wagons are split in two main categories:
- "Poste Atelier" or "Poste Ambulant" (PA) - equipped for sorting mail on board by postal workers;
- "Poste Entrepôt" (PE) - used only for mail storage during transport.
Sources: Maurice KNEPPER & Claude POCHET - "La Poste et le rail - 150 ans de véhicules ferroviaires postaux" (1999), https://docrail.fr/les-ambulants-uic-de-2640m/
1985
1994
Sources: Maurice KNEPPER & Claude POCHET - "La Poste et le rail - 150 ans de véhicules ferroviaires postaux" (1999)
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Latest update on the 11th of April 2021 at 12:24
Contributor(s): Tudor C.
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