Source: bahnbilder-von-max.ch
Source: R. Werder - polier.ch
Source: bahnalltag.de
Source: Maarten van der Velden
Source: dsf-koblenz.ch
Source: C. Hertogs
Source: David Gubler
In 1964, Switzerland planned a national exhibition (Expo '64) in
Lausanne. This raised a unique challenge for the Swiss Federal
Railways (the SBB) that had to secure the transport of visitors
from all over Switzerland to Lausanne (at the time not so many
people owned a car and other modes of transport such as buses were
not yet available to such an extent as it is the case today). But
all modern locomotives were used in regular service and only old
locomotives were available for the necessary extra trains needed to
get people to and from the exhibition.
This was far from ideal and it became obvious new vehicles had to
be purchased. At first, the SBB looked to buy new locomotives from
existing series. The Re 4/4 and Ae 6/6 were available at the time
but neither proved to be a viable solution, either for logistic
reasons or performance issues. It also soon became apparent that
the trains had to operate as commuter trains (very flexible and
ready for use in a short timeframe) so, despite the bad experiences
with the RFe 4/4, the railcars seemed to be the solution. And the
success of the Ce 4/4 railcars of the BLS, offering high
performance and thus the desired traction, further comforted the
SBB in their choice.
The specifications for the new railcar were based on the Ce 4/4 of
the BLS:
- doors over bogies;
- one pantograph (since the introduction of the double abrasive
strips, a second pantograph was not considered necessary);
- inclined fronts.
The specifications also required the following:
- the railcars should be used both in regional and express
services;
- they should be able to replace the Ae 3/5 and Ae 3/6
locomotives;
- the power should amount to 1988 kW or 2720 hp (higher compared
with the BLS Ce 4/4 but also the SBB Re 4/4 locomotives and their
2450 hp);
- top speed of 125 km/h;
- regenerative braking;
- multiple-unit train control.
The units had to be available for testing purposes a reasonable
time ahead of the exhibition and also be conceived for the long
run, not only for the needs of the exhibition.
The mechanical construction of the vehicles was entrusted with the
Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (SIG) and Schweizerische
Wagons- und Aufzügefabrik Schlieren (SWS) while the electrical
equipment came from Brown, Boveri & Cie (BBC) and from
Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon (MFO).
1959
1959
May 24
Concerns registration number(s): 1401
1959
July
Concerns registration number(s): 1405
1959
July 25
Concerns registration number(s): 1404, 1405
1959
December
Concerns registration number(s): 1402, 1406
1960
Concerns registration number(s): 1405
1960
January 8
Concerns registration number(s): 1403
1960
May
1960
June 14
Concerns registration number(s): 1401
1963
2008
May
Concerns registration number(s): 1404, 1405
Sources: http://www.dsf-koblenz.ch/index.php/08/10-04/118-2008-11-03-ersatzteilspender-rbe-1404
2008
November
Concerns registration number(s): 1404, 1405
Sources: http://www.dsf-koblenz.ch/index.php/08/10-04/118-2008-11-03-ersatzteilspender-rbe-1404
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Latest update on the 13th of November 2019 at 21:39
Contributor(s): Tudor C.
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