European Railroad Discussion > Confusing Swiss engine Classification

As a follow up to an earlier discussion about the somewhat confusing old Swiss engine and MU classification scheme, I just happen to come across this picture that shows both classes of Be4-6 taken in the summer of 1985 in Zürich-Altstetten. To the left is the MU class Be4/6. This MU was modernized in the 1960s from class Ce4-6 (third class MU) and was in his final assignment as personnel shuttle between Zürich main station and the main freight yard in the Limmattal. In the background is an engine also class Be4/6. All engines of this class, initially built as the first passenger engines over the Gotthard pass were withdrawn from service at the time this picture was taken, this was an engine that was preserved and restored in its original brown livery. Although both MU and engine shared the same class designation, there was little confusion as railroaders referred to the engine mostly as 1BB1s based on the wheel arrangement. Also peaking on the right side is class Ae4/7, at that time relegated to freight and mail train duty.

Thomas Eckhardt
http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?17,2942888

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Really interesting...hmm, if you don't know the usage from the subject, how do you distinguish between different rollings stock?

Ce6/8 I - II - III , though they sound like, are not third class EMUs at all either ;) . The one in the picture is located at Erstfeld on Gotthardbahn Switzerland to make people to remember how hugely powerful high tech machines these were about hundred years ago.

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And this Ae6/6 is not a 6 axle first class EMU...

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Well, railroaders have a tendency to give nicknames to the rolling stock, so there confusion probably was probably little chance for confusion, I am sure the engineer would complain if an MU was assigned to his freight train! Thanks for the picture of the Krokodil, it certainly brings back memories. My grandfather used to work on these in the Swiss Locomotive Works in Winterthur. This example is from the first series of the Krokodil (although it was class Ce6/8 II, later class Be6/8II I believe; class Ce6/8 I was a just single experimental engine). The Krododil in your picture has a blind driver with counterweight(nicknamed "appendix" by the railroaders). At that the time there was little experience with high powered electric engines, and the Swiss Railroads (SBB) was concerned about too much power being transferred to a single driver. This concern proved to be unfounded and the second series just had one driver. Yes those engines needed quite a bit of lubricants, and after each run the engineer or his helper had to check each axle for overheating, just like steam engines.

Thomas Eckhardt

ok, let me bring a little order into this confusion... ;-)

The classification of Swiss self propelled railroad vehicles starts with a capital letter indicating the locomotive class (usually specified by the maximum allowed speed, but with the exception T, H, G): T = Tractor, H = with cog wheel, G = narrow gauge, E = yard switcher, D = 45km/h - 55km/h, C = 60-65km/h, B = 70-80km/h, A = greater than 80km/h, R = augmented speed on curves allowed (but no tilting), at least 110km/h

The second letter indicates the propulsion: e = electric, m = fuel, a = battery

Then follows the number of propelled axles

the, after a "/" the total number of axles

If there are several types with the same classification, roman numbers are used.

e.g. :

HGe 4/6: is a narrow gauge electric engine with cog wheel, 4 axles driven with total of 6 axles
Ce 6/8: the famous Crocodile, max speed 65 km/h
Re 4/4 IV

For more information about the old classification system look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_locomotive_and_railcar_classification

For MU's and railcars, the following letters are used:
A, As Vehicle with first class or saloon compartment
B Vehicle with second class compartment
C Vehicle with third class compartment (before 1956)
D Vehicle with luggage compartment (since 1962)
F Vehicle with luggage compartment (to 1961)
K Covered freight railcar (all Ke were later reclassified as Fe)
O Open freight railcar (Ohe 1/2 31 of the Pilatusbahn)
R (at front) Multiple unit, motor coach or railcar with higher cornering speed and V max at least 110 km/h (in 2009 the first narrow gauge vehicle met this criterion and was also classified R this was RBS RABe 4/12 21-26)
R, r (after A or B) Restaurant, Buffet
S Special compartment
ST Self-propelled special flat wagon with bogies (Cargo sprinter)
X, V Service vehicle
XT, VT Self propelled service vehicle
Z Post office compartment

From Wikipedia: "An electric railcar with first class, second class, and luggage compartments would be given the classification ABDe. If it were also authorised to operate with higher cornering speeds, then it would be classified as RABDe"

rosenth Wrote:
>> HGe 4/6: is a narrow gauge electric engine with
> cog wheel, 4 axles driven with total of 6 axles

But of course only if the loco in question is capable of self propulsion by both cog and/or [ for non-cog track ] adhesion. If the cog is the only means of propulsion, it would be an He 4/6 [ the narrow-gaugeness being understood ].

By the same token, for railcars: if the 'h' suffix is after the 'e' [ example, BOB ABDeh 4/4 ] the machine is capable of propulsion on both cog and non-cog track; if the 'h' is before the 'e' [ say, WAB ABDhe 4/4, or the Ohe example above ] the unit is capable of propulsion only via its cog(s).

Since we were clarifying things.....

Best, SZ

Edited to add: I wrote the above before looking at the 'wiki' article mentioned by rosenth, which also delves into this.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/19/12 17:50 by Steinzeit.