BLS Re 4/4

BLS Re 4/4 BLS Re 425
BLS Re 4/4 164 in Basel Bad. Bf. (August 22, 2005)
Numbering:	161-195 (until 1989) Re 425 161-195
Number:	35
Manufacturer:	SLM Winterthur BBC Baden
Year of construction (s):	1964-1983
Retirement:	2 (187 accidents in 2007 and 161 in 2011)
Axis formula :	Bo'Bo '
Length over buffers:	15,100 mm 15,470 mm
Length:	13'800 mm 14'170 mm
Height:	4,500 mm
Width:	2,950 mm
Trunnion Distance:	7,900 mm
Bogie axle base:	2,800 mm
Service mass:	80 t
Top speed:	140 km / h
Continuous output :	4980 kW (6770 hp )
Starting tractive effort:	314 kN
Driving wheel diameter:	1,250 mm
Power system :	Alternating current 15 kV 16.7 Hz

Re 425 194 with single arm pantograph

The BLS Ae 4/4 II, from 1969 Re 4/4 (since 1995: Re 425 ) is an electric universal locomotive of the former Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon-Bahn (BLS), which is in operation at the same time as the SBB Re 4/4 II was taken. The locomotives have been in use at BLS Lötschbergbahn (now BLS AG ) since the company merged in 1996 .

history

The BLS Ae 4/4 II was procured from 1964 to 1983 as a universal locomotive with good mountain performance in order to be able to move the trains at higher speeds and to replace the locomotives of the founding years.

Due to the very successful construction of the Ae 4/4 of the BLS, the world's first high-performance locomotive without running axles, the BLS and SLM derived the new development from this series. This can also be clearly seen from the box shape; the arrangement of the entrances on the front of the locomotive was taken over from the Ae 4/4. The chassis is similar to that of the SBB Re 4/4 II . But that's where the similarities to this very successful series stop. The power is brought to the rails with a differently designed deep-draw linkage and cable pull. Instead of sanders, the locomotive has rail nozzles. In many attempts and comparisons with z. Locomotives, some of which are from abroad, are still proving their enormous performance on the mountain today. The locomotive can move a 630-ton train on a 26 - ‰ slope at 80 km / h. The hourly pulling force is 226 kN at 77.5 km / h. At that time, the ÖBB 1044 was developed on the basis of the Re 4/4 161 completed demonstration and test drives on Semmering , which was equipped with the thyristor control .

The drive motors are controlled via the BBC transformer, step switch with air motor on the diode rectifier. The electric brake, up to 600 A braking current, works with the help of the roof resistors. The locomotives can run in multiple control among themselves or with Re 465 . For a few years, multiple control was also possible with the Ae 8/8 and Ae 4/4 , which have since been discarded , after these locomotive types had been equipped with multiple control. In the Re 4/4, the multiple control was installed from 1967.

The first five machines were only approved for 125 km / h on delivery and were accordingly designated Ae 4/4 II 261-265. In 1969, after changing the box support on helical springs and extensive test drives, they were approved for the R series and the top speed was increased to 140 km / h. Since then, the locomotives have been designated Re 4/4 161–165.

From number 174 the locomotives were given a buffer beam prepared for the automatic coupling, which increased the length over the buffers.

commitment

At the beginning, the locomotives were mainly used in heavy express train service, where they gradually replaced the BLS Ae 6/8 , Ae 8/8 and Ae 4/4. With increasing numbers, the missions were extended to all modes of transport. In regional traffic and express trains to Neuchâtel (today RE), shuttle trains with Re 4/4 and control cars were also formed. The use in passenger traffic ended in December 2013. The Re 4/4s are still used in commuter trains in car loading trains Kandersteg - Goppenstein and in holiday travel also Kandersteg - Iselle . This requires between two and nine locomotives. The others are used together with the Re 465 and Re 485 in freight traffic. The locomotives 162 to 181 belong to BLS Cargo , but are used together with the other 15 locomotives. 170 to 190 are equipped with ETCS and can thus (as the leading traction vehicle) drive the Lötschberg base tunnel and the new Mattstetten - Rothrist line. 191 to 195 are equipped with Railvox devices for passenger transport.

When the standard coaches III (for RE Bern – Luzern and Neuchâtel) were taken over by the SBB , consideration was given to preparing the control coaches for operation with the BLS Re 4/4. Instead, BLS initially took over six from SBB, then another 6 SBB Re 4/4 ^II .

Since the multiple control of the Re 425 is not compatible with the IIId system with which the locomotives taken over from the SBB are equipped, twelve Re 4/4 ^II (and another five control cars) of the SBB have been used for passenger transport ( S-Bahn Bern ). taken over and classified as Re 420.5 .

Accidents

On February 2, 1978, the express train 385 Brig – Bern drove into an avalanche that had gone off in the Jolibach valley and largely buried the exit of the Blasboden tunnel. The leading locomotive Re 4/4 No. 183 derailed and fell from the Ijollibach bridge into the valley.

On August 4, 2007, the Re 4/4 170, 175, 184 and 187 were badly damaged in an accident in the Biel marshalling yard. The 187 was then scrapped, the other locomotives were rebuilt by the end of 2010.

On August 8, 2016, the Re 4/4 169 burned down on the Lötschbergsüdrampe near Hohtenn and was then demolished.

Locomotive numbers and coats of arms

Since 1988/89, all locomotives have had the coat of arms of a municipality through which a line of the former BLS group runs. The original BLS formed the BLS Group, an operating community, together with three other private railway companies until 1996. Even then, the rolling stock was classified in a common numbering scheme, but the formal owners of the locomotives were the individual companies. Four locomotives were therefore not marked with BLS, but with the initials of the then owner railway.

List of Re 4/4 from BLS AG
Company number	Baptismal name	coat of arms	Serial number	Train protection	comment	Scrapping
Sample machinery, 1964 (2 units) and 1967 (3 pieces) as Ae 4/4 II delivered
161	Domodossola		SLM 4452	EuroZUB	initially Ae 4/4 II 261	February 2011 3
162	Court		SLM 4453	EuroZUB	initially Ae 4/4 II 262	November 2015
163	Grenchen		SLM 4635	EuroZUB	initially Ae 4/4 II 263	December 2015
164	Lengnau		SLM 4636	EuroZUB	initially Ae 4/4 II 264	October 2018
165	Moutier		SLM 4637	EuroZUB	initially Ae 4/4 II 265	May 2017 4
Series machines from 1970 (8 pieces) delivered
166	Aeschi		SLM 4804	EuroZUB		October 2013
167	Ausserberg		SLM 4805	EuroZUB		July 2016
168	Baltschieder		SLM 4806	EuroZUB		October 2017
169	Bönigen		SLM 4872	EuroZUB		August 2016
170	Brig-Glis		SLM 4873	ETCS
171	Därligen		SLM 4874	ETCS
172	Eggerberg		SLM 4875	ETCS
173	Lötschental		SLM 4876	ETCS		April 2019
Series machines delivered from 1972 (3 pieces)
174	Frutigen		SLM 4894	ETCS
175	Gampel		SLM 4895	ETCS
176	Hohtenn		SLM 4896	ETCS
Series machines delivered from 1972 to co-operated BLS railways (4 pieces)
177	Zweisimmen		SLM 4897	ETCS	Delivered to SEZ	March 2020
178	Schwarzenburg		SLM 4898	ETCS	Delivered to GBS
179	Bern		SLM 4899	ETCS	Delivered to BN
180	Ville de Neuchâtel		SLM 4900	ETCS	Delivered to BN
Series machines delivered from 1974 (9 pieces)
181	Interlaken		SLM 5037	ETCS		January 2020
182	Kandergrund		SLM 5038	ETCS
183	Kandersteg		SLM 5039 1	ETCS
184	Krattigen		SLM 5040	ETCS
185	Lalden		SLM 5041	ETCS
186	Leissigen		SLM 5042	ETCS
187	mouth		SLM 5043	ETCS		2007 2nd
188	Naters		SLM 5044	ETCS
189	Down		SLM 5045	ETCS
Series machines delivered from 1982 (6 pieces)
190	Raron		SLM 5222	ETCS	Single-arm pantograph
191	Reichenbach		SLM 5223	EuroZUB	Single-arm pantograph
192	Spiez		SLM 5224	EuroZUB	Single-arm pantograph
193	web		SLM 5225	EuroZUB	Single-arm pantograph
194	Tuna		SLM 5226	EuroZUB	Single-arm pantograph
195	Unterseen		SLM 5227	EuroZUB	Single-arm pantograph
1 locomotive 183 “Kandersteg” received a new box with the serial number SLM 5153 and other roof resistances due to the derailment of February 2, 1978 on the avalanche cone in Jolibachtobel. 2 Locomotive 187 was scrapped in July 2010 after an accident on August 4, 2007 in the Biel marshalling yard. 3 Locomotive 161 was scrapped in February 2011 and scrapped in mid-July 2011 4 locomotive 165 was handed over to BLS Historic

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Spelling according to Hans G. Wägli: Rail network Switzerland / Réseau ferré suisse - rail profile Switzerland CH + / Le rail suisse en profile CH +. Third, updated and completely revised edition, AS Verlag, Zurich 2010, ISBN 978-3-909111-74-9 . The official spelling according to the national map of Switzerland is "Jolibach" today.
2. ↑ WH van den Dool: Express 385 runs in an avalanche . The accident on the Lötschbergbahn of February 2, 1978. In: EisenbahnGeschichte . German Society for Railway History. No. 63 , 2014, p. 66-71 .
3. ^ Walter von Andrian: Heavy freight train collision in Biel RB. In: Swiss Railway Review 10/2007, p. 505.
4. ↑ BLS repairs accident locomotives. In: Swiss Railway Review 12/2007, p. 580.
5. ↑ Re 4/4 after fire to break off . In: Swiss Railway Review 10/2016 . Minirex AG, Lucerne, p. 484 .
6. ^ Kaspar Vogel: The Swiss Locomotive and Machine Factory 1871–1997. Minirex, Luzern 2003, ISBN 3-907014-17-0 , page 249.

literature

• Peter Hürzeler, Hans Roth: Universal locomotive BLS Re 4/4: Re 425 - high-performance locomotive on the Lötschberg . ISBN 978-3-906691-52-7
• Walter Grossmann: The thyristor converter locomotive Re 4/4 161 of the Bernese Alpine Railway Company Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon (BLS) . Schweizerische Bauzeitung, Volume 91 (1973), Issue 14 (E-Periodica.ch, PDF 3.8 MB)
• Jörn Schramm: Still absolutely fit at 50. Re 4/4 of the BLS . In: Lok Magazin, 11/2017, pp. 46–55.

Web links

Commons : BLS Re 425  - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files

• Lötschbergbahn Re 4/4 No. 161 - 195 by Bruno Lämmli
• Information on the Re425 in the BLS AG fleet
• BLS Re 425 profiles and photos on Trainspo