Light steel wagons with open platforms
Light steel wagons with open platforms are a particularly cost-effective variant of the light steel wagons , which came into operation in Switzerland from 1935 . Their integrated design, which merges the car body and undercarriage into one unit, allowed a significant reduction in vehicle weight (27 t at 22.7 m in length of the first SBB light steel wagons ).
Forerunner of the Emmental Railway
As early as 1934, the Emmental Railway put four C4 81-84 bogie passenger cars into operation in welded steel construction, which weighed just 26.5 t. With a length of just 17.15 m over buffers, 72 seats (9 coupés) and a toilet were accommodated. They were built by SIG . In 1967 they received new SWS bogies. In addition, aprons were screwed on in the lower box area, which matched their appearance to the series delivered later. They were withdrawn from service in the 1980s, but three cars were retained for nostalgic trips.
Light steel wagons for internal traffic of the BLS Group
In 1944, the BLS received the first three cars from SWS for their SEZ (C4 331) and BN (C4 371-72) railways . They had the same number of seats as the Emmental Railway wagons, but were 18.86 m long and weighed only 22 t. They ran on leaf spring bogies, as they were also installed in the SBB light steel wagons. The waiver of entry platforms in the third points, the reduction to a toilet and the shortening of the seat spacing by 8 cm per coupé (1600 mm instead of 1680 mm) saved the car length of 3.84 m and weight of 5 t with the same number of seats. These first three cars were converted into control cars in 1972/74 and lengthened so that they corresponded to the cars delivered later.
1945 to 1948 another 21 lightweight steel wagons from SWS came into operation at BLS, BN, GBS and SEZ, 8 of them with an upholstered compartment (BC4 401, 406, 411–12, 461–64) and 13 third class wagons (C4 301–03, 332– 34, 351-55, 373-74). These cars were - with the same seat spacing - extended by a coupé, so they had 80 seats in third class. The two-class cars had 40 third-class seats and 24 second-class seats. The weight increased with a length over buffers of 20.46 m to 24 t. Of these cars, too, three were converted into control cars in 1967/68.
1950 to 1954, SIG delivered 20 cars (5 BC4 465–469 and 15 C4 304–318) based on basically the same model to the BLS. However, the wagons were equipped with torsion bar bogies. Four cars were converted to control cars in 1967 and 1979/80, eleven cars (3 AB 39-33 403-405 and 8 B 20-33 457-465) received closed platforms and rubber bulge transitions in 1971/72 so that they could be used more freely. Instead of 100 km / h, the cars were now allowed to run at 125 km / h. The cars were taken out of service at the end of the 1990s. The regular use of all cars with open platforms ended in the 1980s.
From 1967 onwards, BLS built control cars from the lightweight steel cars in its own workshop. The open platform remained unchanged at one end, while a driver's cab with the characteristic round front windows was installed at the other end, as it was in the ABDe 4/8 751–755 and the EW-I control cars Bt 211–216 and 20, which were delivered in 1964 -33 951-953 were installed. An entrance with a wing door was implemented above the bogie. During the conversion, the SWS wagons were equipped with SIG torsion bar bogies, which were installed as running bogies under the ABDe 4/8 746–750 and the D 965–967 and were replaced there by coil spring bogies. These control cars (Bti 231-235, later 50 63 28-03 900-904 and 910-911) were primarily intended for the Kandersteg – Goppenstein car trains, which were initially run by De 4/5 and Be 4/4 railcars . When the railcars were replaced by Ae 4/4 and Re 4/4 locomotives , the control cars had to be adapted. A wide door was installed on the open platform and some of the seats were removed for the transport of motorcycles. Accordingly, the wagons became BDti 50 63 82-03 910-916. The BLS converted another control car in 1974 for the Sensetalbahn (Bti 201), it was used with the two Be 4/4 106-107 (ex SOB) and was demolished in 1993. Apart from two casualties, the control cars were in use until 2000/01.
In 1979/80, BLS converted two more cars into control cars, this time the compartment behind the driver's cab was converted into a luggage compartment with sliding gates, an entrance with wing doors was installed above the rear bogie and rubber beads were installed on the closed platform. These control cars (BDt 50 63 82-33 940-941) were intended for shuttle trains with the Be 4/4 761-763 heavy-duty railcars, but were later used with locomotives in the Simmental. One of the two cars was given the Golden Pass paint for this mission. The mission ended in December 2013.
The donor vehicles for conversions were selected based on their condition. For example, SEZ, GBS and BN cars were converted into BLS control cars, for which one BLS car was redesignated for the respective company. This led to numerous renumbering in the vehicle fleet.
First lightweight steel wagon for the Bodensee-Toggenburg Railway
In 1951 , the Bodensee-Toggenburg-Bahn procured four lightweight steel wagons from SWP , the outward appearance of which should match the wooden box wagons converted from two-axle vehicles, including three buffet wagons. The wagons matched the BLS wagons in terms of weight and dimensions, but were given closed platforms and bellows for use on the "Direct Line" in conjunction with the buffet wagons. In the mid-1960s, the entrances were rebuilt, wing doors were installed as in the standard cars and rubber bulges were attached to the ends of the car. For this they were lengthened by one meter. Thanks to their low weight, they were also used in the last few years of operation as reinforcement cars on the express trains over the SOB's 50 ‰ ramps. All four cars were scrapped in 1991.
Light steel car of the Emmental-Burgdorf-Thun-Bahn
The EBT , from the merger of Emmental train and Burgdorf-Thun Railway emerged, acquired in 1945 by SWS four cars (C4 91-94), similar to the car supplied the previous year to the BLS Group. With the same spatial arrangement (72 seats, one toilet), the cars were 40 cm shorter, i.e. only 18.46 m. Their weight was given as 21.5 t. Two years later, four of the same wagons (C4 97-100) came, this time from SIG and officially weighing 22.0 t. In 1955, SWS delivered two BCF4 226–227, ie cars with upholstered class, third class and a luggage compartment. They were 22.62 m long and weighed 26 t. In addition to the open platforms, they also had an entrance with wing doors in the middle, so they were also center entry cars .
Narrow-gauge light steel cars with open platforms
Only two narrow-gauge railways procured lightweight steel wagons with open platforms:
- SIG delivered twelve wagons to the Bernese Oberland Bahn between 1951 and 1956.
- FFA built four cars from 1968–70 using existing underframes for the Montreux – Bernese Oberland Railway.
"Seetal" light metal wagon
In 1947-50, SBB and PBr procured a total of 47 light platform wagons (21 BC4, 21 C4 and 5 BCF4) from SWS, which do not correspond to the light steel wagons in various ways. The boxes are made of aluminum and built on an underframe made of reused steel girders, which is reinforced with trusses like wooden box wagons. They were originally officially designated as wagons for secondary lines , later they were also classified as the Seetal type by the SBB itself .
Existence and whereabouts of the wagons
| number | Numbers | Manufacturer | Installation | length | Weight | Whereabouts | Image reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/4 | EB C4 81–84 from 1963 Bi 521–524 |
SIG | 1934 | 17.15 m | 26.5 t | 521 1985 scrapped, to GES, today BD&S BC 521 522 1985 scrapped / demolished 523 1989 Sennhütte, loan to VDBB 524 1987 Schmucktruckli, loan to VDBB |
BC 521 Bi 523-524 |
| 0/3 | SEZ C4 331 BN C4 371-372 |
SWS | 1944 | 18.86 m | 22 t | from 1969 50 63 29-03 020, 1974 Sensetalbahn Bti 201, 1993 demolished from 1969 50 63 29-03 040–041 1972 BLS Bti 903–904 / BDti 915–916, discarded in 2001 |
|
| 2/8 | SEZ BC4 401 GBS BC4 406 BN BC4 411-412 BLS BC4 461-464 |
SWS | 1945-48 | 20.46 m | 24 t | 463 1968 SEZ ABi 401 ", 50 63 39-03 020, 1989 89-03 008, 1991 89-03 120-0" BC 463 "Interlaken West 464 1968 BN ABi 412", 50 63 39-03 041, 1987 to ST ABi 43, new SRi 43, other cars decommissioned 1983–2000 |
SRi 43 |
| 7/13 | BLS C4 301-303 SEZ C4 332-334 GBS C4 351-355 BN C4 373-374 |
SWS | 1945-48 | 20.46 m | 24 t | from 1969 50 63 20-03 050 ... 091 301/050 1972 BN 091, ev Kandertal, 2000 Wutachtalbahn, 2014 VDM 302/051 1972 BN 092, 1987 DGEG Neustadt (Weinstr.) No. 92 303/052 1990 Info- Blue / cream car, sold in 2004, VDM B 102 332/070 1983 BLS 053 ", 1987 DGEG Neustadt (Weinstr.) No. 53 354/083 1989 RICI 89-03 009" C4 354 ", 1991 89-03 121 HSTB 373/090 1987 VVT Bi 7373 374/091 '/ 093 1988 ST WRs4i 31 / SRi 44 (blue) other cars decommissioned 1983/84 |
SRi 44 |
| 1/5 | BLS BC4 465-469 | SIG | 1953 | 20.46 m | 24 t | from 1969 ABi 50 63 39-03 001–005 467 1967 renumbered 462 ", 50 63 39-03 001, 1983 to eurovapor, 2014 to VDM ABi 432 other wagons 1983–2000 retired |
ABi 432 |
| 3/15 | BLS C4 304-318 | SIG | 1950-54 | 20.46 m | 24 t | 305, 50 63 20-03 054 1996 to CFTPV 306–307, 50 63 20-03 055–056 1979/80 Conversion to BDt 82-33 940–941, 2013 out of service, existing remaining wagons decommissioned 1983–2000 |
BDt 940 |
| 0/4 | BT BC4 121-122 BT C4 321-322 |
SWP | 1951 | 20.46 m | 24 t | 1965–66 Conversion of rubber bead, length 21.46 m 1987 equipped with UIC door lock, discarded 1991, since then all broken off |
|
| 1/4 | EBT C4 91–94 from 1963 Bi 536–538, 531 |
SWS | 1945 | 18.46 m | 21.5 t | 536 1999 ausr., 3.2004 demolition 537 8.1987 demolition 538 1999 equipped with steam heating, 2004 to VHE 531 1985 demolition |
Bi 538 |
| 2/4 | EBT C4 97-100 | SIG | 1947 | 18.46 m | 22 t | 527 1997 equipped with steam heating, 2004 to VHE 528 1999 equipped. 2004 to VHE 529 10.1987 demolition 530 11.1981 demolition |
Bi 527-528 |
| 2/2 | EBT BCF4 226–227 from 1963 ABDi 721–722 |
SWS | 1955 | 22.62 m | 26 t | 721 1993 to ev 722 2004 to VHE |
ABDi 722 |
literature
- Claude Jeanmaire: The electric and diesel traction vehicles of Swiss railways. Second part: The Bernese Alpine Railway Company (BLS). (= Archive No. 12). Verlag Eisenbahn, Villigen AG 1972, ISBN 3-85649-012-0 .
- Werner Weber, Werner Hardmeier: Regional traffic Mittelland. Volume 1: Emmental Railway, Burgdorf – Thun Railway. Volume 305, Prellbock Druck & Verlag, Leissigen 2000, ISBN 3-907579-20-8 .
- Werner Weber, Werner Hardmeier, Jürg Aeschlimann: Regional traffic Mittelland. Volume 2: Emmental – Burgdorf – Thun Railway. Volume 306, Prellbock Druck & Verlag, Leissigen 2002, ISBN 3-907579-23-2 .
- List of rolling stock of the Swiss private railways 1950. Federal Office of Transport, Bern 1952.
- Directory of rolling stock of the Swiss private railways 1962. Federal Office of Transport, Bern 1964.
- Directory of rolling stock of the Swiss private railways. Swiss Rolling Material Directory Association, Winterthur 1975–2014. ("Status 1.1.1975" and then every five years)
- Bodensee-Toggenburg Railway. (Brochure), published by the Bodensee – Toggenburg Railway, St. Gallen 1972.
- Karl Emmenegger: The light steel wagons of the Swiss Federal Railways (standard gauge). Pharos-Verlag Hansrudolf Schwabe AG, Basel 1997, ISBN 3-7230-0236-6 .
Individual evidence
- ^ Karl Emmenegger: The light steel wagons of the Swiss Federal Railways (standard gauge). Pharos-Verlag Hansrudolf Schwabe AG, Basel 1997, ISBN 3-7230-0236-6 , page 176
- ↑ Walter Trüb: The SBB passenger cars (standard gauge) 1902–1970, with addendum 1971–1977. Extended separate print from Eisenbahn-Amateur No. 2/1968 to No. 2/1970, Eisenbahn-Amateur 1977, page 46
- ↑ : SBB Passenger and Baggage Carriages 1982. SBB General Secretariat, Bern 1982, pages 77 and 79
- ↑ The homepage of the Wutachtalbahn ( memento of the original from August 8, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. wrongly gives this car the year of construction 1945. The photos show the torsion bar bogies from the 1953 delivery.
