Panorama car (Switzerland, narrow gauge)

As Panorama cars in are Switzerland coaches of the railways designated with windows into the roof area go and therefore a particularly good view of the panorama of the Swiss Alps allow. They are comparable to, in a sense observation car of the Rheingold or the American Dome Cars. While only the twelve SBB panorama wagons run on standard-gauge routes , various types are now used on the narrow-gauge railways . Below is a description of each type in the chronological order of their creation.

R + J car for the MOB Panoramic Express

The very first panorama car As 110 from 1976, still in the original paintwork until 2008, parked in Zweisimmen, June 25, 2004

Current GoldenPass Panoramic Express: Montreux side (front) ex Superpanoramic, Zweisimmen ex CrystalPanoramic

MGB PS 4011 parked in Brig, February 12, 2005

MOB BDs 220 has passed through the test gauge change facility in Montreux and is now on standard gauge, May 18, 2010

In 1976, MOB appeared the first car , "voiture panoramique" As 110, which had been built on the underframe of an old wooden box car (AB 92, SIG 1924) together with the SIG torsion bar bogies (which were not placed under them until 1962) . The entry sections are similar to the standard car , but the external shape of the car is more angular, the sloping roof with windows runs up at approx. 45 ° to a fairly flat roof. The floor of the car is slightly raised, and two steps lead from the entry platform to the passenger area. The seats in the prototype car were initially designed as rows of seats, so that you always drove forward on the left side. Despite the first car class , 4 seats were built in width. Initially, the car was used together with the two existing Pullman cars (Ar 101 and As 102).

In 1979 three more cars appeared, including two 2nd class cars. With the now existing four-car train, the maximum trailer load of the traction vehicles available at that time (ABDe 8/8 4000 or two BDe 4/4 3000 in multiple control ) was reached. In 1982 four more cars appeared for a second train composition and in 1983 two more cars were delivered, as the locomotives delivered that year ( GDe 4/4 6000 ) could transport five such cars. Were present now

• 4 cars, 1st class, As 110–112 and 114
• 6 wagons 2nd class Bs 220–225, one of which has a bar compartment, Brs 223

With 18 to 20 t these air-conditioned wagons had become relatively heavy. The FFA standard car I in light steel design from 1964 weighed only around 16 t, the SIG standard car II in light metal design delivered from 1979-80 weighed around 14 t. These weight differences are relevant for mountain railways .

The next innovation in 1985/86 two were "Superpanoramic" - control car (road 116-117) in operation in which eight seats were reserved behind the windshield for the travelers, the train driver was sitting half a floor up and looked over the top headlamp away on the distance. A bar car (Ars 115) and the first panorama car (As 110) completed the composition, in the middle of which two railcars built in 1944/46 drove (usually BDe 4/4 3005 and 3006).

The procurement of this wagon type was completed with two wagons of each wagon class (Bs 226–227, 1989–90 and As 118–119, 1993). These cars were delivered on new SIG-90 bogies and they received a new, more powerful air conditioning system from BBC, recognizable by the ventilation grilles above the entrances.

In addition to the 17 wagons for the MOB, four wagons were also delivered to the Furka-Oberalp-Bahn from 1986 to 1988 . These received only one entry and were initially used as 2nd class cars (BS 4211–4214). In 1988 they became first-class cars (AS 4011–4014) and in 1994 they became special wagons for tour groups (PS 4011–4014). In the new Glacier Express concept from 2006, they will again be used as second-class cars. After the delivery of further panorama cars from Stadler , they will only be used as reserve cars from 2009.

Extensive modifications have also been made to the MOB. In the beginning it was about having bar carts for every composition. The seats were later regrouped face-to-face instead of in rows. Finally, various cars were lengthened, three were given a wheelchair lift and are designated as BDs.

While the first-class cars built first (As 110-114) had a pivot spacing of 11,055 m, the second-class cars and the cars delivered later reached 11,355 m. With the six extended wagons (As 111, 112, 114 and BDs 220, 124, 125) the dimensions of the Breda wagons were then used , namely 12,830 m.

In the 1990s the Superpanoramic-Express was replaced by the originally night-blue-crème-colored CrystalPanoramicExpress from Breda (see below, chapter Joint order MOB / BVZ / FO). This train also had front and rear seats, but a round nose.

The superpanoramic composition was rebuilt and also equipped with 2nd class . From the year 2000, new train compositions were created taking into account all available wagons (see below).

In 2010 the MOB BDs 220 was equipped with newly developed gauge bogies, type EV09, which should allow direct trains from Montreux to Interlaken in the future. The bogie and gauging systems have been tested in practice since 2010. The renovation of the Zweisimmen train station was approved in 2015. Since the lane changing trains have to be shortened to five cars compared to the original plan for reasons of load, the planned conversion of further R + J cars is dispensed with; In addition to 19 new wagons from Stadler , four wagons with low-floor parts Bs 231 to 234 will be retrofitted with the further developed EV18 bogies.

Joint order FO / BVZ / MOB at Breda

CrystalPanoramicExpress of the MOB in the original design

MGB Api 4033 ex BVZ As 2013 in the new Glacier Express livery and equipped with a wheelchair-accessible toilet, lined up in a Brig – Zermatt shuttle train, in Brig, February 10, 2007

After the successful use of the RJ wagons, a larger number of wagons were to be procured for the Glacier Express, which would allow the formation of an entire train composition in each direction. Since the MOB wanted to procure more wagons and FO and MOB claimed public funds for them, the delivery had to be put out to tender.

In 1993 Breda (Pistoia, Italy) delivered a total of 18 panorama cars on SIG-90 bogies. Many features have been adopted from the R + J cars. From the beginning, however, flush-fitting sliding and sliding doors were installed. As with the R + J car for the FO, there are six panorama compartments and only entrances at one end of the car. At the other end of the car, the toilet and an equipment cabinet are installed, and there is also a loading hatch for catering. The car body is made of aluminum.

The AS 4021–4030 for the FO were equipped with closed toilets. In contrast, the four BVZ wagons AS 2011-2014 had outhouse toilets, but were equipped with control cables for shuttle trains for winter use. All six compartments were arranged in a face-to-face arrangement with eight seats and a table; the seat divider is 2050 mm. The car floor is continuously at 950 mm above the SOK. The tare of a wagon is 18.9 t, the gross weight 22.5 t (18.9 t + 48 × 75 kg = 22.5 t). The FO and BVZ cars were used together on the Glacier Express .

The MOB procured only four cars, two of which were the Arst 151–152 control car with a raised driver's cab and 8 viewing areas behind the windshield. The passenger area is equipped as a bar car with longitudinal bench seats. Like the FO / BVZ cars, the two As 153–154 have 18 seats, but the floor in the compartment has been raised to 1070 mm, so there is a slight ramp at the entrance. Tables were dispensed with and the seats at the end of the car were arranged in rows. All four cars were used with a GDe 4/4 in the middle as a pure first-class Crystal Panoramic train instead of the Superpanoramic on weekends and daily in summer.

The concept of pure first-class trains, which required a route - and staff - in addition to the clocked trains, was not satisfactory in the long run. The two As were redrawn as Bs 251-252 in 2000. Two of the four cars have been turned so that the control car is always on the Zweisimmen side. Together with the R + J cars, trains of up to six panorama cars with a Ge 4/4 8000 in the middle can be formed. On the Montreux side is one of the two branches 116–117. Two such commuter trains can cover about 2/3 of the two-hour express trains, a third composition runs as a pulled train with panorama cars.

With the FO / BVZ wagons, since the MGB merger, there have been changes with the delivery of the Stadler wagons (see below). The cars 4023–4030 were renamed to Bp in 2006/07, the new cars called Ap 4021–4022 and Api 4031–4034 (ex 2011–2014) received new seating with only 3 seats in a row, as was the case for the 1st . Kl. Is otherwise common. The Api were also equipped with a wheelchair-accessible toilet. The number of seats decreased to 36 for the Ap and 30 for the Api. Finally, the ex-FO wagons received or received the control line for winter use in shuttle trains Visp-Zermatt by the end of 2008.

The Ap 4022 and Api 4032 were badly damaged in the derailment in Fiesch on July 23, 2010 and had to be scrapped. An Ap 4045 and an Api 4040 were ordered from Stadler as replacements.

SWA type PA-90

Zentralbahn As 103 in the uniform GoldenPass paint scheme in Brienz

In the modular system of the PA-90 a panorama car was planned, but only two copies were ordered as A 102-103 for the SBB- Brünigbahn (today Zentralbahn ) and delivered in 1994. Here, too, the seat divider 2 + 2 was chosen in the first class. As with the standard-gauge panorama coaches delivered by SBB in 1991, the window panes are no longer flat, but rather arched into the curve of the roof without any horizontal division.

From the factory, the cars were painted red with black and white horizontal stripes at window level. Later they were redesigned (together with two complete sets of trains from the Brünigbahn) in gold-bronze and white with anthracite-gray ribbon windows and the inscription "Golden Pass Panoramic"; this color scheme was also introduced for the MOB panorama trains. Since 2013, the two cars marked “Luzern-Engelberg-Express” and painted in white / red have been lined up in the shuttle trains to Engelberg.

Stadler Bernina Express panorama car

Bernina Express panorama car

Bp 2506 from the first series after repainting in Tirano on May 5th, 2007

When the Rhaetian Railway started purchasing additional vehicles, the wagon industry had changed forever. The demands on the vehicles had also changed. On the RhB network, the panorama cars from FO and BVZ were now running on the Glacier Express. Now there should also be a quality boost for the Bernina Express (BEX). The RhB ordered eight low-floor control cars for traffic to the Lower Engadine and 10 panorama cars for the Bernina Express. In addition to the drafts of the PA-90 cars, which had switched from Schindler to Stadler with the takeover of the Altenrhein plant, Stadler made use of his work on the GTW control cars. This gave all 18 vehicles a common base. However, the type SIG 90 was still installed as a bogie. Because of the deployment via the Bernina, the cars had to be shortened. Compared to the Breda car, 3226 mm had to be saved. No compromises were made with the seat divider, it is 2054 mm in the 1st class and 1782 mm in the 2nd class (same dimensions as the PA-90), however - according to the completely different customers - luggage racks were largely dispensed with and the vestibules shortened. So 34 seats in first and 46 seats in second class could still be accommodated. For the first time, only three seats were arranged side by side in first class in a panorama car. Here, too, the car body is made of aluminum and air conditioning is installed. In addition, the A 1291–1293 and B 2501–2507 delivered in 2000 were equipped with control lines for shuttle trains; but this was removed again in 2006/07. The B 2501 was given a service compartment for the minibar and therefore only has 44 instead of 50 seats; it was redrawn to match the subsequent delivery for Bps 2511.

In order to be able to equip the Bernina Express uniformly with panorama cars and also to be able to offer a south-north service for Italian guests from the Milan area to St. Moritz, 16 more identical cars (Api 1301–1306, Bps 2512 -2515, bp 2521-2526). These now received air-sprung Stadler bogies and a (vacuum-controlled) compressed air brake, the latter was also retrofitted to the existing wagons. In addition, a wheelchair-accessible toilet was installed in the first-class car. Since smoking has now been generally banned on Swiss trains, a partition for a smoker's compartment could be dispensed with; this was removed from the previous wagons.

With the now 26 cars, four trains with two first-class and four second-class cars are formed, with which a total of five pairs of trains are driven. Since the Allegras went into operation , the main Chur – Tirano train and back has been driven with seven cars.

Stadler Glacier Express panorama car

Current Glacier Express with Stadler panorama cars

Stadler panorama cars Bp 4064 and 4066 at the end of the Glacier Express to Zermatt in Randa, August 5, 2006

For the relaunch of the Glacier Express, RhB and MGB decided to jointly commission four entire train compositions. The basic design of the wagons, especially the most important dimensions (length over buffers, box length, pivot spacing, floor height and window arrangement) were adopted from the Breda wagons. The similarities to the Bernina Express carriages are few when it comes to the car body. In contrast, the wagons run on the same air-sprung Stadler bogies as the second series of Bernina Express wagons and the train only has air brakes (if required, vacuum-controlled). The seat divider is the same in both car classes, whereas in first class there are only 2 + 1 seats in width, in second class 2 + 2 seats. Half of the first-class cars were given a wheelchair-accessible toilet and therefore have six fewer seats. What is new is that a kitchen trolley runs in the middle and the guests are served their meals. The hike to the dining car (and the provision of double the number of seats) is no longer necessary. Each train is composed of six cars in the order Ap-Api-WRp-Bp-Bp-Bp.

In 2008, RhB and MGB ordered a further eight panorama cars (two Ap, two WRp and four Bp), which were delivered for the 2009 season. With the help of the Breda wagons, two further six-part compositions can be formed, while two further five-part compositions can be supplemented with a classic dining car on sections of the route. Two more wagons had to be procured to replace the Breda wagons that had crashed in Fiesch.

For the seasonal Excellence Class offer from 2019, the Bp 2538 (RhB) and 4068 (MGB) cars will be converted and renamed Aps 1321 and 4046. 20 new seats at tables for two and a bar will be installed. At the end with a bar, there is no bellows transition, as the car is always lined up at one end of the set.

In 2013/14, Stadler delivered four largely identical cars, but for 760 millimeters gauge, to the Mariazellerbahn . The cars are used behind the new multiple units, which were also supplied by Stadler, and are also painted in gold with the inscription “The sky staircase”. The wagons are designated as NÖVOG P1 to P4.

Stadler's Goldenpass Express lane changing panorama car

For the Goldenpass Express between Montreux and Interlaken Ost with lane change from meter gauge to standard gauge in Zweisimmen , in addition to the conversion of four existing low-floor wagons, nineteen new wagons from Stadler will be delivered by the end of 2020, which are equipped with type EV18 lane change bogies from Alstom:

• 4 control cars Ast 181 to 184 (9 seats in VIP, 21 seats in 1st class)
• 4 Bst control cars (2nd class)
• 4 coaches As 191 to 194 (36 1st class seats)
• 4 coaches Bs 281 to 284 (56 seats, 2nd class)
• 3 interface cars Bs 291 to 293 (56 seats, 2nd class)

The cars have a length over the coupling of 18750 mm, a pivot spacing of 12830 mm, a width of 2630 mm and a top speed of 100 km / h. The height is 3870 mm on meter gauge and 4020 mm on standard gauge, as the car bodies are raised by 185 mm when changing to standard gauge in order to be able to offer the same accessibility at the different platform heights . The new and converted cars are used to form five-car sets with control cars at both ends, which are pulled and pushed on meter gauge by a Be 4/4 9200 + ABe 4/4 9300 double multiple unit. The BLS Re 465 is used on standard gauge together with an interface car. This is at one end with a Schwab - coupling at the other end with a screw coupling and buffers equipped. Between the interface carriage and the remainder of the train, there is no interchange .

Conversions

The Transports Publics du Chablais (TPC) converted the Bt 61 from 1964 and the B 52 from 1953 (both built by SIG) into observation cars in their own workshops and with the support of Bombardier, by adding a raised roof with windows in the sloping roof based on the model of the R + J car was built. The very narrow seat divider of only approx. 1420 mm has also been enlarged (now five instead of six windows). The cars were put into operation in 1997 (Bst 61, from 2001 Bst 53) and 1999 (Bs 52).

Overview of the panorama car

number	train	Type	Installation	Bogie type	Type and number originally / today	Seats (arrangement) seat dividers	comment
1	MOB	R + J	1976	SIG torsion bar	Ace 110	36
3	MOB	R + J	1979, 82, 83 2000, 03	SIG torsion bar	As 111, 112, 114	36 (2 + 2) 33 (2 + 1)	extended
3	MOB	R + J	1979, 82, 83 2001, 02	SIG torsion bar Alstom EV09	Bs 220, 224, 225 BDs 220, 224, 225	52 43	extended
1	MOB	R + J	1979 1987	SIG torsion bar	Bs (220), 221 Brs (220), 221	52 42
1	MOB	R + J	1982	SIG torsion bar	Bs 222	52
1	MOB	R + J	1982	SIG torsion bar	Brs 223 Bs 223	48	New
2	MOB	R + J	1985, 86	SIG torsion bar	Branch 116, 117	50 36
1	MOB	R + J	1985 1995	SIG torsion bar	Ars 115 Brs 228	44 42
4th	FO MGB	R + J	1986-1988	SIG-Schelling	BS 4211-4214 AS / PS 4011-4014 Bp 4011-4014	48 (2 + 2)	Ug / Dg ex Bi 4222, 28, 27, 26 2 cars parked
2	MOB	R + J	1989, 90	SIG-90	Bs 226-227	52
2	MOB	R + J	1993	SIG-90	As 118, 119	42
21st	Total	R + J
2	SBB ZB	PA 90	1994	SIG-90	A 102-103	48 (2 + 2) 2054 mm
2	Total	PA 90
10	FO MGB RhB	Breda	1993	SIG-90	AS 4021-4030 Ap 4021, 4022 Bp 4023-4030 Bp 52521-24	48 (2 + 2) 2050 mm 30 (2 + 1) 2050 mm 48 (2 + 2) 2050 mm 48 (2 + 2) 2050 mm	from 2007/08 multiple control line 4022 Accident Fiesch 2010 4027 & 4028 converted into après-ski bar 4029 and 4030 since 2018 again as Ap in use in regional traffic. 52521–24 ex 4023–26, 52524 2018 converted into A-WSp 59101 «InnoTren».
4th	BVZ MGB	Breda	1993	SIG-90	AS 2011–2014 Api 4031–4034	48 (2 + 2) 2050 mm 30 (2 + 1) 2050 mm	Multiple control line; from 2006/07 wheelchair toilet 4032 Accident Fiesch 2010
2	MOB	Breda	1993	SIG-90	Arst 151, 152	35 (3 + 1 and lengthways)	Control car
2	MOB	Breda	1993	SIG-90	As 153, 154, Bs 251, 252	48 (2 + 2) 2050 mm	Multiple control line
18th	Total	Breda
3	RhB	BEX	2000	SIG-90	A 1291-1293 Ap 1291-1293	34 (2 + 1) 2054 mm
6th	RhB	BEX	2006-07	Stadler SSL	Api 1301-1306	30 (2 + 1) 2054 mm	Wheelchair toilet
6th	RhB	BEX	2000	SIG-90	B 2502-2507 Bp 2502-2507	50 (2 + 2) 1782 mm
1	RhB	BEX	2000	SIG-90	B 2501 bps 2511	44 (2 + 2) 1782 mm	Minibar service compartment
4th	RhB	BEX	2006-07	Stadler SSL	Bps 2512-2515	44 (2 + 2) 1782 mm	Minibar service compartment
6th	RhB	BEX	2006-07	Stadler SSL	Bp 2521-2526	50 (2 + 2) 1782 mm
26th	Total	BEX
5	RhB MGB	GEX	2006, 11	Stadler SSL	Api 1311, 1312 Api 4040-4042	30 (2 + 1) 2050 mm	Wheelchair toilet
7th	RhB MGB	GEX	2006, 09, 11	Stadler SSL	Ap 1313-1316 Ap 4043-4045	36 (2 + 1) 2050 mm	1316 intended for conversion to Api 1310
6th	RhB MGB	GEX	2006, 09	Stadler SSL	WRp 3830-3832 WRp 3833-3835		Kitchen trolley with standing bar
16	RhB MGB	GEX	2006, 09	Stadler SSL	Bp 2531-2538 bp 4061-4068	48 (2 + 2) 2050 mm	2538 converted into Aps 1321 (2018) 4068 converted into Aps 4046 (2019)
	RhB MGB	GEX	2009/2018	Stadler SSL	Aps 1321 Aps 4046	20 (1 + 1) 2050 mm	Excellence Class with bar, car transition side bar locked, conversion from Bp 2538 (2018) and Bp 4068 (2019)
34	Total	GEX
101	Total total

literature

• Michel Grandguillaume et al .: Chemin de fer Montreux Oberland Bernois, Du Léman et al. Pays-d'Enhaut , Tome 2. BVA, Lausanne 1994, ISBN 2-88125-009-2
• Hans Tribolet, Franz Karlen, Giorgio Destefani: The new panorama cars AS 2011–2014 of the BVZ Zermatt-Bahn and AS 4021–4030 of the Furka-Oberalp-Bahn . In: Swiss Railway Review , 7–8 / 1993.
• M. Broennle: The futuristic "Crystal Panoramic Express" . In: Eisenbahn-Amateur , 9/93.
• Wolfgang Finke, Hans Schweers: The vehicles of the Rhaetian Railway 1889-1996 . Volume 1: Passenger cars, dining cars, luggage and mail cars. Schweers + Wall, Aachen 1996, ISBN 3-89494-103-0 .
• Roman Moosbrugger, Manfred Nachbauer, Nikolaus Ruf: Panorama car for the Rhaetian Railway . In: Swiss Railway Review , 7/2001.
• Hans Furgler et al .: The new Glacier Express . In: Swiss Railway Review , 7/2006 and 8–9 / 2006.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ The panorama car B 4211 of the FO . In: Eisenbahn-Amateur 9/86, page 601/602 text, 609 image, 632/633 type sketch
2. ↑ C. Deiss, R. Kummrow, J.-M. Forclaz, C. Gyr, S. Bühler: TransGoldenPass and lane changeable bogie type EV09 , Graz, September 13, 2011
3. ↑ ^{a b} Urs Wieser, Jürg Lüthard: The 20 new lane change cars for the MOB, Swiss Railway Review 7/2018, page 372
4. ↑ ^{a b} Jürg Lüthard: MOB project for lane changing trains on a rolling course, Swiss Railway Review 12/2018, page 621
5. ↑ Excellence Class: The most popular seats in Switzerland , glacierexpress.ch
6. ↑ First panorama car for the Mariazellerbahn completed .

   Swiss Railway Review and Railway Austria , No. 1/2014, Minirex publishing house, Lucerne.

7. ^ Picture of the après ski bar car 4027
8. ↑ Picture of the après ski bar car 4028
9. ↑ Exclusive travel in a class of its own - the Excellence Class on the Glacier Express sets new standards , bahnonline.ch, 23 November 2018
10. ^ RhB roll material list