RhB Xrot et

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Xrot et 9218 and 9219
RhB Xrot et 9218 at the Ospizio Bernina
RhB Xrot et 9218 at the Ospizio Bernina
Numbering: 9218 and 9219
Number: 2
Manufacturer: Beilhack
Year of construction (s): 1967
Length: 9 100 mm
Height: 3 730 mm
Width: 3 060 mm
Service mass: 24.5 t
Top speed: 50 km / h
Hourly output : 2 × 257 kW (with contact line operation)
2 × 195 kW (when operated with Gem 4/4)

When et Xrot be in Rhätischen path electrically powered snow blowers with the driver's cab respectively.

In the mid-1960s, the RhB decided to look for a replacement for the steam snow blowers and only use the steam snow blowers for heavy snowfalls or avalanches. In addition, was that the main line - snow blowers were retired in 1966, and the steam of snow blowers Berninabahn thus also came on the trunk network used. At that time, you often had problems with diesel engines in the cold, with the electric snow blower, however, almost no problems, so the decision was made to operate the new snow blowers electrically.

The specifications for the snow blowers contained the following points:

  • Two powerful Beilhack snow blowers for 1 kV DC voltage
  • The snow blowers are not self-propelled, so it should be possible to operate the motor vehicle (usually RhB ABe 4/4 II or RhB Gem 4/4 ) in the driver's cab in addition to the blower
  • If the contact line fails, operation should still be guaranteed, and use on the main network should also be possible

business

The Xrot et must be pushed by a traction vehicle . If the contact line voltage is intact , this can be done on the Bernina line, e.g. B. be done with an ABe 4/4 II or Gem 4/4. However, so that the Xrot et can also be used on the main network or on the Arosa Railway , a different traction vehicle on the one hand and an energy supplier for the Xrot et on the other had to be procured. These two requirements were combined in the procurement of the RhB Gem 4/4. The Gem 4/4 has two diesel engines coupled with direct current generators, it can either be supplied with voltage directly from the contact line, in this case the Xrot et is also supplied by its own pantograph , or by the two diesel engines . In conjunction with an Xrot et, one of the two diesel engines is used to supply the vehicle with energy , while the Xrot et is connected to the Gem 4/4 via a cable. The second diesel engine is used to supply the Gem 4/4 traction motors. This network can therefore work in pure diesel mode and can therefore be used on the entire RhB network.

construction

With a clearing width of 3.6 m and a clearing capacity of 6,000 t / h, the extractors were also a novelty and a challenge for the manufacturer Beilhack. Another special feature is that the entire structure can be rotated 180 ° on the bogie .

commitment

The use of the new snow blowers saved high personnel and expense costs, taking into account that they are used on the Bernina Line on up to 60 days a year. It was also possible to use a centrifugal composition consisting of Xrot et and Gem 4/4 on the entire RhB network, regardless of the three power systems.

Conversions

In spite of the filter systems, the snow blowers initially had problems with the fact that too much drifting snow got into the engine compartment through the fresh air cooling. The problem was circumvented by converting the air cooling from fresh air to circulating air, which did not cause any problems in view of the cold temperatures during operation.

literature

  • Wolfgang Finke, Hans Schweers, Franz Skvor, Gion Rudolf Caprez: The vehicles of the Rhaetian Railway . Volume 4: Service vehicles, snow removal, updates. 1889-2000 . Schweers + Wall, Aachen 1999, ISBN 3-89494-115-4 .

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