Swiss Federal Railways Ae 4/8
To test the single-axle drive, SBB ordered a locomotive with four traction motors for different train types. What was special about the Ae 4/8 was that two traction motors were designed with Tschanz and Buchli drives each. The locomotive body was divided into three parts, with the transformer in the middle part. A total of four carrying axles were provided not to exceed the axle loads. It earned the nickname “Bastard” due to the different drives, while the three-part locomotive body led to the nicknames “Tatzelwurm” and “Field Snake”. The locomotive was initially used for several years for trial runs, including on the Bern-Thun line and on the Gotthard. It was then used with different train types on timetables which were actually intended for the Ae 4/7 and was scrapped in 1964.
Technical data
General
- Built
- 1922
- Manufacturers
- SLM, BBC
- Wheel arrangement
- 1-B-1+1-B-1
- Gauge
- 1,435 mm (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and weights
- Length
- 21.00 m
- Service mass
- 127 t
- Adhesion mass
- 73 t
- Axle load
- 18.6 t
Power
- Power source
- electric - AC
- Hourly power
- 1,885 kW (2,563 PS)
- Continuous power
- 1,620 kW (2,203 PS)
- Top speed
- 90 km/h
Calculated values
- Power-to-weight ratio
- 14.8 kW/t
- Adhesive weight/Total
- 1 : 1.74