Banner
Navigation
loco-info.com
The reference for locomotives and railcars
Navigation
Random
Search
Compare
Settings
Arth-Rigi Railway BCeh 2/3
Switzerland | 1911
only one produced
No. 6 in the year 2001
No. 6 in the year 2001
Peter Alder / Peter elektro

No. 6 of the Rigi Railway is the oldest rack railcar operational today anywhere in the world. It was built in 1911 as a more powerful alternative to the existing railcars. While the mechanic part had been built by SWS and SLM, the electric part came from Oerlikon. The three axles are not powered, but there are two cog wheels which were driven with a power of 190 kW.

It did not only have a baggage compartment, but was powerful enough to push a heavy trailer. This allowed the Rigi Railway to abandon the use of steam locomotives. In 1939, it was rebuilt and now delivered 390 kW. In another modernization between 1986 and 1990, it got a new car body. Today it is still in service as heritage vehicle. Over the years, it carried the designations BCeh 2/3, CFeh 2/3, BFeh 2/3, BDeh 2/3, BDhe 2/3 and BCFhe 2/3.

General
Built1911
Manufacturermechanical part: SWS, SLM, electrical part: Oerlikon
Axle config3 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Seats50
Dimensions and Weights
Length40 ft 0 5/16 in
Total wheelbase22 ft 11 9/16 in
Empty weight15,432 lbs
Service weight51,809 lbs
Adhesive weight0 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - DC
Electric system1,500 V
Hourly power523 hp (390 kW)
Top speed9 mph
Starting effort20,233 lbf
Calculated Values
EMU
rack railway
local
secondary line
last changed: 03/2025
Arth-Rigi Railway BDhe 4/4 No. 15, 21 and 22
Switzerland | 1982
3 produced
BDhe 4/4 No. 15
BDhe 4/4 No. 15
Heitersberg

Since the BDhe 4/4 No. 14 railcar delivered in 1967 was still based on the CFeh 2/4 developed in 1947, the set of powercars and driving trailers ordered in 1978 was to be a modern design. It was basically based on the older design, but used a new powertrain technology with two traction motors per bogie. With the higher power, it was possible to push two of the historic trailers or to take freight wagons with them. At the same time, the Vitznau-Rigi-Bahn also needed new vehicles to increase capacity and ordered two identical sets, whose powercars were numbered 21 and 22.

Since the merger of the Arth-Rigi-Bahn and the Vitznau-Rigi-Bahn in 1992, the advantage for the crews has been that the vehicles are identical. In fact, the VRB staff was even trained on ARB vehicles because their own had not yet been delivered. The color scheme of the ARB was initially blue below and white above, but now it is also painted in the same white and light blue “snowflake paint” as the BDeh 2/4. The vehicles of the VRB are now kept in a similar livery, but the original red of the VRB has been used here instead of the light blue.

General
Built1982, 1986
Manufacturermechanical part: SLM, electrical part: BBC
Axle config2-2 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Seats60
Dimensions and Weights
Length52 ft 5 15/16 in
Wheelbase43 ft 11 9/16 in
Rigid wheelbase9 ft 0 11/16 in
Service weight67,461 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - DC
Electric system1,500 V
Hourly power1,105 hp (824 kW)
Top speed19 mph
Calculated Values
EMU
rack railway
local
secondary line
last changed: 02/2022
Arth-Rigi Railway CFeh 2/4 No. 11-14
Rigi Railway BDhe 2/4
Switzerland | 1949
4 produced
BDhe 2/4 14 with ski mounts shortly before repainting in 2005
BDhe 2/4 14 with ski mounts shortly before repainting in 2005
Heitersberg

After the Second World War, the Arth-Rigi-Bahn initially ordered two new cog railcars, which were intended to cover demand at peak times, among other things. Like the previous locomotives, they only had a rack drive. For this purpose, each of the two-axle bogies had a traction motor that drove the cog wheel. A third vehicle was added in 1954. After initially being used with existing trailer cars without a control compartment, three control cars were purchased at the end of the 1950s to match the three power cars. The vehicles were later given the designation BDhe 2/4 11 to 13.

The fleet was only completed in 1967 with the delivery of another unit consisting of a power car and a control car. This was largely redesigned and, with increased external dimensions, also offered a new interior. It was called BDhe 2/4 from the start. In winter, both halves of the vehicle run with ski holders attached to the sides. The oldest vehicle was completely modernized in 1992, the others only received a new paint finish in 2005 and 2006. While they were previously blue at the bottom and white in the window area, today they are light blue in the window area, which slowly fades into white towards the bottom and is referred to as “snowflake painting”. In 2020, all vehicles are still in use on the Rigi Railways.

Variantoriginal variantnew order 1967
General
Built1949, 19541967
Manufacturermechanical part: SLM, electrical part: Sécheron
Axle config2-2 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Seats6058
Dimensions and Weights
Length50 ft 6 5/16 in52 ft 5 1/8 in
Wheelbase40 ft 8 3/16 in
Rigid wheelbase9 ft 4 3/16 in
Service weight58,422 lbs60,407 lbs
Boiler
Variantoriginal variantnew order 1967
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - DC
Electric system1,500 V
Hourly power644 hp (480 kW)
Top speed12 mph
Calculated Values
EMU
rack railway
local
secondary line
last changed: 02/2022
Bernese Oberland Railway ABDeh 8/8
Switzerland | 2017
6 produced
Two ABDeh 8/8 in May 2017 in multiple on the way to Interlaken
Two ABDeh 8/8 in May 2017 in multiple on the way to Interlaken
Vsler
General
Built2017
ManufacturerStadler
Axle configB-B-B-B 
Gauge3 ft 3 3/8 in (Meter gauge)
Seats133
Dimensions and Weights
Length164 ft 0 1/2 in
Rigid wheelbase8 ft 4 in
Empty weight216,053 lbs
Service weight264,554 lbs
Adhesive weight264,554 lbs
Axle load35,274 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - DC
Electric system1,500 V
Hourly power4,828 hp (3,600 kW)
Continuous power3,755 hp (2,800 kW)
Top speed50 mph
Starting effort89,924 lbf
Calculated Values
EMU
rack railway
local
secondary line
narrow gauge
Brig-Visp-Zermatt Railway ABDeh 8/8
Matterhorn-Gotthard Railway ABDeh 8/8
Switzerland | 1965
3 produced
ABDeh 8/8 No. 2043 in the summer of 2002 at the Kalter Boden passing point near Zermatt
ABDeh 8/8 No. 2043 in the summer of 2002 at the Kalter Boden passing point near Zermatt
Philipp Groß

In order to increase the power of the ABDeh 6/6, the BVZ had three ABDeh 8/8 built in 1965. While the two car bodies of the predecessor were supported in the middle on a common Jakobs bogie, both car bodies now each had two bogies of their own. This now meant eight driven axles and an output of 1,176 instead of 882 kW. Here, too, there was a rack drive in each bogie. The transformer was now under the floor.

The three sets were given the names “Brig”, “Visp” and “Zermatt”. They were used together with their predecessors, but were able to tow an additional trailing load of 175 instead of 132 tonnes. They were retired in 2008, 2011 and 2014, shortly after their predecessors. The number 2042 “Visp” was initially intended to be given to a club for preservation. However, since the refurbishment would have meant very high costs, it was also scrapped in 2017. So far there is only a short text for this vehicle. In the future it will be described in more detail.

General
Built1965
Manufacturermechanical part: SLM, SIG, electrical part: SAAS
Axle config 
Gauge3 ft 3 3/8 in (Meter gauge)
Seats108
Dimensions and Weights
Length115 ft 1 7/8 in
Rigid wheelbase8 ft 11 1/2 in
Service weight202,825 lbs
Adhesive weight202,825 lbs
Axle load25,353 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - AC
Electric system11.000 V 16⅔ Hz
Hourly power1,577 hp (1,176 kW)
Continuous power1,491 hp (1,112 kW)
Top speed34 mph
Calculated Values
EMU
rack railway
local
secondary line
narrow gauge
last changed: 02/2024
Central Railway ABeh 150, 160 and 161 “Adler”
Switzerland | 2012
15 produced
ABeh 160 004 in March 2014 in Interlaken Ost
ABeh 160 004 in March 2014 in Interlaken Ost
NAC
VariantABeh 150ABeh 160 and 161
General
Built2012-2013, 2016
ManufacturerStadler
Axle configB-1A-A1-B+2-2+B-1A-A1-B B-1A-A1-B 
Gauge3 ft 3 3/8 in (Meter gauge)
Seats317147
Dimensions and Weights
Length413 ft 4 5/8 in177 ft 2 in
Rigid wheelbase7 ft 9 11/16 in
Service weight440,924 lbs205,030 lbs
Boiler
VariantABeh 150ABeh 160 and 161
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - AC
Electric system15.000 V 16⅔ Hz
Top speed75 mph
Starting effort53,954 lbf
Calculated Values
EMU
rack railway
local
secondary line
narrow gauge
Czechoslovak State Railways class EMU 29.0
Slovenian Railways class 405.95
Czechoslovakia | 1969
3 produced
Image of locomotive
Michal Gregor

The Štrba–Štrbské Pleso rack railway in the High Tatras, after its modernization, needed modern railcars in the 1960s. The Ski World Cup in 1970 was a decisive factor here. Since Czechoslovakia did not have the know-how to build these vehicles and had better connections to the West than other countries in the Eastern Bloc, the three sets could be ordered from SLM in Switzerland.

The sets each consist of a four-axle motor car and a four-axle control car. They have many similarities to the railcars of the Arth-Rigi railway, but here the end walls between the two vehicles were straight for a better look. On the motor car, one axle in each bogie is equipped with a 170 kW electric motor with cogwheel drive.

From 1988 the vehicles were listed as class 405.95. In 1993 they were transferred to the Slovakian State Railways and were used there for a long time without major modernization. Their use ended in July 2020 with the start of renewed modernization of the line. Modern Stadler railcars from the class 495.95 are being used there since February 2022.

General
Built1969
Manufacturermechanical part: SLM, electrical part: BBC
Axle config1A-A1+2-2 
Gauge3 ft 3 3/8 in (Meter gauge)
Seats124
Dimensions and Weights
Length108 ft 11 1/16 in
Empty weight85,980 lbs
Adhesive weight85,980 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - DC
Electric system1,500 V
Continuous power456 hp (340 kW)
Top speed12 mph
Starting effort17,985 lbf
Calculated Values
EMU
rack railway
local
secondary line
narrow gauge
last changed: 03/2023
Furka-Oberalp Railway and Matterhorn-Gotthard Railway Deh 4/4 I
Switzerland | 1972
5 produced
Deh 4/4 I No. 54 in 1996 on the Segnes viaduct
Deh 4/4 I No. 54 in 1996 on the Segnes viaduct
Falk2

Due to the sharp increase in winter tourism in the 1960s, the Furka-Oberalb Railway needed modern locomotives for rack and adhesion operation. The solution was five type Deh 4/4 I baggage railcars. Each of the four axles was powered and had rack drive. The high weight of the power equipment was compensated for by the lightweight construction of the car body.

Although there were five power cars, only four control cars and eight passenger cars were purchased. This meant that four shuttle trains could be formed, each consisting of a power car, two passenger cars and a control car. The fifth power car must therefore be used individually. The vehicles now belong to the Matterhorn-Gotthard Railway, as do the successors of the Deh 4/4 II type. So far there is only a short text for this vehicle. In the future it will be described in more detail.

General
Built1972
Manufacturermechanical part: SLM, SIG, electrical part: BBC
Axle configB-B 
Gauge3 ft 3 3/8 in (Meter gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length55 ft 5 3/8 in
Wheelbase41 ft 11 9/16 in
Rigid wheelbase9 ft 1 13/16 in
Empty weight106,483 lbs
Service weight111,995 lbs
Adhesive weight111,995 lbs
Axle load27,999 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - AC
Electric system11.000 V 16⅔ Hz
Hourly power1,384 hp (1,032 kW)
Top speed37 mph
Calculated Values
EMU
rack railway
baggage railcar
secondary line
narrow gauge
last changed: 12/2023
Furka-Oberalp Railway and Matterhorn-Gotthard Railway Deh 4/4 II
Switzerland | 1979
6 produced
No. 96 in September 2008 in Andermatt
No. 96 in September 2008 in Andermatt
Rainer Haufe
General
Built1979, 1984
Manufacturermechanical part: SLM, electrical part: BBC
Axle configB-B
Gauge3 ft 3 3/8 in (Meter gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length50 ft 10 1/4 in
Wheelbase38 ft 0 5/16 in
Rigid wheelbase9 ft 1 13/16 in
Empty weight109,129 lbs
Service weight112,436 lbs
Adhesive weight112,436 lbs
Axle load28,219 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - AC
Electric system11.000 V 16⅔ Hz
Hourly power1,384 hp (1,032 kW)
Top speed37 mph
Calculated Values
EMU
rack railway
baggage railcar
secondary line
narrow gauge
Jungfrau Railway BDhe 2/4
Switzerland | 1955
10 produced
Image of locomotive
Norbert Aepli

Since the Jungfrau Railway was still dependent on the Rowan trains at the beginning of the 1950s, some of which were more than 50 years old, a total of ten modern BDhe 2/4 railcars were procured from 1955. Each railcar has a cab on the valley side and is dependent on a control car that has a cab on the mountain side. The associated control cars either have a passenger compartment or serve as a cistern to supply the mountain station with water. Since the introduction of the Bhe 4/8 from 2016, they are increasingly being phased out, two years later only half were left. So far there is only a short text for this vehicle. In the future it will be described in more detail.

General
Built1955-1966
ManufacturerSLM
Axle config2-2 
Gauge3 ft 3 3/8 in (Meter gauge)
Seats41
Dimensions and Weights
Length48 ft 6 1/2 in
Empty weight52,911 lbs
Adhesive weight0 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - three-phase
Electric system1,125 V 50 Hz
Hourly power590 hp (440 kW)
Top speed15 mph
Calculated Values
EMU
rack railway
local
secondary line
narrow gauge
last changed: 07/2023
Showing 1 to 10 of 13
Search
loadding loading...

We use cookies to save the following settings:

  • selected navigation structure
  • selected language
  • preferred units
  • spelling of railway company names

If you refuse the use of cookies, the settings will only be retained for the current session and will be reset to the default values the next time you visit the site.

Display of units

Here you can set the desired unit system for the technical data.

  • Metric: Lengths in meters, weights in tonnes, and volumes in cubic meters
  • Imperial (UK): Lengths in feet/inches, weights in long tons and volumes in imperial gallons
  • Imperial (US): Lengths in feet/inches, weights in pounds, and volumes in US gallons
  • Individual: Depends on the country of origin of each locomotive
Operator names

Here you can set the display of railway company names.

  • Short: Abbreviation or short form of the name
  • Standard: commonly used name, partially translated to English
  • Complete: full name in local language