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Rhaetian Railway Ge 2/4
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Switzerland | 1913
7 produced
Ge 2/4 on the SLM data sheet
Ge 2/4 on the SLM data sheet
SBB Historic

For its electrification of its line in the lower Engadine, the RhB ordered seven Ge 2/4 in 1910. These locomotives, which were delivered in 1913, were intended for passenger service and had half the traction equipment of the Ge 4/6. They had two driving axles powered by a common repulsion motor via a crank axle and coupling rods. One Bissel axle at each end ensured guidance in curves and proper weight distribution.

As it turned out that their power of 210 kW was not enough for passenger service even on flatter lines, they were increasingly used in shunting service. For this use, their repulsion motor was not suited at all due to its suboptimal starting characteristics and its very high consumption of coal brushes when changing direction very often. Additionally, the two cabs meant that the driver had to change the cab frequently when shunting.

To extend their service life, five were rebuilt in the forties where they got a completely new electric equipment including a single-phase motor. The reduced size of the new motor allowed to increase the top speed from 45 to 55 km/h. Two of these had been converted to switchers in the same process by changing the boxcab design for a central cab and lower hoods. This allowed the driver to switch the direction without moving from one to the other cab.

Since Chur station also had some tracks which led to the Arosa line which were electrified with DC, one of the shunters was equipped with batteries which were charged then running on the AC tracks. This changed its designation to Gea 2/4. In 1967, this one got a diesel engine instead of the batteries and was designated Gem 2/4.

The rebuilt boxcab locomotives were retired in the seventies and No. 222 was preserved and is operational. The two electric-only switchers were used into the eighties and one of these is on static display today. The Gem 2/4 was used until 2001 and then scrapped. The two non-rebuilt locomotives with the numbers 205 and 207 are preserved, but on static display.

Variantas builtmodernizedrebuilt Gem 2/4
General
Built19131945-19461967
Manufacturermechanical part: SLM, electrical part: BBCmechanical part: SLM, RhB, electrical part: BBC, SAAS
Axle config1-B-1 
Gauge3 ft 3 3/8 in (Meter gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length28 ft 6 1/2 in
Wheelbase19 ft 8 1/4 in19 ft 0 3/8 in
Service weight80,910 lbs66,139 lbs72,752 lbs
Adhesive weight48,061 lbs48,502 lbs46,297 lbs
Axle load24,030 lbs24,251 lbs23,149 lbs
Boiler
Variantas builtmodernizedrebuilt Gem 2/4
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - ACelectric - AC + diesel-electric
Electric system11.000 V 16⅔ Hz
Hourly power282 hp (210 kW)574 hp (428 kW)294 hp (219 kW)
Top speed28 mph34 mph
Engine output207 hp (154 kW)
Calculated Values
electric locomotive
diesel locomotive
dual power
passenger
switcher
narrow gauge
last changed: 10/2024
Rebuilt Ge 2/4 No. 212 in June 1982 at Samedan
Rebuilt Ge 2/4 No. 212 in June 1982 at Samedan
J.J.Smit
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