Furka–Oberalp-Bahn Ge 4/4 III

Furka–Oberalp-Bahn Ge 4/4 ^III
Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn Ge 4/4 ^III

Ge 4/4 ^III 81 in Realp

Type and origin
Power type	Electric
Builder	SLM and BBC
Build date	1979
Total produced	2

Specifications
UIC class	Bo′Bo′
Gauge	1,000 mm (3 ft 3 ³⁄₈ in)
Length	12,900 mm (42 ft 4 in)
Width	2,684 mm (8 ft 10 in)
Loco weight	50 tonnes (110,200 lb)
Electric system(s)	11 kV 16.7 Hz
Current collection	Overhead
Traction motors	Four (type 6 FRO 4338)

Performance figures
Maximum speed	90 km/h (56 mph)
Power output	1,700 kW (2,280 hp)
Tractive effort	101.5 kN (22,820 lbf)

Career
Operators	Furka–Oberalp-Bahn Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn
Numbers	81, 82
Locale	Valais and Uri, Switzerland
First run	1980
Disposition	Both still in service

The Furka–Oberalp-Bahn Ge 4/4 ^III, now known as the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn Ge 4/4 ^III, is a two member class of metre gauge electric locomotives operated until 2002 by the Furka–Oberalp-Bahn (FO), and since then by its successor, the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn, between the Cantons of Valais and Uri in southern Switzerland.

History

The Furka–Oberalp-Bahn (FO) acquired these Bo-Bo locomotives in 1979 for the purpose of hauling car shuttle trains through the then forthcoming Furka Base Tunnel.

Between the delivery of these locomotives and the completion of the Furka Base Tunnel, both members of the class were leased to the Rhaetian Railway, where they entered service hauling express trains on the Albula Railway. Since the opening of the Base Tunnel in 1982, they have been used exclusively on car shuttle trains between Oberwald and Realp.

On 1 January 2003 (2003-01-01), the locomotives became the property of the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (MGB), following a merger between the FO and the Brig-Visp-Zermatt railway (BVZ).

Technical details

The two locomotives represent a further development of the Ge 4/4 ^II class of the Rhaetian Railway. They are therefore classified as Ge 4/4 ^III under the Swiss locomotive and railcar classification system, even though the FO had not previously operated Ge 4/4 type locomotives. According to the Swiss classification system, Ge 4/4 ^III denotes a third series of narrow gauge electric adhesion locomotives with four axles, all of which are drive axles.

The Ge 4/4 ^IIIs develop 1,700 kilowatts (2,300 hp), have a top speed of 90 kilometres per hour (56 mph), and operate at 11 kV 16.7 Hz AC under catenary. They are the only mainline locomotives of the MGB not fitted with cogwheels for rack railway operations.

List of locomotives

List of Ge 4/4 ^III locomotives of the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn
Traffic number	Name	Commissioning	Status
81	Wallis	27.02.1980	in service
82	Uri	27.02.1980	out of service, used for spare parts

Gallery

No 82 in MGB livery
No 82 and car shuttle train
No 81 in MGB livery

References

Finke, Wolfgang; Schweers, Hans (1999). Die Fahrzeuge der Furka-Oberalp-Bahn 1913-1999 : Brig-Furka-Disentis, Schöllenenbahn, Furka-Oberalp-Bahn (in German). Aachen, Germany: Schweers + Wall. ISBN 3-89494-111-1.

External links

Media related to Trains of Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn at Wikimedia Commons

Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (German)

This article is based upon a translation of the German-language version as at July 2010.

Motive power of the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (MGB) and its predecessors

Steam locomotives	VZB HG 2/3 BFD HG 3/4

Electric locomotives	SchB HGe 2/2 FO HGe 4/4 I HGe 4/4 II FO Ge 4/4 III

Diesel locomotives	BVZ Gm 3/3 FO Gm 4/4 FO HGm 4/4 MGB HGm 2/2

Railcars	FO CFm 2/2 FO ABDeh 2/4 BVZ ABDeh 6/6 BVZ ABDeh 8/8 FO Deh 4/4 I BVZ Deh 4/4 FO Deh 4/4 II

Articulated trains	MGB BDSeh 4/8 MGB ABDeh 4/8 MGB ABDeh 4/10

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/14/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.