SBB-CFF-FFS Ae 8/14

The Ae 8/14 electric locomotives were the SBB, which were mainly used on the Gotthard. Only three pre-series locomotives were built, each of which was designed differently.

Prehistory

The range of SBB on the Gotthard route, with their ramps of 2.7 per cent slope, especially in the goods and heavy passenger operating high standards. The SBB were confronted in the 1920s with the problem that the performance and the friction weight of the locomotives could no longer meet on the ramps and had to be carried out so elaborate tractions or Zugteilungen. The so-called multiple-unit control, ie, to be used to control several locomotives by a locomotive engineer, was not yet mature.

It was believed, therefore, to be able to find the solution with a double locomotive of about 250 tons in weight and 8 driving axles. This locomotive would then already coupled in Lucerne or Zurich on the train and would take him over the Gotthard and the Monte Ceneri to Chiasso on the Italian border. The previously operationally necessary for retaining comprises providing the strecher in Erstfeld and Biasca would thus be eliminated and the journey time could be shortened.

First, the locomotives were 11801 and 11851 built with the aim to find the most suitable drive. A few years later, the 11852nd It was based on the 11851, but had a further increased driving power.

Construction

The Ae 8/14, there were three different versions with numbers 11801, 11851 and 11852nd All were built as twin engines, each with eight engines and six running axles per locomotive. The chassis was designed for 100 km / h so that the locomotives could be used in passenger trains.

Initially all locomotives were equipped with Adhäsionsvermehrern - a device which made ​​it possible to relieve the roll axis, thus increasing the friction weight of the drive axles. This Adhäsionsvermehrer were decommissioned in the 1950s in all locomotives.

11801

The 1931 -built No. 11801 has a Buchli drive, which is almost identical with the engine to those of the SBB Ae 4/7 per axis. The drives a Lokhälfte located toward the cab each seen on the right side. The double locomotive originally had an hourly output of 5'514 kW and stood until 1975 in regular use. Until today it is preserved as operably historic train at the SBB. To protect the equipment but its performance was reduced to 5'408 kW.

11851

No. 11851 1932 was built. Although the locomotive had the same box as the 11801, but had smaller driving wheels with SLM Universal drives and dual motors on. The more modern technique allowed a slightly higher hourly capacity of 6'070 kW to install. During a renovation in 1961 received the locomotive cabs for seated operation similar to the Ae 6 / 6th The locomotive was scrapped in 1976. All still usable components were dismantled in the main workshop Bellinzona and canceled the remains in Biasca.

11852

The No. 11852 was a development of the No. 11851st During the drive, and the drives of 11851 corresponded, they were equipped with a new lightweight kit in futuristic for that time streamlined design. The locomotive made ​​at the same time is also a proof of performance of Swiss industry, which was issued by the Railway at the National Exhibition in 1939. From this stems the nickname Landi -Lok. With an hourly capacity of 8'170 kW it has long been the " most powerful locomotive in the world" and to this day the most powerful locomotive in the SBB. In operation, however, it soon became clear that the tensile force of the locomotive did not let take full advantage, because otherwise the hitches of cars torn ( see also Zughakenlast ). 1971 suffered the locomotive on a ride through the Gotthard tunnel a cable fire and was doing so badly damaged that repair is no longer out of the question. The locomotive was worked visually again, but is not operational. It is part of SBB Historic Foundation. Earlier, when the Museum of Transport had to contend with space problems, this Ae 8/14 was outdoors, next to the railway line Immensee - Lucerne, found where it was already versprayt of unknowns. Today, it is firmly integrated in the exhibition of the VHS. It is one of the few exhibits of VHS, which can be entered. It served his time as a " prototype " for the SBB Ae 4 /6, which is actually an half - Landi Lok medium without barrel.