SBB-CFF-FFS RABDe 8/16

RABDe 8/16 is the name of a Swiss railway vehicle.

These vehicles represented a logical development of the RABDe 12/12-Triebzüge; they were like the RABDe 12/12-Triebzüge designed for high acceleration for regional traffic, but reached this goal less high drive power, but on low weight. Four prototypes were built in 1970 ordered, but these were already retired in 1997 and now discontinued - the " Chiquita " so among those SBB vehicles with the shortest operating time.

The first drafts looked currently a three-piece train, say a ABDe 8/12. The EMU was still extended 2nd class during the construction of a drive- less intermediate cars. So he at when delivered as a four-piece train, the BB wheel arrangement had 2'2' 2'2' Bo'Bo. The trainsets had the original numbers from 1121 to 1124. Even when constructing the Zugseinheiten the carriage floors arc " like a banana " by why the trains were given the nickname " Chiquita ". With its unique violet- yellow paint and the completely new front they attracted many railway fans in its spell.

Design and technology

To the low weight of 149 t reach for a four-part train, the then revolutionary lightweight construction has been consistently used in aluminum. The vehicles were suffering but underneath that was missing the experience with this lightweight, it could even sagging of the car body can be observed with all the associated problems, mainly with the doors. These weaknesses meant that it remained in the four prototypes.

Regarding comfort for passengers put these vehicles new standards, mainly thanks to the deep and generous, automatic doors from the beginning. New was also the driving technique known as light and small DC motors are used, which could be operated continuously with a thyristor, in contrast to the rough stages of switches RABDe 12 /12. The bogies were consistent with the standard car III. Also automatic sliding doors were installed, which could be opened by pressing a button. When the doors open, a departure was not possible, and the doors were automatically locked while driving. The doors were also part - selectively enabled. The door wings were designed such that the running boards were covered with geschossener door.

A composition had 54 seats first and second class seats 224, the intermediate first-class carriage also had a luggage compartment.

Marketing experts SBB had the idea to designate all regional services such as NPZ - works, and the double-decker trains of the Zurich S -Bahn uniform. The driving and driving trailers of new commuter trains ( NPZ ) are outwardly a development of Chiquita. The swing doors were installed on the model of RABDe 8/16.

Deliveries; No 2001 January 27, 1976 No. 2002 May 18, 1976 No. 2003 13 April 1976 No. 2004 31 August 1976

Operation

The vehicles were not separated during operation. Because no high voltage cable was available through the train, both power cars were equipped with their own pantographs. They possessed also each have a driver's cab and via an automatic GF coupling. The vehicles possessed all about multi- controller, technically all four units could operate together, but what the platform length is normally not sufficient. Mechanically they were coupled with the RABDe 12 /12.

The Chiquita were used from 1976 on the right bank of Lake Zurich. The scheduled train trips were made ​​from the number 2001 on the line Zurich -mile Rapperswil on 1 February 1976. Due to massive problems especially with the door controller that did not work correctly due to the sagging of the car, they were later mainly on secondary lines in the circuit III ( East Switzerland ) operates. Winterthur used in control mode - Although it was known that with these train sets created significant problems in operation, it was last on the line of the schedule field 821 Stein am Rhein - Etzwilen. In 1990 and 1991 were two trainsets ( 2001 and 2003), the NPZ - coloring and have been revised. The trainset 2001, baptized in the new dress on the local church Kaltenbach- Etzwilen, as a new era on the track. The regular operation of the line was, however, considerably disturbed by the breakdown of railcars, so that the SBB saw in 1992 forced from one day to the other, to set all four trains out of service and write off all four inoperative. Instead of being subjected to a new revision every four trains were placed on sidings in Glarus in 1992 and 1993. Last SBB operating day was 7. January 1993.

From 24 August 1993 to July 1994, the unit was leased to the Mittelthurgaubahn 2003, then replaced by 2004 to December 1994. In each case, the middle car B was dequeued; AD, however, had to stay because it was home to a portion of the elevator control. September 30, 1997, all Chiquita were scrapped and canceled in 1998.