RhB Elektrolok Ge 4/4 II | Gauge G - Article No. 28441

RhB Class Ge 4/4 II Electric Locomotive

The Ge 4/4 II 629 as an Advertising Medium for the New Construction of the Albula Tunnel. Since 2008, the 5,864 meter / 3.66 mile long Albula Tunnel on the route Chur – Thusis – St. Moritz has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage "Rhaetian Railroad in the Albula / Bernina Region." It was placed into operation in 1903 and is now in poor condition. The planning of the new tunnel had to take extensive account of the importance of monument preservation with respect to all changes in the appearance of both the surface landscaping and the facilities. After the new Albula Tunnel II, which runs parallel to the old tunnel, is placed into service, the existing tunnel will be taken out of operation and converted to a safety tunnel.

$ 6 H K E F J G
RhB Class Ge 4/4 II Electric Locomotive
RhB Class Ge 4/4 II Electric Locomotive

Most Important Facts

Article No. 28441
Gauge / Design type G /
Era VI
Kind Electric Locomotives
Article not produced anymore.
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  • Product description

    This is a model of the Rhaetian Railroad class Ge 4/4 II electric locomotive, road number 629, in a special paint scheme for the new construction of the Albula Tunnel in the Grisons. The paint and lettering are prototypical for Era VI. All four wheelsets are driven by two powerful Bühler motors. The locomotive has an mfx/DCC decoder with many light and sound functions. The pantographs are powered by motors and can be controlled digitally. Length over the buffers 57 cm / 22-7/16".

    The running sounds will also work in analog operation.

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    Spare parts for our articles can be found here in our spare parts search.

    One-time production in 2017.

  • Publications

    - New items brochure 2017 - Catalog 2017 - Catalog 2018
  • Prototype information

    LGB 28441 – Rhaetian Railroad Ge 4/4 II 629 Electric Locomotive At the end of the 1960s the Rhaetian Railroad urgently needed new electric locomotives for its core network mostly to replace old units from the period of electrification, but also to add to the roster due to increases in service. The RhB's management advisory committee decided at the beginning of September 1970 to purchase 10 modern class Ge 4/4 II thyristor locomotives with road numbers 611-620. They were built by the Swiss Locomotive and Machinery Company (SLM) in Winterthur (the mechanical part) and by Brown Boveri & Cie (BBC) in Baden (the electrical part). Their external appearance was quite similar to the standard gauge SBB class Re 4/4 II locomotives. There were by contrast clear differences in the electrical part: Phase control with controlled rectifiers built up using thyristors and diodes supplied the traction motors with pulsating direct current. A special feature was the low mounted drawbars and cable equipment to compensate for the lower weight of the trucks. Together with the ingenious control of the pulsating current traction motors, this guaranteed optimal adhesion utilization. In line with the level of technology at that time, the locomotives also had electrical resistance braking. Due to the strong growth in traffic, the RhB placed a subsequent series of 13 units in service between February of 1984 and January of 1985. This add-on series was largely identical to the first series and bore the road numbers 621-633. An add-on series of the class Ge 4/4 II allowed chiefly savings in maintenance costs and reserve parts. Several components were however adapted to the current level of technology. For the first time the locomotives had the red RhB paint scheme that is still in use today. This scheme was also applied to the green units of the first series as they came in for all the possible overhauls. Starting in 1999, new rectangular headlights were installed when locomotives came in for major maintenance, and between 2004 and 2008 all 23 units underwent a modernization program in which a modern computer-supported control technology replaced the analog control electronics. The RhB soon also recognized the potential of these locomotives as an advertising medium and a memorable advertising message has since adorned the locomotive bodies of more than half of the roster. Among them is the current Ge 4/4 II 629 that is now running as the advertising medium for the new construction of the Albula Tunnel and all the firms involved in the construction.

Warning

ATTENTION: adults only