SBB RBe 540 036-1

RBe 4/4, RBe 540

Data Photographed Locomotive
Road number: 036-1

Operation
Years of construction: 1959, 1963-1966
Road numbers (old): RBe 4/4 1401-1482
Road numbers (UIC): RBe 540 006-079
Quantity built: 82
Quantity today: 78 (2000)
Application: commuter and S-Bahn traffic
Maintenance work: Yverdon and Bellinzona
Scrapped: 4 due to accidents and 3 to old age

Technical data
Vehicle type: electric multiple unit
Manufacturer: SIG Neuhausen, BBC Baden, MFO Zürich
Wheel arrangement: Bo'Bo'
Top speed: 125 kph
Continuous power: 1'998 kW
Continous traction: 89 kN
Starting tractive effort: 167 kN
Power system: 15 kV 16,7 Hz
Gauge: 1435 mm

Mass and weight
Length over buffer: 23'700 mm
Weight: 72 tons
Sitting places: 60

Other
Owner: SBB CFF FFS (Schweizerische Bundesbahnen), SBB Cargo
Operator: SBB CFF FFS (Schweizerische Bundesbahnen), SBB Cargo
Predecessors: BDe 4/4, Be 4/6, De 4/4
Successors: RBDe 560, Re 450

Location: Langenthal, Switzerland

Note: Starting in 1959, the SBB-CFF-FFS put motored coaches of the type RBe 540 (old designation RBe 4/4) into service for push-pull operation on the Gotthard line. As a consequence, they had much power at their disposal, even more than the Re 4/4 I locomotives, a regenerative brake, cabs on both ends with doors to passenger carriages as well as multiple-unit train control (SBB Vst III), which is compatible with the Bt and NPZ control cars, as well as the locomotives of the Re 420 series (Re 4/4II = Re 420, Re 421, Re 4/4III), Re 4/4 IV and Re 620. They originally had 64 seats, 32 smoking and 32 non-smoking, and were painted in ordinary SBB-CFF-FFS green.

The first six prototypes, each costing six million francs, were delivered 1959 and 1960, and first shown to the press at the 24th May 1959. The prototypes had some issues which were fixed until the series production. The series units were four tonnes heavier, and 76 units were ordered, which were put into service between 1963 and 1966.

Here you see the so called "jail-train" for prisoner transports, the waggon behind the tramcar is a jail with full security
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