The Re 6/6

[RhBBob]

The Swiss dispensed with steam traction relatively early, having discovered the benefits of hydroelectric power.

 

They learned from the disruption caused by the Great War and a lack of local coal supplies

[eastwestdivide]

"We go logistics". English as she is spoke.

Aber Englisch ist super-cool.

Back to the matter in hand, what's the best way to tell the different 6/6 s apart from a distance? Pertinent question as I'm just recovering from a day taking photos round Wassen with temperatures at 33 degrees. Tough job but someone has to do it. 

@?!;+ these tablet touch screens are slow and awkward.

Grüezi.

[Guest oldlugger]

It's was 34°C here in the south of France today and still about 29 at 8.20 this evening! Not sure how to distinguish different Re 6/6s from a distance apart from livery?

Edited June 18, 2013 by oldlugger

[Mike at C&M]

Back to the matter in hand, what's the best way to tell the different 6/6 s apart from a distance? 

If you mean telling the Re6/6s from the Ae6/6s, the Re6/6s have 4 bodyside windows between the cab doors, the Ae6/6s have a series of small grills and windows.

[RhBBob]

If you mean telling the Re6/6s from the Ae6/6s, the Re6/6s have 4 bodyside windows between the cab doors, the Ae6/6s have a series of small grills and windows.

 

And Ae 6/6 have two triple axle bogies whereas Re 6/6 have three doubles.  And they even had some with radio control which meant they became Ref 6/6, before they all got renumbered as Re 620.

 

I am studying for my nerd exams and I must really get out more......   Worse, I am going to Switzerland in July with my long-suffering non-railway-interested missus  

[eastwestdivide]

Thanks people. Will report back in a week or so with pics if the camera doesn't melt in the meantime. 

[Irishswissernie]

The first two 11601 & 1602 have split bodies as it was thought this was needed to assist the passage of the locomotive through curves'/gradient changes. These fears proved to be groundless so the remainder have normal bodywork.

11601 to 11604 appeared to be for a time allocated to working passenger trains over the Gottard before the splitting of the locomotive fleet and I seem to remember 11601/2 were stored for a time so possibly their electrical equipment is/was also different from the remainder.l

[Guest oldlugger]

Nice photos Ernie. There is an HO Swiss model manufacturer, although I can't remember the name, producing high quality brass models of the first two Re 6/6 locos with the articulated body. Not cheap as you can imagine. It's not the old Hag model, I hasten to add, which was just a vague representation of these machines, and in something approximating to OO rather than HO. I have the Roco version of the production locos (in green, naturally) and very nice it is too!

 

Cheers

Simon

Edited June 19, 2013 by oldlugger

[Guest oldlugger]

A plan of the prototype Re 6/6s "Morges" and "Wolhusen";-

 

http://www.bahnorama.ch/catalog/popup_image.php?pID=12133

[Guest oldlugger]

And here's the model that I mentioned above; I think it's now available. Also, it seems that Hag are planning to produce an all new model of the prototype Re 6/6s:-

 

http://www.roundhouse.ch/EMB/EMB_Re-66.htm

 

Many continental HO manufacturers are capable of producing outstanding bodies and bogies on their models, but the wheel profiles are a different matter in the majority of cases. It would be nice to convert the Roco Re 6/6 to P87 for example.

Edited June 19, 2013 by oldlugger

[eastwestdivide]

As promised, a few pics from last week. Mostly, I saw them paired with a 4/4, sometimes with another 4/4 banking the train up to Göschenen. Only occasionally singly. Most were in the plain red livery, but a few in the blue/red Cargo livery. Didn't see any on passenger workings.

 

Wassen:

 

Just below Göschenen:

 

Just below Göschenen:

 

Göschenen:

Edited June 25, 2013 by eastwestdivide

[Mallard60022]

Nice ones matey.

P

[Satan's Goldfish]

Don't know how I've missed this (admittedly now 5 years old) thread before?! Some great pictures there chaps, useful to see how recently the RE 6/6 could be seen on passenger duties, very much liking the one paired with the 'Swiss Express' orange RE 4/4. Can't help but feel 10,000hp on a stopping service is a little overkill...

 

Kinda related, does anyone know when the AE 6/6 stopped being used on passenger services?

 

Ta

[cornish trains jez]

Evening,

 

Cracking topic and a great selection of photos of a legendary loco.

thanks for posting!

 

Best regards,

 

Jeremy