NGT6 1315

For the sake of completeness - this is what the 445 looked like: Click. I believe one of the reasons why it was never ordered was that the doors - especially on the driving trailers - were considered too narrow, thus unacceptably slowing down the passenger flow. However, I believe this issue mostly applied to suburban operations, for which the 445 was to be used as well. On regional workings, I personally would assume this to not have been much of a problem.

Also, the traction equipment was quite voluminous, taking up lots of valuable space above the bogies, which I think could and would be done differently nowadays. Being a prototype, the 445 used many off-the-shelf components also fitted to locomotives, where of course passenger space is not a requirement.

Whoah! Autocouplings? Are DB planning to take NS's lead and fit some locos with auto couplings for push-pull operations?

I haven't heard of the DB going quite that far yet. However, far as I did read thus far, the idea is to also offer powered driving trailers (!) so as to allow the formation of what would essentially be multiple units with a variable number of intermediate trailers - for which I think auto couplers on the cab ends would make quite a bit of sense. This, of course, would constitute a kind of revival of the class 445 "Meridian" EMU which never went beyond the prototype stage. Of course, I guess those powered driving trailers could also be used as booster units of sorts for loco-hauled formations, provided they would be fitted with the same MU control package.

Hi Dominik, I don't mean the "early DB" 761s and 762s, I mean in the following post you link to the same pic of a 766 twice rather than showing the latest Bombardier product!

*facepalm* You're right . Well, let's try this again:

Click.

Hi Dominik, in the rake of the cab I'm purely comparing model to prototype.

Oh, I see. That I haven't been able to compare as of yet.

And I think you've done my trick and given the same link twice where you meant to give two different ones!

You mean the bit with the 761 and 762 series? There are some differences between these two types, although they pretty much look alike. Looking at the type designation, the 761 series one has the following properties:

D = double deck

B = 2nd class

b = provisions for handicapped passengers

z = ETS power supply

f = driving trailer with TDM controls and/or 36-pole command cable

Meanwhile, the 762 series has these:

D = double deck

AB = 1st and 2nd class

p = open coach with central aisle and air conditioning

b = provisions for handicapped passengers

z = ETS power supply

f = driving trailer with TDM controls and/or 36-pole command cable

Also note the different placement of the ventilation grilles towards both the cab and vestibule end on the upper level, as well as the different window layout on the upper level.

Perhaps I should have pointed this out in my previous posting...my apologies . I'm still quite groggy from hauling furniture till late last night and the subsequent drive back from Koblenz.

I see you replaced the link, Rich . I understand you were meaning to compare these refurbished Dostos to the Bombardier ones, such as this 766 series driving trailer? From what I can tell (having seen both types in parallel around Leipzig), the front actually is a bit less raked on the 778 series.

I know what you mean about the number of different dosto designs, I keep thinking I should buy the book I've seen about them, but I have a feeling the story ain't over yet.

I agree with your feeling - have you seen this Bombardier press photo of the newest generation yet?

Click

The front closely resembles that of the class 442 "Talent" EMUs, including crash protection elements according to the newest UIC specifications.

But ouch the cab on the DBmq776 looks like a total after thought! Asthetic design wasn't top of the brief with that one. A former DR design I guess?

Yes, that's the original DR cab design, and I agree that it looks, well, ugly . Interestingly, the 760 series driving trailers have cabs which are mostly identical to those on the class 143 electrics, including the speed control function, thus providing additional driver comfort.

Never ceases to amaze me how many different designs of double deck stock there are in Germany. I'm most familiar with the

Munich, Landshut, Muhldorf and Passau areas on Germany (I have family there) and the driving cars in use there are different again.

I guess you were referring to the 761 and 762 series driving trailers as well? Far as I remember these were first introduced in Bavaria. They can also work with class 218 diesels, which is why I suspected you were referring to them when you mentioned Mühldorf.

Okay - I thought as much, but wanted to ask just in case you were meaning to make a point which I missed .

Shortcuts or otherwise, it certainly looks the part. Without going into any great detail, the only thing that gives me any cause for concern in the basic model is that perhaps the cab isn't raked back far enough. Have a look at the prototype to see whether you agree.

I'm not quite sure what you are referring to here, Rich - the 778 series and 760 series driving trailers (the latter of which you linked to here) are, in fact, that different in their external appearance, with the 778s having been given a cab front based on that of the Bombardier double deckers.

Yes, indeed - it must be particularly devastating when you only just repaired the damage from the last flood .

I like James' idea of the main article going in the blog with an excerpt and teaser picture. Having them all in one place to drool over refer to would be great.

Yes, I think that's how I'll do it from now on. Thanks for all your feedback thus far, guys!

Jamie - yes, that's basically another way of describing what I was meaning to say about my intention .

How about posting them in the blog, and then just posting a photo and an excerpt with a link to the blog in the overseas section?

 

You could also add a custom box in the blog on the right hand side to act as a sort of catalog or index

Those are good ideas, James - I think I'll do that. I'll need to look into that custom box thing first of all, though.

By the way, Rich, there currently are some Karlsruhe driving trailers on German Ebay. Most have the mint green livery from the late Bundesbahn and early DB AG years.

Those parts certainly add a lot to the look and feel of your trackwork - any trackwork, of course . Must keep that in mind if I should ever build a layout of my own!

I could have a try to find out about the placement of all those bits on real double slips - though, looking at Frankfurt Central, they are usually quite a bit into the track field and more or less difficult to make out from the platforms. Not sure if there were any differences in placing all those parts between the Bundesbahn and Reichsbahn, but I guess it could still be helpful.

Perhaps the following (German) site might be helpful as well: http://www.gleisbau-welt.de/

Ah, I see - or should I say, I remembered that 212 in the meantime.

Sounds interesting, Rich . What are you planning to use as motive power for the Silberling rake?

Looks good, Rich . For additional inspiration I could recommend the weathering jobs of a gentleman called Jürgen who posts on Drehscheibe Online's modelling board as "Speziguzi" and who also has a web site at http://www.speziguzi.de/ . He's done several V 100s as well which all look very nice!

Well, having checked back I was told the Bundesbahn logo and name are not protected as trademarks at this time, but the DR ones are. Interestingly, the rights for the green DR logo is held by a DB subsidiary, while the rights for the grey logo are held by a private person.

As a follow-up - from what I heard in the meantime, about three quarters of the class 440 fleet for Würzburg will be ready for service by about mid-June.

TBH, I do not know what the story with these lookalike logos might be, but I will try to find out whether there might indeed be legal issues, as you suggested.

Hi Dominik,

 

I always thoroughly enjoy your photo reports- they contain so much more information than most. Keep 'em coming!

Thanks for the compliment - and I will certainly do my best!

Yes, that livery did look good - but only until they removed the "GODS" inscription, if you ask me.

Now to get the loco pantographs to change ends.....

That must be the most tricky part indeed! Roco will be releasing a West German 110 with DCC functional pans later this year, the reference number being 62350 - so if you have sufficient skill I could imagine you might try obtaining this mechanism and adapting it to your engine. I am not aware of any such mechanism existing as a dedicated aftermarket add-on kit at this time, though.

Apologies for hijacking this blog post, Rich .

Sounds like you had an eventful trip then .

I was indeed skulking around Koblenz on Saturday - not sure exactly of times, but if you saw six men with a girl then it's probably us!

Oh dear, Koblenz Central was so busy that day - I really cannot remember whether I may have seen you . But if you saw a guy in a light jacket, dark blue trousers and with a DB rucksack as well as a Sony DSLR, that would have been me.

Nice snaps Dominik!

Funnily enough your photos at Koblenz are very similar to mine, perhaps we wandered past each other at somepoint...

Now that would be a coincidence . Were you there on Saturday?

But in any case - I'd like to see your photos if you have them ready to upload!

Yeah, I needed some time to get oriented at Koblenz Central. All the construction work going on there at this time does not exactly make this any easier, though!

Apparently there has been a steam event along the Mosel over the Easter weekend, but I did not see any of that at Koblenz. There were several other railfans at the station - one of them asked me whether I knew anything about a steam special which was supposed to call there, but unfortunately I could not help him.