Rhaetian Railway Ge 2/4

The Rhaetian Railway Ge 2/4 was a class of metre gauge 1′B1′ electric locomotives formerly operated by the Rhaetian Railway (RhB), which is the main railway network in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. Four members of the class are now preserved, with one of them in operational condition.

The class was so named under the Swiss locomotive and railcar classification system. According to that system, Ge 2/4 denotes a narrow gauge electric adhesion locomotive with a total of four axles, two of which are drive axles.

Technical details

As delivered

In 1912-1913, the Rhaetian Railway purchased seven examples of the Ge 2/4, numbered 201 to 207, for the newly constructed and electrified Engadin line. The 8.7-metre (29 ft) long locomotives had a top speed of 45 kilometres per hour (28 mph) and a power output of 228 kilowatts (306 hp). They also weighed 36.7 tonnes (36.1 long tons; 40.5 short tons). Their mechanical components were manufactured by the Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works (SLM), while Brown, Boveri & Cie (BBC) furnished the electrical components. To drive the Ge 2/4s, repulsion motors were used, as these motors were characterised by a high torque and shock-fee startup.

Rebuilds

Between 1943 and 1946, three Ge 2/4 machines were rebuilt as shunting locomotives, with a central driver's cab. In the vernacular, they then received the name Bügeleisen (flat iron). The rebuilt locomotives were given the numbers Ge 2/4 211 to 213, their service weight was reduced to 33 tonnes (32 long tons; 36 short tons), and their top speed increased to 55 kilometres per hour (34 mph).

In 1945 and 1946, two further Ge 2/4s were rebuilt. These two machines, renumbered as Ge 2/4 221 and 222 were not outwardly altered, but their weight was reduced to only 30 tonnes (30 long tons; 33 short tons), their power output was increased to 450 kilowatts (600 hp), and their top speed also increased to 55 kilometres per hour (34 mph). They then soon began rendering service as pilot locomotives on the Albula Railway.

Preservation

The two unrebuilt locomotives, numbered 205 and 207, are both still in existence.

No. 205 stood until November 2007 as a memorial locomotive in front of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences in Winterthur. Originally, this locomotive was intended to be a part of the planned Albula railway museum. The Rhaetian Railway's preservation society, Club 1889, is currently investigating other means of displaying the locomotive in the open air, but shielded from the weather, after completion of ongoing restoration work. Meanwhile, no. 207 can be seen on display at the Swiss Transport Museum in Lucerne.

The last remaining example of the first three rebuilt locomotives (Ge 2/4 212) was withdrawn from service as recently as 2006, and is also now preserved. It has been transformed back into its original 1940s condition, and sold to a private company that wants to set up the locomotive outside a planned model railway layout in Fribourg.

Ge 2/4 no. 222 from the second batch of rebuilds is the fourth preserved example of the class; it is based in Landquart, and is to be placed into service on the Rhaetian Railway as a heritage locomotive.

List of locomotives

See also

• History of rail transport in Switzerland
• Rail transport in Switzerland

References

• Belloncle, Patrick (2005). Das grosse Buch der Rhätischen Bahn: 1889–2001 [The Big Book of the Rhaetian Railway: 1889–2001]. Kerzers: Edition Viafer. ISBN 3952249408.  (German)
• Finke, Wolfgang; Schweers, Hans (1998). Die Fahrzeuge der Rhätischen Bahn. Band 3 Lokomotiven, Triebwagen, Traktoren 1889–1998 [The Motive Power of the Rhaetian Railway Vol 3 Locomotives, Railcars, Tractors 1889–1998]. Aachen: Verlag Schweers + Wall. ISBN 3894941057.  (German)
• Jeanmaire, Claude (1995). Die elektrischen und Diesel-Triebfahrzeuge schweizerischer Eisenbahnen 13 Rhätische Bahn: Stammnetz - Triebfahrzeuge; umfassende Darstellung des historischen Rollmaterials: Lokomotiven, Triebwagen, Traktoren, Dienstfahrzeuge [The Electric and Diesel Motive Power of the Swiss Railways 13 Rhaetian Railway: Core Network - Comprehensive Presentation of the Heritage Rolling Stock: Locomotives, Railcars, Tractors, Service Vehicles]. Villigen: AG Verl. Eisenbahn. ISBN 3856492194.  (German)

This article is based upon a translation of the German-language version, and includes some information taken from the Japanese-language version, as at January 2010.

Rolling stock of the Rhaetian Railway (RhB)
Steam locomotives	G 3/4 G 2x2/2 G 2/2+2/3 G 2/3+2/2 G 4/5
Electric locomotives	Ge 2/2 Ge 3/3 Ge 2/4 Ge 4/4 I Ge 4/4 II Ge 4/4 III Ge 4/6 Ge 6/6 I Ge 6/6 II Ge 4/4 181 Ge 4/4 182
Electro-diesel locomotives	Gem 4/4
Diesel locomotives	Gm 3/3 Gm 4/4 Gmf 4/4
Railcars	ABe 4/4 (core network) Be 4/4 AB(D)e 4/4 (Arosa) ABe 4/4 I ABe 4/4 II ABe 4/4 III ABe 8/12 ABe 4/16 De 2/2
Tractors	Te 2/2 Tm 2/2 Tmf 2/2
Snow blowers	Xrotd Xrote Xrotm
Passenger cars	ABt BDt Einheitswagen I Einheitswagen II Einheitswagen III Einheitswagen IV Panoramawagen Schwerer Stahlwagen Aussichtswagen