Running Bear's September 2024 Coffee Shop

[KriegslokBR52]

The other day I posted about one of my favorite electric locomotives, the Siemens ES 64 U2/U4, aka "Taurus" from the Siemens EuroSprinter family. This is a popular locomotive in Europe and is also a base for the US ACS-64 CitiesSprinter. I mentioned I wanted to also post about my other favorite electric locomotive. This is the Adtranz/Bombardier/Alstom DB Class 101 and TRAXX family.

The DB Class 101 was developed from work done on earlier locomotives with three phase systems by ABB and Henschel, and AEG, who merged their work into a company eventually called AdTranz (Hopefully I got that right -- Daimler Benze railway dividsion was also involved). The DB Class 101 was developed for InterCity Passenger service to replace the aging Class 103 high speed locomotives (103 is a classic and one of the most beautiful locomotives from the second half of the 20th Century). It was developed by ABB Henschel.

(My avatar is one of my model DB Class 101 -- My Fleischmann one. I also now have a Minitrix version).

We can read about the DB Class 101 here:

DB Class 101 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Lots of pics here: https://www.elektrolokarchiv.de/index.php?nav=1410913&lang=1

About the same time Adtranz developed the DB Class 145 for freight services. It was similar to the DB 101 but eliminated certain features that were not necessary to freight. A version was developed called the Class 146 for passenger service

DBAG Class 145 and 146 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Elektrische Lokomotiven aus europäischer Produktion

Trains and locomotive database and news portal about modern electric locomotives, made in Europe.

www.elektrolokarchiv.de

These were single voltage only used in Germany

Further development of the DB Class 145 resulted in the DB Classs 185 with dual voltage support and this became the AdTranz TRAXX family. Bombardier bought AdTranz in 2001 so it became the Bombardier TRAXX family. There have been multiple generations of the TRAXX family covering multi voltages, AC and DC, multi enginer (electric and diesel), etc.

Alstom Traxx - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Elektrische Lokomotiven aus europäischer Produktion

Trains and locomotive database and news portal about modern electric locomotives, made in Europe.

www.elektrolokarchiv.de

Elektrische Lokomotiven aus europäischer Produktion

Trains and locomotive database and news portal about modern electric locomotives, made in Europe.

www.elektrolokarchiv.de

Elektrische Lokomotiven aus europäischer Produktion

Trains and locomotive database and news portal about modern electric locomotives, made in Europe.

www.elektrolokarchiv.de

Elektrische Lokomotiven aus europäischer Produktion

Trains and locomotive database and news portal about modern electric locomotives, made in Europe.

www.elektrolokarchiv.de

Elektrische Lokomotiven aus europäischer Produktion

Trains and locomotive database and news portal about modern electric locomotives, made in Europe.

www.elektrolokarchiv.de

The family encompasses many different variations on AC powered locomotives, usually supporting multiple systems for cross border use, as well as DC and multi engine that have electric and diesel for use where there is no electric service (DB Class 245 is an example).

One of my favorites is the TRAXX AC3 family which includes the DB Class 147, which is a long distance passenger service locomotive that is replacing the aging DB 101 (it's grandfather), and teh related DB Clas 146. I have a couple DB Class 147 and Class 146 locomotives and they are amongst my favorite.

TRAXX of various sorts are used all over Europe, both for passenger server and freight service, with different models in the family designed for passenger or freight use.

This brings us to the US versions of these.

The ALP-46 locomotive, used by NJT (New Jersey Transit), is derived from the DB Class 101. The later version ALP-46a is derived from the DB Class 101 and the TRAXX family, with upgrades coming from the TRAXX developments. The ALP-46a looks the same but has upgraded more powerful electrical systems with newer tech inverters etc.

Bombardier ALP-46 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Elektrische Lokomotiven aus europäischer Produktion

Trains and locomotive database and news portal about modern electric locomotives, made in Europe.

www.elektrolokarchiv.de

There is also the "Dual Power" projects based on the ALP-46a and TRAXX family. The US version being the ALP-45DP. A version was also used in Canada.

Bombardier ALP-45DP - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Elektrische Lokomotiven aus europäischer Produktion

Trains and locomotive database and news portal about modern electric locomotives, made in Europe.

www.elektrolokarchiv.de

There are also TRAXX family locomotives in South Africa, Brazil, Russia, etc. Developed for those markets but using TRAXX family systems and technology.

I like the Traxx family locomotives, including of course the Americanised New Jersey Transit ones. I think the Taurus/Sprinter family electrics are just plain ugly, both the Euro version which kind of looks like a caricature of 1950s European bus styling...except the busses with the properly spaced round headlights were very pretty to look at. The Americanised CitiesSprinter is no better;

They tried to I guess give it that popular now "angry boy" look just like on many cars, and it just doesn't work very well on a locomotive. When you look from the side, that buffer beam sticks out by almost a foot from where the lower body curves and it doesn't form a nice flowing line. All pictures are taken by me btw. The HHL8 was so much more handsome in my opinion. The body lines are flowing into one piece;

My personal favorites of modern American electrics is the AEM7 and it's later development the ALP44. Those things were just elegant and they had excellent proportions.

Of course the original scheme for Amtrak "Meatball" is the prettiest with the blue skirt going all the way down. I will not get into the styling of the GG1 here, because that's a whole another subject. Of the recent designs the E60 comes to mind as something boxy, but not having this "trying too hard" (aka CitiesSprinter) styling:

The reason I included this six axle monster here is because they were still in service when New Jersey Transit was getting ALP46 and it was possible to see those two designs side by side. Unlike the City Sprinter though, the E60 had a "more natural" mean look and it made incredibly cool sounds while pulling 16,17 and even seen once 19 car trains by itself.

 

[Bill Tidler Jr.]

Good morning! It's 66° in Tipton.

 

[kbkchooch]

Good morning gang!

61° and cloudy out there with a predicted high of 68° later with rain starting around noon.

BBL

 

[chadbag]

I like the Traxx family locomotives, including of course the Americanised New Jersey Transit ones. I think the Taurus/Sprinter family electrics are just plain ugly, both the Euro version which kind of looks like a caricature of 1950s European bus styling...except the busses with the properly spaced round headlights were very pretty to look at. The Americanised CitiesSprinter is no better;

We can agree to disagree of course.

I think the European Taurus (ES 64 U2/U4) is really cool looking. I'm not so fond of the US versions so much. The European Taurus has plain square lights. Not the automotive bad boy looking lights of the ACS-64.

The TRAXX family has a lot of different looks, the freight versions being a bit plainer. I like the DB Class 147 of all of them the best.

Category:DBAG Class 147 - Wikimedia Commons

commons.wikimedia.org

Of course the AEM-7 is a Swedish electric locomotive derivative -- Rc4

In the pic below the 2 labeled 13xx are Rc4 and the other one is an Rc2, which is evidently similar.

SJ Rc - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[traiNscale]

hello everyone

first, wish you all a great start in the week!

- airport ZRH is up and running smooth.
- cloudy and "cold" outside
- printer migration running also smooth, tomorrow last day.

well this weekend i had some time (not that much i was hoping) so i did my best. that means i could install my laser cutter (finally).
Oh boy thats a beast! Of course i had to test what i could do with this. so i painted a building side for my H0 Shelflayout.
Was a pretty quick drawing after i figured out the software (lightburn). The Cutter did a great job. took around 5 mins to cut everything.

Now that i have installed the cutter, i get some space back. that means making clean desk everywhere and start getting back to building layouts woohoo!

 

[KriegslokBR52]

We can agree to disagree of course.

I think the European Taurus (ES 64 U2/U4) is really cool looking. I'm not so fond of the US versions so much. The European Taurus has plain square lights. Not the automotive bad boy looking lights of the ACS-64.

The TRAXX family has a lot of different looks, the freight versions being a bit plainer. I like the DB Class 147 of all of them the best.

Category:DBAG Class 147 - Wikimedia Commons

commons.wikimedia.org

Of course the AEM-7 is a Swedish electric locomotive derivative -- Rc4

In the pic below the 2 labeled 13xx are Rc4 and the other one is an Rc2, which is evidently similar.

SJ Rc - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Those Rc4 and the whole Rc family are really pretty looking electrics. From what I understand, the Austrian versions were bought back by the Swedish (?)

 

[chadbag]

Those Rc4 and the whole Rc family are really pretty looking electrics. From what I understand, the Austrian versions were bought back by the Swedish (?)

I've not researched it. Only read that they're still in use in Sweden and I saw that they were used in Austria. They looked familiar to me but I did not realize the Austrian locomotives were the same (and not just similar same generation).

Looking at Wikipedia it says: " ÖBB bought 10 Rc2 with extra brakes for the alpine conditions, ÖBB Class 1043. One of the locos was badly damaged in an accident but the remaining nine have been bought by the Swedish company Tågåkeriet i Bergslagen AB (TÅGAB), and returned to Sweden."

For those wondering ÖBB is the Austrian national railways -- Österreichische Bundesbahnen.

It also says the Rc4 in altered form was sold to Norway and a further modified Rc4 to Iran. Plus the Amtrak AEM-7 derivative. Those Swedes get around.

 

[Smudge617]

 

[KriegslokBR52]

I've not researched it. Only read that they're still in use in Sweden and I saw that they were used in Austria. They looked familiar to me but I did not realize the Austrian locomotives were the same (and not just similar same generation).

Looking at Wikipedia it says: " ÖBB bought 10 Rc2 with extra brakes for the alpine conditions, ÖBB Class 1043. One of the locos was badly damaged in an accident but the remaining nine have been bought by the Swedish company Tågåkeriet i Bergslagen AB (TÅGAB), and returned to Sweden."

For those wondering ÖBB is the Austrian national railways -- Österreichische Bundesbahnen.

It also says the Rc4 in altered form was sold to Norway and a further modified Rc4 to Iran. Plus the Amtrak AEM-7 derivative. Those Swedes get around.

I have not been fortunate enought to witness any Rc locomotives, but I remember my very first encounter with an AEM7 and I immediately liked those locomotives. It was in 1986 and my dad was driving my brother and I to Connecticut to see our Aunt. We were on I95 and that triangular catenary on former New Haven mainline also made a huge impression on me. From the North came this black, silver, red white and blue exotic electric with flutted body, with equaly exotic looking Amfleet coaches (i was born and raised in Poland and trains there during the communist times were not as colorful).

 

[Patrick]

Morning all,

56° degrees this morning with a high of 71° later. Supposed to remain cloudy most of the day with a chance of hit or miss (mostly miss) rain.

BBL

 

[bnsf971]

Good morning. It’s 74 and mostly clear. I’m heading to the DMV office in a bit to turn in the license plate from the truck, so I can take it off my insurance.

 

[TLOC]

Good morning from Phoenix. I failed (as expected) even though I studied the sleep apnea test. I tried to explain to the lab techs as they were wheeling me away to the dreaded MRI test at 4:30am that I sleep best from 4 to 6. The girl just laughed. She said we knew 20 minutes after you started sleeping you have sleep apnea! I found a way to get through the MRI. Take one at 4am when I am still groggy with a full drip bag of arazapam and I don’t get an anxiety attack. Plus, this one was less than 30 minutes. Stress test, chemically induced is next! Then another scan with more arazapam in a drip. No food as I am attached to a bag on a pole at least until noonish or about 6 hours away

On my sheet at entry they asked me as a diabetic. What food do you take knowing that will increase your glucose levels the highest before sleep? I wrote a M&M McFlurry or a Culver’s Concrete mixer Heath bar! I had a McFlurry at 9pm after glucose readings were taken. They took away my CGM monitor and wired me up to one twice as big. It’s still a continuous glucose monitor but its WiFi into the devices set up into my room/lab/apartment instead of my phone.

Oh boy they are here for me! Bye

 

[santafewillie]

Good Morning All. It's raining and is 68°. Finally some rain, at 0430 there was 1.1" in the rain gauge, first significant rain here since August 10. I won't have to add more water to the pool now, just hoping that what's there doesn't cool off too much under the cloudy skies today.

The usual shortened Sunday yesterday. I did odds & ends around the yard after church and dipped into the pool twice. Since I can't do anything outside this morning, I will remove the refrigerator door and replace the broken parts. Unless something goes wrong, it will take longer to remove everything from the shelves on the door and replace them than it will to actually do the repair. Door has to be removed and laid out on the kitchen table - the bearings on the bottom hinge are broken. I've had the parts for a few days now.

Out in the train shed yesterday, my modeling mojo returned. I picked out a small spot on the lower level that has remained unscenicked for a while. It's a scale 35' x 55' lot, sandwiched between Earl's Oil and Metropolitan Scrap Metal; with the main line running along the back of the lot.

I have thought for some time about what I could put there. Theoretically there is an off-layout road running along the front and years ago I considered adding a fireworks stand there. But Earl objected!
Then it was a tossup between either a small community park or just a vacant lot. The vacant lot won due to the noise from the metal shredder and crusher at the scrap yard to the north.
I got a start on things yesterday.

Next I'll add some trees along the back next to the ROW, some weeds, some empty 55 gallon drums and other details from the box, some scrap newspapers and some critters. And of course a "For Sale" sign. My modeled era is not conducive to a homeless encampment, although I have a hidden hobo camp elsewhere

Joe - Your description of your mother and her listening habits, pretty much describes those of my maternal grandmother. As a prank once, my grandfather changed the station on her radio and it she didn't know where to look for it! He relented and put it back after getting his supper heavily seasoned with black pepper 2 nights in a row.
Hughie - Belated Happy Birthday to your wife.
Mike - Get well soon.
Karl - The week's not starting off too well for you. Hope that it is nothing too serious with your back.

Bruce Springsteen is 75 today, the late Ray Charles would have been 94 if he hadn't died in 2004.
Everyone have a great Monday. Alas! The rain appears to be over.

 

[santafewillie]

I failed (as expected) even though I studied the sleep apnea test.

I believe that everybody who takes the apnea test fails!

 

[D&J RailRoad]

I believe that everybody who takes the apnea test fails!

I know of a few Marines who are receiving 100% disability for sleep apnea caused by active duty. I don't know how true they might be, but....

 

[migalyto]

Good morning all!

A cool 57 degrees out there heading up to only 72 degrees. It will be nice to have the bedroom windows open again to have that cool fall air. Looks like nothing above 75 degrees for the next 10 days or so. Supposedly going to get a little more rain tonight.

Feeling quite a bit better today, yesterday morning was hopefully the peak, and now I'm on the downhill of whatever it was.

Have a great Monday everyone!

 

[Boris]

Joe - Your description of your mother and her listening habits, pretty much describes those of my maternal grandmother. As a prank once, my grandfather changed the station on her radio and it she didn't know where to look for it! He relented and put it back after getting his supper heavily seasoned with black pepper 2 nights in a row.

Mom went so far as to disable the tuner. (She cut the string that ran from the knob to the tuner)...Dad, removed the screws that held the radio to the outer case so he could tune in the Phillies games. He would "forget" to restore it, causing anxiety the next morning. . At the time, it was the only working radio in the house.

 

[Boris]

I believe that everybody who takes the apnea test fails!

I believe you're right about that, Willie.

 

[NYC_George]

Thinking about not wanting to make Ralph Lauren coffee when I was part of the crew remolding his 27-room mansion and some of the comments here. That would be like when the crew came to install 6 windows in my house, and I asked one of the workers make me some coffee. I told his people if he wanted some coffee stop somewhere along the way and get it and buy all the workers coffee while you're there. They got mad at my attitude and fired me. I don't have much sympathy for lazy rich guys. You don't have much experience on how to hang sheetrock fine I'll do that for you, but you'll have to figure out how to make a cup of coffee on your own.
Swal

 

[NorthBrit]

Good evening all. A wet and miserable looking day. Floods everywhere. Fortunately not here.
Just had a Mediterranean style dinner. Salmon & Leek fishcake with Mediterranean vegetables. A glass of Italian wine to accompany it.

Been travelling around the North East of England for this and that. Granddaughter has visited after school. She has been showing Dawn her dancing. Oh how she loves dancing. I wish her mother would send her to dance classes. She says 'NO' even if we offer to pay? I am furious, but that is not for here.

The same granddaughter and her brother were on television last Thursday regarding their interest in music. Dawn was nearly in tears watching the programme; so was I. Music is deep in my heart and soul.

My older granddaughter is 'the artist'. Like her mother she draws cartoon pictures. Really good I must say. Okay I would say, but she really is good. One of her pictures sold for £75.00.

Not been in the train room, though I promise myself I would. Ships and shipping has been taking up my time.

When ships looked like ships.
There was a relaxing, elegance any time of day. No need to hurry to get to wherever. There always was a comfortable sofa or chair, be it for morning coffee, afternoon tea, the Music Room or the Cocktail Bar. Formal nights most nights a pleasure and without question. A late evening stroll along the Promenade Deck, arm around a pretty lady. Even the ship was in no hurry, Waves drifting away as we travel a leisurely pace of 11 knots. Bliss!!!

Emerald Isle

Off course this is a railroad forum
From the archive
Granddaughter in charge.