Large Scale Central

Odd little driving end car

Prototypes
#1

http://www.seppelbahn.de/Exkurs_brunnen.html

Go to the above address . Select the Holcim or Seppelbahn The address seems to randomly select the site you want or the level above which is the bloke who posted the pictures . The site is in German , the quarry railway is in Switzerland and shows up well on Google Earth . No , it doesn’t , dammit , my Google shots are out of date , it shut in 2008 . Never mind , have a look on Google Earth at one at Korbligen , it’s very similar .

Just take a stroll down the pics on the left and see what almost has to be the most basic “other end” driving car in existence ; the Diemas provide the power , the trains stay made up and the driving end car saves a lot of marshalling .

I went here on a beautiful sunny day and was made quite welcome , my photos however were not up to this standard .

Mike

#2

Neat, that end car was interesting.

#3

Interesting. On passenger trains here, it’s common to have controls in the last car so the train doesn’t need to be turned for the return trip. But I’ve never seen anything like that for freight, until now.

#4

Ray Dunakin said:

Interesting. On passenger trains here, it’s common to have controls in the last car so the train doesn’t need to be turned for the return trip. But I’ve never seen anything like that for freight, until now.

Ray,

It’s an industrial narrow gauge railway and the consist is in captive service. Quarry to plant and return.

#5

Yes , Ray , I believe the driving ends look like a normal carriage with end windows , though I have never had the pleasure of boarding one . I wish I could , it should be interesting . Do you have a picture of one?

It would be interesting to compare working conditions , you know , David and Goliath .

This example , however , is quite rare in that it’s obviously on a goods train . Admittedly , the line is only 2km long , but even then , I would imagine the driver gets a bit peed off at the cold in winter . I understand that it snows in Switzerland----judging by the cars hurtling around in winter with skis on the top , unless they are all posers .

Mike

#6

Mike, they have skies on the top of their cars, in case the flip over on the ice. :wink:

#7

Ah , that would be it . I knew there was a logical answer .

Thanks David .

Mike