THE Z SCALE MODEL
(scroll down for information on the prototype locomotive)
It only took Maerklin four years to get the first Re 4/4 IV rolling in Z scale once the real locomotives could be seen on the SBB network.
The model was introduced as article 8823 in 1986 as Re 4/4 IV 10102 in red and grey livery. Over ther years, Maerklin produced two additional SBB livery variations, all-red large logo in 1994 (8846, "Esport Model Switzerland") and "Bahn/Rail/Ferrovia 2000" from 1988-1995 (8847). The Re 4/4 IV was also used as motive power for the first Swiss starter kit produced by Maerklin in the Z scale range.
Maerklin (who in all probability were not amused at all by the fact that they had produced a model of a prototype which turned out to be both limited in number and active service life on SBB metals) continued to produce models of the Re 4/4 IV even after their move to the SOB (S¸dostbahn) and BT (Bodensee-Toggenburg Bahn) after 1995, both in standard and advertising liveries - in fact, Marklin themselves gave the Re 4/4 IV model a shot in the arm by commissioning special "art liveries" ("metal construction set" [1996], "Happy Birthday - 150 years of railways in Switzerland" [1997]) on the real locomotives. These repaints, although very colourful, were always plagued by the fact that Maerklin never supplied the passenger stock to go with them (however, both SOB and BT (now merged as SOB) use EW IV coaches with, basically, the SBB livery with the SBB logo replaced with their own - Rob Albriton has an illustrated step-by-step report of how to tackle the necessary conversion job).
Maerklin 8185 [click for larger image]
The Re 4/4 IV, ordered in 1978 and put into service in 1982, was in many ways part - and to a certain extent even an icon - of the "Bahn 2000" concept, the rail investment and infrastructure programme which was to turn Swiss Federal Railways into a truly modern 21st century transportation company - the locomotives were in fact repainted in 1986 into a red livery with large "Bahn/Rail/Ferrovia 2000" lettering.
Weighing in at 80 tons, the multi-purpose electric locomotive Re 4/4 IV has a maximum speed of 160 km/h with a power output of 4'960 kW. The four units were built in 1982 by SLM Winterthur and BBC Z¸rich-Oerlikon. They were delivered to the Swiss Federal Railways numbered 10101 - 10104.
1987 SBB publicity poster with an Re 4/4 IV pulling a train of modern EW IV coaches "right into the heart of the city". The message of the "Bahn 2000" programme ("In Zukunft die Bahn - from now on by train") was clear and bold: the future belongs to the railways.
All four locomotives were outshopped in different liveries for evaluation purposes, making them even more special. Swiss Federal Railways also kept up the longstanding tradition of applying names and coats of arms - in this case, towns on major rail lines (e.g. 10102 carried the coat of arms of Ostermundigen). Obviously, as prototypes, the four Re 4/4 IV were used on as many different duties and on as many varied routes as possible, but they more mostly seen pulling express passenger trains in the flatter parts of Switzerland. However, they were also used on the more mountaineous routes on fast passenger and heavy (650t) freight services
picture © SBB
However, a decline in traffic volume in the 1980s together with the fact that from a power output point of view the Re 4/4 IV offered disappointingly little more than the Re 4/4 III (delivered in 1971) meant that the planned series of Re 4/4 IV were never built and the SBB found themselves with four prototype locomotives on their hands which in this quantity were a maintenance nuisance and became increasingly unpopular. In 1995/1996, they were exchanged for four Re 4/4 III of the S¸dostbahn (SOB), where the Re 4/4 IV (now designated Re 446) are still at work.
SOB Re 446 "Swisscom" at Einsiedeln, 20 April 2003
(click for larger image)
Based on the Re 4/4 IV, SLM and ABB built a series of locomotives designated class Re 456 in 1993 which proved very popular with the larger private railway companies in Switzerland. Perhaps the most striking of these were the two Re 456 delivered to the EBT/VHB (Emmental-Burgdorf-Thun/Vereinigte Huttwil Bahnen, now called Regionalverkehr Mittelland RM) in their Colani design livery. RM Re 456 142 stabled at Huttwil depot, 13 August 2000
Text and prototype picture not marked otherwise © Adrian Wymann
Page created 31/AUG/2001
Last revised 16/MAR/2006
