Arth-Rigi Railway BCeh 2/3
No. 6 of the Rigi Railway is the oldest rack railcar operational today anywhere in the world. It was built in 1911 as a more powerful alternative to the existing railcars. While the mechanic part had been built by SWS and SLM, the electric part came from Oerlikon. The three axles are not powered, but there are two cog wheels which were driven with a power of 190 kW.
It did not only have a baggage compartment, but was powerful enough to push a heavy trailer. This allowed the Rigi Railway to abandon the use of steam locomotives. In 1939, it was rebuilt and now delivered 390 kW. In another modernization between 1986 and 1990, it got a new car body. Today it is still in service as heritage vehicle. Over the years, it carried the designations BCeh 2/3, CFeh 2/3, BFeh 2/3, BDeh 2/3, BDhe 2/3 and BCFhe 2/3.
Technical data
General
- Built
- 1911
- Manufacturers
- mechanical part: SWS, SLM, electrical part: Oerlikon
- Wheel arrangement
- 3
- Gauge
- 1,435 mm (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and weights
- Length
- 12.20 m
- Total wheelbase
- 7.00 m
- Empty mass
- 7 t
- Service mass
- 23.5 t
- Adhesion mass
- 0 t
Power
- Power source
- electric - DC
- Hourly power
- 390 kW (530 PS)
- Top speed
- 15 km/h
- Starting effort
- 90.0 kN
Calculated values
- Power-to-weight ratio
- 16.6 kW/t
