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- Series- and Index-Designations
- General Railroad Topics
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For locomotives, the relevant nomenclature is defined by the UIC (Union Internationale des Chemins de Fer); besides, there is the American style of counting wheels instead of axles.
An example: The “Mogul” type steam engine's axle arrangement is called 1'C in UIC nomenclature, in American literature, however, you find 2-6-0 (1 pusher axle in separate truck, 3 coupled axles in main frame, no tag axle). The RhB's No. 1 “Rhätia” is an engine of this type.
In Switzerland, there is still another way to describe the axle arrangement: Number of driven axles, slash, total number of axles. The above mentioned “Rhätia's” designation is “3/4” in this system.
These are the rules for the description of locomotives, motorcoaches, control cars, and passenger cars:
| Category | |
|---|---|
| 1. Locomotives and motorcoaches | |
| Series R | Engines that may run with higher speed in curves and with a maximum speed of more than 110 km/h. For motorcoaches, the letter “R” is put before the car designation. |
| 2. Locomotives and tractors | |
| Series A | Locomotives with a top speed of more than 80 km/h |
| Series B | Locomotives with a top speed between 70 and 80 km/h |
| Series C | Locomotives with a top speed between 60 and 65 km/h |
| Series D | Locomotives with a top speed between 45 and 55 km/h |
| Series E | Shunting locomotives and tank steam locomotives (Eb, Ec etc.; cf. 4.) |
| Series G | Narrow gauge locomotives Example: RhB G 4/5 No. 107–108 |
| Series H | Locomotives for rack railways |
| Series HG | Narrow gauge locomotives for rack railways Example: FO HGe 4/4 I No. 31–37 |
| Series T | Tractors Example: RhB Tm 2/2 No. 81–84 |
| Series X | Service vehicles Example: RhB Xe 4/4 No. 9922 |
| 3. Motorcoaches and control cars | |
| Series A | Motorcoaches and control cars 1st class |
| Series AB | Motorcoaches and control cars 1st and 2nd class Example: RhB ABe 4/4 No. 501–504 |
| Series ABD | Motorcoaches and control cars 1st and 2nd class with baggage compartment Example: RhB ABDe 4/4 No. 481–486 |
| Series ABDZ | Motorcoaches and control cars 1st and 2nd class with baggage and mail compartment |
| Series B | Motorcoaches and control cars 2nd class Example: RhB Be 4/4 No. 511–516 |
| Series BD | Motorcoaches and control cars 2nd class with baggage compartment Example: RhB BDe 4/4 No. 491 |
| Series BDZ | Motorcoaches and control cars 2nd class with baggage and mail compartment |
| Series D | Baggage motorcoaches and control cars Example: RhB De 2/2 No. 151 |
| Series DZ | Baggage motorcoaches and control cars with mail compartment |
| Series R | Express motorcoaches (cf. 1.) |
| 4. Mode of operation | |
| Index a | Accumulator motor vehicle |
| Index e | Electrically operated vehicle with pantograph Example: RhB Ge 4/4 III No. 641–652 |
| Index ea | Electrically operated vehicle with pantograph and accumulator |
| Index em | Electrically operated vehicle with pantograph and Diesel engine Example: RhB Gem 4/4 No. 801–802 |
| Index f | Radio remote control Example: RhB Xmf 2/2 No. 9918–9919 |
| Index h | Motorcoach for rack railways If the letter “h” is put ahead of the index that designates the mode of operation (Example: Pilatusbahn Bhe), the car is for rack railway operation only. In motorcoaches built for both adhesion and rack railway operation, the index “h” comes behind the index for the engine type (Example: BOB ABDeh 4/4 No. 303). |
| Index m | Traction vehicle with gasoline or Diesel engine Example: RhB Tm 2/2 No. 81–84 |
| Index t | Control car Example: RhB ABDt No. 1711–1714 |
| In tank locomotives (series E except for shunting locomotives), the top speed is not designated with the capital letters B, C, or D, but with small letters as indices (b, c, or d). | |
| 5. Number of axles | |
| The number of axles of locomotives and motorcoaches is written as a fraction; the numerator indicates the number of driven axles, the denominator the total number of axles (without tender in steam locomotives); e.g., 3/6, 6/8, 8/14. Control cars and passenger cars with 4 axles don't have an index; the indices 2 and 3 indicate cars with 2 or 3 axles. Example: RhB G 4/5 No. 107–108 |
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| 6. Type | |
| Index I-IV | These indices are used to designate different types within the same series. Example: RhB Ge 4/4 I, Ge 4/4 III |
| Before June 3, 1956, there was a three-class-system in Europe: Motorcoaches, control cars and passenger cars were given the capital letters A = 1st class, B = 2nd class (today, both 1st class = A), and C = 3rd class (today, 2nd class = B). As of January 1, 1962, the series designation “F” for baggage cars and compartments was changed to “D” in accordance with the RIC rules (RIC: Regolamento Internazionale Carrozze). Example: RhB Fe 2/2 No. 51, today De 2/2 No. 151 The index for the number of axles for control cars and passenger cars was the figure “4” for four-axle-cars before January 1, 1962, two-axle-cars had no index. Control cars and passenger cars with closed platforms and bellows had the index “ü” before January 1, 1962 (today: no index). Cars with open platforms, however, that had formerly not been given a special index, have the “i” today. Example: RhB AB4ü 221, today A 1221 |
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References:
Copyright © 2006–2008 and responsible for contents: Christoph Ozdoba.
First version February 11, 2006, last edited February 17, 2008.
