The HGe 4/4 II is a combined adhesion and cogwheel-equipped electric locomotive used on a number of metre gauge railways in Switzerland since 1985.

HGe 4/4 II
An FO HGe 4/4 II in Brig
Type and origin
Power typeElectric
BuilderSLM, BBC / ABB
Total producedPrototype: 5
Series production: 16
Specifications
Configuration:
 • UICBo′Bo′
Gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
LengthSBB-CFF-FFS / zb:
14,800 mm (48 ft 7 in)
FO / BVZ / MGB:
14,776 mm (48 ft 6 in)
Loco weightSBB-CFF-FFS / zb:
63 tonnes (138,900 lb)
FO / BVZ / MGB:
64 tonnes (141,100 lb)
Electric system/sSBB-CFF-FFS / zb:
15 kV 16.7 Hz AC
FO / BVZ / MGB:
11 kV 16.7 Hz AC
Current pickup(s)Overhead
Performance figures
Maximum speedAdhesion:
100 km/h (62 mph)
Cogwheel:
40 km/h (25 mph)
Power output1,932 kW (2,590 hp)
Tractive effortAdhesion:
230 kN (51,710 lbf)
Cogwheel:
280 kN (62,950 lbf)
Career
OperatorsSBB-CFF-FFS / Zentralbahn
Furka Oberalp Bahn
BVZ Zermatt-Bahn
Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn
LocaleSwitzerland
First run1985

An initial series of five prototypes was procured by a consortium made up of the Furka Oberalp Bahn (FO) and the SBB-CFF-FFS, which wanted them for the Brünigbahn, now known as the Zentralbahn (zb). Once the type had been proven, the members of the consortium ordered a total of 11 series production units, and the Brig-Visp-Zermatt-Bahn (BVZ) ordered another five such units.

The class is so named because it was the second class of locomotives of the Swiss locomotive and railcar classification type HGe 4/4 to be acquired by each of the three railway companies that procured it. According to that classification system, HGe 4/4 denotes a narrow gauge cogwheel-equipped electric locomotive with a total of four axles, all of which are drive axles.

List of locomotives

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Operator Number In service Name Notes
SBB 1951 1985 (none) prototype, to FO *)
SBB 1952 1985 (none) prototype, to FO *)
SBB / zb 101 961-1 1989 Horw
SBB / zb 101 962-9 1989 Hergiswil
SBB / zb 101 963-7 1989 Alpnach
SBB / zb 101 964-5 1990 Sachseln
SBB / zb 101 965-2 1990 Lungern
SBB / zb 101 966-0 1990 Brünig-Hasliberg
SBB / zb 101 967-8 1990 Brienz *)
SBB / zb 101 968-6 1990 Ringgenberg *)
FO / MGB 101 1986 Ville de Sion / Sitten prototype
FO / MGB 102 1986 Altdorf prototype
FO / MGB 103 1986 Chur / Marcau da Cuera prototype
FO / MGB 104 1985/90 Furka former SBB-CFF-FFS 1951 *)
FO / MGB 105 1985/90 Oberalp / Alp Su former SBB-CFF-FFS 1952 *)
FO / MGB 106 1990 St. Gotthard / S. Gottardo
FO / MGB 107 1990 Grimsel
FO / MGB 108 1990 Channel Tunnel ex Nufenen / Novena
BVZ / MGB 1 1990 Matterhorn
BVZ / MGB 2 1990 Monte Rosa
BVZ / MGB 3 1990 Dom
BVZ / MGB 4 1990 Täschhorn
BVZ / MGB 5 1990 Mount Fuji ex Dent Blanche

*) The chassis of locomotives 1951 and 1952 were fitted with new bogies (Abt system) and transformers (11 kV) and delivered to the FO as nos. 104 and 105. The prototype bogies (Riggenbach system) and transformers (15 kV) salvaged from those chassis were then fitted to the last two series production locomotives delivered to the SBB-CFF-FFS Brünigbahn.

See also

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References

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  • Finke, Wolfgang; Schweers, Hans (1999). Die Fahrzeuge der Furka-Oberalp-Bahn 1913-1999: Brig-Furka-Disentis, Schöllenenbahn, Furka-Oberalp-Bahn (in German). Aachen, Germany: Schweers + Wall. ISBN 3-89494-111-1.
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This article is based upon a translation of the German language version as at February 2013.