Performing track work, repairing points, adjusting contact wires, and positioning overhead lines are among the numerous tasks for which so-called "road-rail trucks" are used. Scania tested two of these specialized vehicles on a disused section of track between Etzwilen and Singen.
Disused railway lines aren't exactly something that railway enthusiasts get excited about. Located on the Randen ridge between Thurgau and Singen, the line is usually only used by nostalgic steam trains operated by various foundations and associations. However, new locomotives and carriages are also regularly tested there. Müller Technologie, a track construction machinery supplier from Frauenfeld, takes advantage of this for practical testing. Müller develops, builds, and equips road-rail trucks for use as fire and rescue vehicles, track excavators, self-propelled railway carriages, and for a variety of other purposes.
Photos: Scania
Two new Scania chassis recently arrived at Müller's workshop, where the components requested by the customers were installed. Both base vehicles are Scania G 500 B 8x4*4 HA models. One of them was immediately christened "Rudolf" and will primarily be used for work in the personnel basket during overhead line construction.
The second Scania, painted dark blue and named YAK2, will be used by Tensol Rail SA in Giornico (Ticino). Primarily in Ticino and French-speaking Switzerland, it will be the central tool for track and switch repairs, replacing worn or broken rail sections or modifying switches, along with the necessary material transport.
The dual-mode system for heavy trucks is designed so that only the track wheels need to be changed to switch between standard and meter gauge. To be permitted to travel on steep gradients of over 60‰, the bogies can be equipped with magnetic track brakes. The complete dual-mode system weighs almost as much as the base vehicle itself.
In Ramsen, near the German border, both vehicles were driven onto the tracks at a level crossing to perform various tests. The route led to Hemishofen and then across the impressive bridge over the Rhine to Etzwilen. Between Etzwilen and Hemishofen, one of the vehicles was used to perform various braking maneuvers, including brake checks (filling the system/releasing the brakes), wagon braking, emergency stops with a wagon, hose rupture, and driving with maximum trailer load.
Fully equipped.
Meanwhile, the other two-way vehicle was tested on the track between Hemishofen and Ramsen, including braking distance measurements at 20 and 40 km/h, emergency stops at the same speeds, continuous forward and reverse driving at 40 km/h, and operation via radio remote control. The crane functions of both vehicles were also tested remotely.
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