PC New German Route Discussion And Rumour Thread

155 max power is 28-30 on the traction wheel control. 110.3 needs gradual increase

 

You're confusing two things about the dostos: the Bauart (BA) numbering and the Baureihe (BR) numbering.

All cars and coaches have a bauart designation, but only control cab cars that are considered part of a unit get their own class (BRxxx) designation (i.e. BR928 is the control cab car that forms a set with the BR628 - the resulting combined set is just referred to as 'BR628').

The "Bauart" desifgnation scheme is separate to the baureihe (classification) and also international. The letters sum up the features of the car.

For instance, the DABpbzfa 762.0 is a third generation double decker control cab car:

"D" this is a double decker coach
"A" this is a first class coach or this coach has a first class section
"B" this is a second class coach or this coach has a second class section
"p" this is a 'Pullman" style coach (as in: one big area with seats and a walking path in the center between the seats)
"b" this is a a coach equipped with a control (through) cable
"z" this is a coach which is dependent on the locomotive for powering its lighting and heat (as in: the coach does not have axel mounted generators)
"f" this is a coach that is a control cab car and is equipped with the 36-pole connector or timed multiplex control protocol
"a" this is a coach that is compatible with a centrally controlled door closing procedure

The "762.0" is the internal type number that DB uses for this type of wagon.

The ICE 1 and ICE 2 are indeed technically speaking loco push-pull trains (ICE 1 is a sandwich construction with two locos and the ICE 2 is a loco + control cab car construction). But they're operated as EMUs, hardly ever being separated (only for maintenance). The BR 401 and 402 power cars are self contained and can be driven without the rest of the train attached (unlike the ICE 3 and 4, where some intermediate cars are needed for the train to be driven). However, the power units can not be attached to anything else than ICE carriages: they don't come equipped with the standard UIC hook-and-chain coupler.

There is also no real rear cab on the BR401 and 402, so driving backwards is a bit of a challenge and only done while shunting to combine with the rest of the train.

By the way, the last available number in the 40x range came into service earlier this month: the BR408 is now doin its first runs in Germany. The BR408 is another train classed as "ICE3", this time as the "ICE3 Neo". So new ICE trains will be classed higher up in the 4xx range from now on.

In about two years, the new ICE-L trains will be introduced which will confuse number nerds like me even more. This is a real loco hauled push-pull train built by Spanish manufacturer Talgo. So a real loco, with cabs on both ends, pulling a bunch of carriages with a control cab at the end, but classed as an ICE.

This train was originally going to be the new "EuroCity Express" (ECX) train that will run between Berlin and Amsterdam, replacing the current DB InterCity* currently running that service. But they changed their minds, rebranding it as an ICE service instead.

* DB InterCity coaches, as seen in TSW with the "BR101 pack", hauled by a NS class BR193 Vectron locomotive. Before the BR193's were introduced, the train was pulled by a BR101 in Germany and changed locos at the border (for an NS class 1700) because of the voltage difference.

The NS Vectrons are leased from the German dispatcher ELL and are certified for use in the Netherlands and Germany (and other countries too). So you can now see an NS loco all the way in Berlin.