SBB Re 420

The Re 420, originally and still widely called Re 4/4^II, are a series of versatile standard gauge electric locomotives of Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS), but are also used by BLS AG (BLS Re 420.5) and private companies (previously also by the Swiss ''Südostbahn'', SOB). They were produced over a period of 21 years, from 1964 to 1985, and are currently used mainly for freight operations but still also for some push-pull passenger train services. It is the largest series of locomotives of Swiss Federal Railways, and they are the most common type of locomotive in Switzerland.

The Re 420 LION are refurbished Re 420 engines used for peak-hour commuter rail services of Zurich S-Bahn.

The Re 421 is an upgraded version built for cross-border operations.

The Re 430 (Re 436 of private companies), originally known as the Re 4/4^III, are a derivative of the Re 420, modified for higher traction but lower speed.

Operations

, the four-axle Re 420 are mainly used for freight services, where they are sometimes paired with the six-axle Re 620 (Re 6/6), especially in mountainous regions. This pairing is referred to as Re 10/10. Current freight operators using the Re 420 are SBB Cargo and Widmer Rail Service AG (WRS).

Before the wide use of electric multiple units, the Re 420 was frequently used for passenger services, either as a single engine or in pairs. It is still in use for some passenger train services, for example for some peak-hour commuter rail services of Zurich S-Bahn, the EuroCity ''Transalpin'' or the tourist-oriented Gotthard Panorama Express.

, most standard gauge push-pull operations of passenger trains in Switzerland are run with Re 460 locomotives (respectively Re 450 on the Zurich S-Bahn network).

Former Swiss Express

Between 22 May 1975 and 28 May 1982, Swiss Federal Railways ran trainsets composed of Re 4/4^II engines and ''Einheitswagen III'' () as on the Geneva—Lausanne—Bern—Zurich— St. Gallen(— Rorschach) line. For these services, locomotives Re 4/4^II 11103, 11106, 11108, 11109, 11112, 11113, 11133 and 11141 had to be adapted accordingly, as the wagons were delivered with automatic couplings. The locomotives of the later series (from 11220, but without 11236–11238) were already prepared at the factory to accept the UIC coupling; However, since these were not yet available at the time, some Re 420 locomotives had to be converted specifically for the Swiss Express. They received an extended shock beam, new couplings and the appropriate paint in the Swiss Express colors orange-stone gray-orange. They also bear the then newly introduced SBB logo (the Swiss cross with two arrows) instead of the typical Swiss coat of arms on their fronts. The length over the buffers was then instead of the usual . The automatic coupling protruded over the buffers, resulting in a total length of . With the adaptation of the ''Einheitswagen III'' for shuttle train operation, the ends of the compositions were given normal screw couplings, and subsequently the locomotives too.

On the occasion of major overhauls, locomotives № 11112, 11113 and 11133 were painted red; № 11103 and 11106 were taken over by the BLS and painted in their typical silver-blue-green livery. The 11141 retained the Swiss Express livery and was parked at the beginning of October 2007 and has been used as a heating locomotive ever since. After a general inspection in Bellinzona, the engine has been back in use since autumn 2009 in the red livery of the series, but keeping the SBB logo at the fronts. It was later sold to DSF Koblenz which restored its original Swiss Express look. Locomotive 11108 has been parked since 25 September 2020 due to expired deadlines and is now in the SBB Historic Depot in Olten. Re 4/4^II 11133 is an ICN shunting locomotive in the Yverdon-les-Bains main workshop and has an additional beam with automatic coupling on one side instead of the screw coupling and buffer.

, locomotive 11109 (420 109-1) is the last one with the original Swiss Express scheme still in operation for passenger train services. Built in 1966, it is currently also the oldest operating Re 420 of Swiss Federal Railways.

Zurich S-Bahn (Re 420 LION)

Between 2011 and 2016, 30 Re 420 locomotives of the passenger division (Re 4/4^II 11201–11230) were refurbished for peak-hour services on the Zurich S-Bahn network (renumbered Re 420 201–230). Each set is composed of six or ten DPZ double-deck cars plus one Re 420 LION locomotive at each end (head and tail configuration). The acronym LION stands for ''Lifting, Integration, Optimierung, Neugestaltung'' (in German, ). These trainsets are currently in use as S19, S21 or S23 services, among others.

Cross-border operations (Re 421)

Six Re 4/4^II (vehicle numbers 11196–11201; later 11195–11200) were equipped with a wider pantograph wiper in order to conform with Deutsche Bahn (DB) and Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) standards, which subsequently allowed these units to pull EuroCity (EC) trains over the borders to Bregenz (Austria) and Lindau (Germany). These workings were covered by the last series, engines 11371–11397, which were rebuilt for use in Germany and Austria, not only with a different pantograph but also with PZB/Indusi and other systems necessary for use abroad. These locomotives are classified Re 421 and are lettered for SBB Cargo but they also pulled passenger trains to Bregenz and Lindau (however, 11382 was never converted as it was already withdrawn with fire damage). Some Re 421 were later bought by Widmer Rail Services AG (WRS).

With the December 2020 timetable change, in conjunction with the reopening of Lindau-Reutin station and electrification of the line to Munich, services between and Munich Central Station were no longer hauled by locomotives, but instead New Pendolino EMUs of SBB started operations on this line as EC/ ECE.

Re 430 subseries

When the '' former Südostbahn'' (SOB) had the opportunity to buy one of the first batch of 50 Re 4/4^II locomotives before delivery, it had the gear modified for higher traction and lower speed for the steep routes on their network. This locomotive was delivered as SOB Re 4/4 41, which later became SBB Re 4/4^III 11350 (or Re 430 350-9 with the new classification scheme).

Based on the SOB experience, the SBB ordered a batch of 20 Re 4/4^III in 1969 for use on the Gotthard route. Three of those locomotives were sold to the SOB in the 1980s and renumbered Re 4/4 42–44. These locomotives were returned to the SBB between 1996 and 1998 in exchange for the four prototype Re 4/4^IV, which, renamed as SOB Re 446, have push-pulled coaches of the ''Voralpen Express'', along with the SOB Re 456 until 2019 (since then ''Südostbahn'' uses Traverso EMUs).

The predecessors of the ''Regionalverkehr Mittelland'' (EBT, VHB and SMB) ordered a total of five Re 4/4^III, Re 436 111–113, 141 and 181. These locomotives were later renumbered (111–115) and worked for Crossrail AG until that company was dissolved in 2017. Engines numbered 111, 112, 114 and 115 were then sold to Widmer Rail Services AG (WRS) and renamed Re 430. Locomotive Re 436 113 was involved in an accident in 2010 and was scrapped in September 2017.

Stock

Re 4/4^II (Re 420, Re 421)

The 267 Re 4/4^II locomotives were delivered in seven series: 11101–11106 (prototypes), 11107–11155, 11156–11215, 11216–11254, 11255–11304, 11305–11349 and 11371–11397. In an effort to unify the numbering of their motive power and in UIC compliance, Swiss Federal Railways changed the class name of the Re 4/4^II to Re 420 and, accordingly, also the numbering of their locomotives was adjusted.

On 1 September 1999, locomotives numbered Re 4/4^II 11101–11155, 11181, 11191–11270 and 11299–11304 were assigned to the SBB passenger division, and 11156–11171, 11173–11180, 11182–11190, 11271–11298, 11305–11311, 11313–11349 and 11371–11397 to the freight division (becoming SBB Cargo afterwards). At the end of 2002, locomotive 11172^II (ex- MThB) joined the passenger fleet. One year later, 11225–11264 changed to SBB Cargo. At the end of 2004, vehicle numbers 11225–11230 were changed to 11265–11270, and six locomotives were sold to BLS (see list). One year later, locomotives 11102–11107 followed. They were replaced in the passenger fleet by 11156–11159, 11161 and 11164 from SBB Cargo.

In total, 96 locomotives are owned by the passenger division, six by BLS (Re 420 501–506, ex SBB Re 4/4^II 11110, 11117, 11119, 11123, 11137 and 11142) and all others by SBB Cargo. Several locomotives have been withdrawn from service and scrapped. The following is an inventory list of all Re 4/4^II with further information:

Re 4/4^III (Re 430, Re 436)

A total of 21 Re 4/4^III were operated by SBB CFF FFS, numbered 11350–11370. They were later referred to as Re 430 and their numbering was shortened. An additional five engines were bought by the predecessors of ''Regionalverkehr Mittelland'' (RM), Re 4/4^III 111–113, 141 and 181. These were later sold to Crossrail AG (renamed Re 436) and Widmer Rail Service AG (renamed Re 430), respectively. The following is a list of Re 4/4^III engines.

Named locomotives

Exceptionally, two Re 420 locomotives are named after communes, as indicated also by their respective coat of arms on the side of the engine. A third one is named 'Depot G', indicated below the driver's window:

* Re 4/4^II 11239 (Re 420 239-6) «Porrentruy»
* Re 4/4^II 11278 (Re 420 278-4) «Cham»
* Re 4/4^II 11191 (Re 420 191-9) «Depot G»

Locomotive Re 4/4^II 11239 inherited the name and coat of arms of Porrentruy from Ae 6/6 11483, which after the foundation of the canton of Jura in 1979 was renamed after that canton. Locomotive Re 4/4^II 11278 received the name and coat of arms of Cham from Re 6/6 11673, which was involved in an accident in May 2015 in Erstfeld and was subsequently used for spare parts. Other Re 420 are not named, although in Switzerland it is common practice to name both locomotives (e.g. SBB Ae 6/6, Re 450, Re 460, Re 620) and EMUs (e.g. SBB RABDe 500 and RABe 501).

Accidents

* On 24 October 2003, two passenger trains collided near station.
* On 10 January 2013, a Re 420 LION-hauled trainset of the former S11 peak-hour service of Zurich S-Bahn collided with a Thurbo regional train ( S33) near Neuhausen railway station.
* On 19 May 2025, a collision between a locomotive (without carriage) and a rail excavator occurred in the Heiligkreuz area of St. Gallen.

Gallery

File:Sbb loco - geneva - 07-07-1985.jpg, Pine green Re 4/4^II before modernization in Geneva in 1985, with round headlights
File:SBB-Re11267.JPG, Fully modernized 11267: red color scheme, air conditioning, rectangular headlights, UIC plug, and steps
File:SBB-Re11160.JPG, Unit 11160 was the first locomotive to be equipped with air conditioning
File:Train cff cargo.jpg, A freight train pulled by two Re 420 units
File:Biaschina Intermodal.jpg, Re 420 and Re 620 pull a freight train on the Gotthard route
File:SBB Re 420-5.jpg, Re 420 310-5 with SBB Cargo livery
File:2012 07 31 05 Re 4 4 II 11380.JPG, Re 421 380-7: this subtype is adapted for service in Germany
File:2013 02 10 Re 420 209 LION 03 ROK IMG 0509.JPG, SBB Re 420 209-9 LION of Zurich S-Bahn

See also

* List of stock used by Swiss Federal Railways
* Swiss locomotive and railcar classification

References

* ''This article was mostly translated from the German language version of December 2006 and 2024.''

External links

Re 4/4^II (Re 420/Re 421) and Re 4/4^III (Re 430)
by P.N. Rietsch

Spec Sheet

{{Standard gauge locomotives of Switzerland

15 kV AC locomotives
Re 420
Bo′Bo′ electric locomotives
Electric locomotives of Switzerland
SLM locomotives
Standard-gauge locomotives of Switzerland
Railway locomotives introduced in 1964