The class ABe 4/16 units are four-part electric powered rail car trains, of which the Rhaetian Railroad ordered 56 units from Stadler Rail. The roll-out of the first train took place on April 15, 2019 at the Stadler plant in Altenrhein. The first train was delivered on June 27, 2019 in Landquart and it then underwent various tests. The RhB is naming the trains after the Bündner heraldic animal Capricorn as "Capricorn", which can also be recognized from the lighted Grisons coat-of-arms on the ends. These trains are about over 76 meters / 247 feet long and 130 metric tons in weight. With their performance of 1,400 kilowatts / 1,800 horsepower and a maximum speed of 120 km/h / 75 mph, they are contributing to the acceleration and concentration of passenger service on the RhB, not least by the possibility of coupling up to four powered rail car trains as a unit. In addition, these trains are equipped with an automatic center buffer coupler, since they are only used in passenger service - in contrast to the Allegra - and not for bringing freight cars along. The order for these 56 trains with a value of 534 million Swiss Francs represents the largest order for rolling stock in the history of the Rhaetian Railroad. In an old tradition, the trains are given the names of mountains. The first train with road number 3111 was thus christened October 9, 2020 in Filisur with the name "Piz Ela". Since 2021, more of these trains have been underway on the RhB network - chiefly in the Prättigau region on the line from Landquart to Filisur.
Highlights
This is a model of the RhB class Abe 4/16 "Capricorn" powered rail car and control car. The paint scheme and lettering are prototypical for Era VI. Four wheelsets are driven by two powerful ball bearing motors. Traction tires. The model has an mfx/DCC decoder with many light and sound functions such as headlights, which change over with the direction of travel, interior lighting, as well as train destination signs controllable in digital operation, and lighted coats-of-arms for the Grisons. The running sounds will also work in analog operation. There are many separately applied details such as lines, plugs, windshield wipers, antennas, and rear view mirrors. Both units can be combined with the 33100 and 33150 intermediate cars to form a prototypical four-unit train. Length over the buffers 153 cm / 60-1/4".
