Multiple-units - Germany (1945-1994): Books - History (2/2)

Die Baureihe 403 - Flughöhe '0' bei der Deutschen Bundesbahn

From 1969, DB designed the electric express train of the 403/404 series for the new IC network. As the "train of the future", it was given a streamlined head shape and nicknames such as "Donald Duck" or "great white shark".
These three trains were in service in the scheduled intercity service between Munich and Bremen from September 1974 to May 1979, with their exceptionally high mileage of over 1, 500 km/day being due to the long route and two daily rotations. A series order was not made.

DB and Lufthansa cooperated from 1981, and the three sets began their second operational career on March 27, 1982 as the "Lufthansa Airport Express" between Frankfurt and Düsseldorf. The jet-like appearance of the ET 403 was a perfect match for this "flight at altitude 0". The cooperation ended in 1993.

This EK Baureihe-series book describes in detail the development of the ET 403, combined with innovations in vehicle construction and tried-and-tested electrical components.
The operational history, the various stations, the long service life and the finally realized refurbishment of the ET 403 are traced in detail and excitingly in this book.

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Der deutsche Pendolino - Die Baureihe 610

In the late 1980s, the Nuremberg BD evaluated improvements for regional routes in Upper Franconia and Upper Palatinate, particularly from Nuremberg to Bayreuth and Hof. Both electric and diesel operation were examined.

In 1988, it was determined that a diesel train with tilting technology could achieve comparable travel time improvements to an electric train, but with lower investment. This is how the diesel multiple unit 610 was created.
Under BZA Munich, MAN / MBB / DUEWAG (MAN in charge) managed the carriage construction, while SIEMENS / BBC / AEG (Siemens in charge) took over the electrical part. Bogies and tilting technology were supplied by Fiat Ferroviaria.

By May 1992, nine 610 multiple units were available, and another was used as a test train. By the beginning of 1993, all 20 trains had been delivered, enabling the planned addition in Upper Palatinate in May 1993. Since then, the 610 multiple units have been in tireless use in north-east Bavaria, have covered over 100 million km and significantly improved regional transport. They increased passenger numbers by almost 50% and served as a model throughout the Federal Republic.

Dipl.-Ing. Matthias Maier, who played a key role in the development, presents a comprehensive portrait of the reliable trains, including construction, commissioning, operational launch and test runs up to 280 km/h with tilting technology bogies for the later 605 series (ICE TD).

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Die Baureihe 614 - DB-Dieseltriebzüge für den Nahverkehr

For almost 35 years, the iconic diesel railcars of the 614 series, from their long-standing locations in Nuremberg and Braunschweig, reliably shaped regional and district transport in their traditional areas of operation.
The railcars, which appeared in a total of four paint variants, were not only technically impressive, but also aesthetically pleasing.

Deutsche Bahn used the last examples of the 614 series in the Franconian region until 2010, mainly for additional trips in the early morning hours. Today, only the two multiple units of the 719 series, which are classified as railway service vehicles, still operate in Germany.
A considerable number of the vehicles were sold to Poland and Romania, where they found new areas of use after being refurbished.

The remarkable continuity in home service, the striking appearance and the characteristic sound of the original MAN engines characterize the 42 units of this series. This series book pays tribute to the solid diesel multiple units of the 614 series and, ten years after their end of service, closes a significant gap in the EK library with numerous previously unpublished illustrations.

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Schienenbusse und Akkutriebwagen - Die letzten Einsatzjahre in Westdeutschland

Which of the older railway enthusiasts does not remember the years when rail buses quickly replaced steam locomotives on numerous branch lines?
The author shows and explains the basic features and their history of use. An illustrated book about the end of the ETA 150 and VT 98 series, about two outstanding eras in German railway history.

From the contents:
History of origin and use
Last areas of use in western Germany (timetable route numbers from 1985):
- Sauerland and Siegerland (KBS 361, 352, 363 and 362)
- Hessian mountain country (KBS 362/section Bad Laasphe-Marburg, KBS 366, 368, 530, 532, 422, 365, 423, 424)
- Eifel and on the Moselle (KBS 602, 621, 444)
- Lower Rhine (KBS 457, 443, 472, 441)
- Ruhr area (KBS 388, 308, 384, 383)
- Münsterland (KBS 284, 315, 286)
- Bergisches Land (KBS 402, 411, 401)
- Special trips
- Successors and vehicle data of the railcars in use today.

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