Railcars

• Railcars (🇩🇪 Triebwagen)
• Electric railcars (🇩🇪 Elektrotriebwagen)

ABe 4/4 i Triebwagen

The Bernina 4/4 i railcars formed the backbone of electric traction on the line for much of the twentieth century. Originally built between 1908 and 1911 as BCe 4/4 and BCFe 4/4 vehicles, they were among the earliest high-performance electric railcars designed for steep gradients and continuous mountain operation.

The first batch, BCe 4/4 1–14, entered service in 1908–1909. Rising traffic levels quickly led to the construction of a further three bogie railcars, BCFe 4/4 21–23, delivered in 1911 and distinguished by the inclusion of a luggage compartment. All were designed as single self-contained vehicles rather than multiple units, reflecting contemporary Swiss practice.

Following the incorporation of the Bernina Railway into the Rhätische Bahn, most of the fleet underwent extensive rebuilding from the mid-1940s. These modernisations went far beyond cosmetic changes. Roof profiles were altered, bodies were re-sheeted, and electrical equipment was comprehensively renewed. From four early vehicles, BCe 4/4 31–34 emerged in 1946–1947, later joined by BCe 4/4 30, rebuilt in 1953 from former car 22.

These five railcars were further modified for peak-period operation on the Arosa line, which at that time used 2,200 V DC. This work included fitting the distinctive roof-mounted rod couplings required on that route. Electrical modifications saw the replacement of the original twin lyre pantographs with a scissors pantograph, together with additional starting and braking resistors mounted on the roof.

A second group, BCe 4/4 35–37, was created between 1949 and 1951 from cars 10, 12 and 14. These vehicles featured a revised window arrangement and slightly increased power output, but remained restricted to Bernina line duties. During rebuilding, only one lyre pantograph was initially replaced. From 1968, the remaining lyre equipment was removed in favour of a modern single-arm pantograph, resulting in a mixed pantograph arrangement that became a visual hallmark of the class.

An outlier within the fleet was BCFe 4/4 38, rebuilt as early as 1949 from car 21. Although broadly similar to railcars 35–37 in mechanical and electrical terms, it uniquely retained its luggage compartment, making it the only modernised Bernina railcar to do so. Its pantograph arrangement evolved gradually, with the final single-arm pantograph not fitted until 1969.

From the 1960s onwards, the class was progressively reclassified as ABe 4/4 as accommodation layouts changed. Despite further upgrades, including the fitting of multiple-unit control to the surviving vehicles in 1986, the arrival of new-build railcars ABe 4/4 iii 51–56 pushed the older units into secondary roles. Some later found use as departmental vehicles.

The introduction of the ABe 8/12 “Allegra” units ultimately rendered even the later ABe 4/4 i classes surplus. Today, only ABe 4/4 30 and 34, finished in yellow heritage livery, are retained in operational condition, representing the final working examples of a class that defined Bernina electric operation for more than seventy years.

Class	No.	Type	Livery	Era	Years	Length (mm)	Catalogue No.	Notes	Status
ABe 4/4 I	30	Triebwagen	Green / Cream	I–II	1953–1966	168	1268 110	–	CC £145
ABe 4/4 I	30	Triebwagen	Red	III	1966–1974	168	–	–	–
ABe 4/4 I	30	Triebwagen	Red	IV–V	1974–2002	168	1268 150	–	–
ABe 4/4 I	30	Triebwagen	Yellow	V-VI	2002–	168	1268 160	–
ABe 4/4 I	30	Triebwagen	Yellow	V-VI	2002–	168	1368 160	Digital	–
ABe 4/4 I	30	Triebwagen	Yellow	V–VI	2002–	168	1368 180	Digital Sound	–
ABe 4/4 I	31	Triebwagen	Green / Cream	I	1956–1958	168	–	–	–
ABe 4/4 I	31	Triebwagen	Green	II	1958–1964	168	1268 121	–	–
ABe 4/4 I	31	Triebwagen	Green	II	1958–1964	168	1268 191	Digital	–
ABe 4/4 I	31	Triebwagen	Red	III	1963–2009	168	1268 131	CC	£115
ABe 4/4 I	31	Triebwagen	Red	IV–V	1963–2009	168	1268 151	–
ABe 4/4 I	32	Triebwagen	Green / Cream	I	1956–1957	168	–	–	–
ABe 4/4 I	32	Triebwagen	Green	II	1957–1965	168	–	–	–
ABe 4/4 I	32	Triebwagen	Red	–	1965–2009	168	1268 142	–	–
ABe 4/4 I	32	Triebwagen	Red	V	1965–2009	168	1268 152	–
ABe 4/4 I	32	Triebwagen	Red	V	–	168	1368 152	Digital	–
ABe 4/4 I	33	Triebwagen	Green	–	1956–1962	168	1268 123	–	–
ABe 4/4 I	34	Triebwagen	Red	II–III		168	1268 134	–	–
ABe 4/4 I	34	Triebwagen	Red	II–III		168	1368 134	Digital Sound	–
ABe 4/4 I	34	Triebwagen	Red	IV–V	1962–2001	168	1268 154	–	–
ABe 4/4 I	34	Triebwagen	Yellow	V–VI	2001–	168	1268 164	–
ABe 4/4 I	34	Triebwagen	Yellow	V–VI	2001–	168	1368 184	Digital Sound	–
ABe 4/4 I	35	Triebwagen	Red	V	1962–2010	168	1268 155	–	–
ABe 4/4 I	35	Triebwagen	Red	V	1962–2010	168	1368 155	Digital
ABe 4/4 I	36	Triebwagen	Green / Cream	I–II	1956–1963	168	1268 116	–	–
ABe 4/4 I	36	Triebwagen	Green / Cream	I–II	1956–1963	168	1368 116	Digital	–
ABe 4/4 I	36	Triebwagen	Red	II–III	1963–?	168	1268 136	–	–
ABe 4/4 I	36	Triebwagen	Red	II–III	1963–?	168	1368 136	Digital	–
ABe 4/4 I	36	Triebwagen	Red	III–IV	?–1993	168	–	–	–
ABe 4/4 I	36	Triebwagen	Red	V	1993–1998	168	1268 156	–	–
ABe 4/4 I	36	Triebwagen	Red	V	1993–1998	168	1368 156	–	(9924)
ABe 4/4 I	37	Triebwagen	Green / Cream	–	1956–1959	168	–	–	–
ABe 4/4 I	37	Triebwagen	Red	III–IV	1965–1997	168	1268 147	–	(9923)
ABDe 4/4	38	Triebwagen	Red	–	1962–1992	168	1268 138	–	–
BCFe 4/4	38	Baggage railcar	Green / Cream	II–III	–	168	1268 118	–	–
BCFe 4/4	38	Baggage railcar	Green / Cream	II–III	–	168	1368 118	Digital	–
BCFe 4/4	38	Baggage railcar	Red (silver signet logo)	III–IV	1979–1992	168	1268 148	–	–
BCFe 4/4	38	Baggage railcar	Red (silver signet logo)	III–IV	1979–1992	168	1368 148	Digital	–
BDe 4/4 I	38	Triebwagen	Red	IV–V	–1992	168	1268 148	–	(9922)

Bemo 5168 370 Not available from the factory – Conversion kit to LED lighting, RhB ABe 4/4 30-38