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August 13, 2008
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:iconshenanigan87:
Here ist the first of the promised closeups of old German electric engines. What we are seeing here is what Americans would know as MU cable, for either controlling multiple units or remote controlling the engine from a car with a drivers compartment. Around here, normally only two engines are hooked up together in contrast to the sometimes eight and more in a row which one can see in the US. This is commonly known as Doppeltraktion, which translates into double traction, and can be observed in this very nice shot by Hoyt. Note the cable on the left in its idle position, that you can also see here.

What I wanted to share is the normally unobserved socket, which one can only see when coupling engines together, or when a bunch of engines about to be scrapped are left standing around for me to explore. In the top left pic, you can see the connected cable, and right next to it, the socket itself. If you have counted them correctly, there should be 36 wires, one for each function that can be performed by the Wendezugsteuerung. If you're interested, here is a brochure about the class 181 which, on page 23, includes a list of what each pin is designated for.

For some reason, I liked the mechanism of the socked cover, which also holds the cable in place when inserted, so I had to show it in "action" :XD: To the right of the socket, there is a flap under which you'll find another socket, but this time its for the power cable (Zugsammelschiene) that supplies cars with electricity, if needed. Its nothing specacular, just a single copper socket, so I didn't delve into that too much :)

To be honest, some of these engines where a wee bit jumbled in this section, some had multiple sockets, two on each side, though normally I'd only expect a crossover like on the two pics I've linked. The side of the MU socket holds the idle power cable, and the side of the power socket holds the idle MU cable. But as you can see, there might be some variation to this, with two sockets on one side :XD: Though some of the engines had already lost their idle cable, so it doesn't matter any more.
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:iconmopar:
~Mopar Aug 20, 2008
It's neat to see how this all works. Thanks!

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Tinkerer's Corollary: If it ain't broke, fix it until it is!
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:iconshenanigan87:
~shenanigan87 Aug 21, 2008  Hobbyist Photographer
Just doing my job! :D

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Also check out: The Best of shenanigan!
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:iconclassictrains:
~classictrains Aug 19, 2008
Thanks for the detail!

Is this standard gauge? something about the tracks makes it look narrower than I am used to.

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I dunno... whada you think?
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:iconshenanigan87:
~shenanigan87 Aug 19, 2008  Hobbyist Photographer
Hmm... Now that you mention it, it does look kinda narrow, but it is standard gauge :)

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Also check out: The Best of shenanigan!
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:iconlabrat-78:
~labrat-78 Aug 13, 2008
Thanks you so much. This is an excellent explanation with pictures. Similar to out MU cables with the exception that yours seem to be more secure once in the socket. While our MU covers double as socket locks to some extent they are not ratchetable like this.

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Typical Railroader-Tired, Broke, Hungry, Sick, and Mad
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:iconshenanigan87:
~shenanigan87 Aug 14, 2008  Hobbyist Photographer
I must admit, I haven't seen an American MU socket up close, the only information I had was from a website that explained it in detail how multiple units were operated. I think the cover is also used to hold the cable when inserted, so I guess this mechanism is just sorta fancier ;)

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Also check out: The Best of shenanigan!
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:iconlabrat-78:
~labrat-78 Aug 14, 2008
Fancier and more practical as it looks like your version would be a lot more secure in severe service.

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Typical Railroader-Tired, Broke, Hungry, Sick, and Mad
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:iconzcochrane:
~ZCochrane Aug 13, 2008  Student Photographer
Mit den verschiedenen Leitungen könnte es auch sein, dass die Loks mit mehreren Systemen ausgerüstet sind. Außer wenn es die gleichen Leitungen sind, natürlich.

Interessantes Bild auf jeden Fall, Danke!

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Güter auf die Bahn!
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:iconshenanigan87:
~shenanigan87 Aug 14, 2008  Hobbyist Photographer
Ich würde sagen es waren die gleichen, aber es sah einfach komisch aus, dass da vier Anschlüsse drangeschraubt waren ;) Die Loks unterschieden sich teils in diesem Bereich, also der ganze Vorbau unten mit der Kupplung und den Pufferbohlen war bei den einen etwas anders ausgeführt als bei den anderen. Teils sahen die Schrauben wie auf dem Bild oben links etwas neuer aus als der Rest, von daher keine Ahnung was die da wohl gebastelt haben.

--
Also check out: The Best of shenanigan!
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