DB Class VT 10.5
| DB Class VT 105 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Number(s) | VT 10 501, VT 10 551 |
| Quantity | 2 |
| Manufacturer |
LHB (501) Wegmann (551) |
| Year(s) of manufacture | 1953 |
| Retired | 1959, 1960 |
| Axle arrangement | B'1'1'1'1'1'1'B' (501) B'2'2'2'2'2'2'2'B' (551) |
| Type | BPw 10ükll (501) WLAB B Pw WR 18ük (551) |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
| Length over couplers |
96,700 mm (317 ft 3 1⁄8 in) (501) 108,900 mm (357 ft 3 3⁄8 in) (551) |
| Height | 3,525 mm (11 ft 6 3⁄4 in) |
| Width | 3,024 mm (9 ft 11 in) |
| Pivot pitch | 12,200 mm (40 ft 3⁄8 in) |
| Bogie wheelbase | 2,200 mm (7 ft 2 5⁄8 in) (power bogies) 2,000 mm (6 ft 6 3⁄4 in) (carrying bogies) |
| Service weight | 104.0 t (102.4 long tons; 114.6 short tons) (501) 122.0 t (120.1 long tons; 134.5 short tons) (551) |
| Axle load | 13.0 t (12.8 long tons; 14.3 short tons) |
| Top speed | 120 km/h (75 mph) (originally) 160 km/h (99 mph) |
| Installed power | 4 × 120 kW (160 hp) (originally) 4 × 150 kW (200 hp) |
| Motor make/model | MAN D 1548 G |
| Motor type | diesel engine |
| Power transmission | Torque converter + gearbox |
| Seats | 135 (501) 12+29 (551) |
The VT 10.5 was a diesel multiple unit that was developed by the Deutsche Bundesbahn in the early 1950s. It was first displayed in public at the International Transport Exhibition in Munich in 1953.
Two train sets were built with significant differences in construction. The day train, "Senator" (VT 10 501), consisted of seven cars, including the front and rear engine unit. The cars were connected by single Jacobs axles. Only the first bogies of the power units were twin-axle bogies, both axles being powered. The "Senator" was on duty between Hamburg and Frankfurt/Main from May 1954 until November 1957.
The night train, "Komet" (VT 10 551), was different from the "Senator" though its shape looked similar at first sight. Its livery was notably different. Instead of single Jacobs axles connecting the cars, twin-axle Jacobs bogies were used. The "Komet" was delivered with 7 (2+5) cars from the outset and soon afterwards equipped with an additional dining car. All available online pictures show the Komet with 8 cars (2+6). In 1956, an additional car (conference car 551i) was built for the first foreign journey by a German President after the Second World War. Due to the train's limited power, another car had to be taken out of the train in order to accommodate car 551i. The conference car is the only surviving unit. "Komet" had better driving characteristics than "Senator", which was described as behaving a bit like a goods wagon.
"Komet" was in service between Zurich and Hamburg from May 1954 until December 1960 and was operated by the DSG (Deutsche Schlafwagen Gesellschaft/German sleeping car company).
The VT 10 501 was built by Linke-Hofmann-Busch in 1953 for the Deutsche Bundesbahn. It was designed as a seven-unit train. Every pair of intermediate cars had a common Jacobs axle; only the power cars had twin-axled, powered bogies.
The VT 10 551 built in 1953 for the Deutsche Schlafwagen- und Speisewagengesellschaft by Wegmann in Kassel and taken over on 1 January 1955 by the Deutsche Bundesbahn. The trailer cars were linked by twin-axled Jacobs bogies; the power cars had twin-axled, powered bogies.
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Wikipedia