The Fe 4/4 is interesting because they were the first of their kind to feature a so-called Vielfachsteurung for Pendelzüge (remote control system for push-pull service with cab control units) an they saw service as interurban units in permanent arrangements of two double two-axle units and a four axle cab control unit. Especially the white and sky blue livery of the Zürich - Meilen - Rapperswill line was famous and earned the units the soubriquet "Arbeiter Pullman" (Worker Pullman) The other standard green units served on the Basel - Olten line.

These units also pioneered other features like the first true automatic door closing system, where the doors were opened by hands and kept so, until the engineer released them via the Vielfachsteurungskabel.

In 1931 the first units - 18 501 - 18 508 were reassigned and rebuilt to fit their new duties on the Seetal line. The revisions mainly focused on the brakes which were upgraded with an electrical brake system. In 1938 another batch of the units - 18 509 18 511 - were likewise upgraded to serve in the Vallée de Joux and on the Puidoux - Chexbrs - Vevey line. However the technology had inmproved and the electrical brakes of the second batch were substantially stronger. the rest of the units served on without upgrades. But in general they were all assigned to less prestigious duties as the demand for more powerful units increased on the lines to which they originally were built.

In 1947-48 all units were renumbered to 801 - 831 and again in 1959 were they received their final numbering 1661 - 1685. But there was one more renumbering left: In 1963 the SBB discontinued the unit Fe designation and redesignated all units of the class to De.

Today only two units remain. SBB Historic has a beautifully restored unit - Fe 4/4 18 518 - in Arbeiter Pullman livery on permanent display at Verkehrshaus Luzern (at present it resides at the depot at Erstfeld, while the 125 Jahre Gotthard exhibition takes up its usual position at the Verkehrshaus) and a fully functional all green unit - De 4/4 1679 - for historical rail excursions.

In the sixties the SBB retired their venerable Fe 4/4's in order to give them a much needed midlife upgrade. The result thereof was a new looking Triebwagen built on the sturdy frame of the Fe 4/4. The new casing was an all steel construction with a distinct boxy look and all the other design characteristics of the SBB - large front windows, rearview mirrors etc. The new units varied a little in details and they too underwent some changes as part of scheduled revisions unti they were finally decomissioned in the late eighties.

The De 4/4 saw service mainly on branchlines; a maximum speed of 80 km/h did not allow for mainline service. Most noticeable was the service on the Seetalbahn, were the served next to another SBB legend the De 6/6 Seetal-Krokodil.

1. From 1929 - 1939: In the famous "Arbeiter Pulmann" livery. Then standard SBB green.
2. Restored to original configuration and livery and on permanent display at Verkehrshaus Luzern.
3. In the mid fifties the "Seetaler" Fe 4/4's were repainted in a red brown livery.
4. Due to fire damage 1685 was taken out of service in 04. 1967. In 1972 it was rebuilt and -classified as
   Be 4/4 12 001 and served as testing platform for BBC until decommissioned.

The Seetalbahn is a standard-gauge railway of the Swiss Federal Railways between Lenzburg and Luzern in Switzerland. The track, when created, was originally named the Swiss Lake Valley Railway Company and was owned by British investors. The passengers included tourists from Luzern doing sightseeing tours to the Hallwilersee and Baldeggersee lakes. On September 3, 1883, the first section was opened. Expansions of the main line followed, as well as a short branch line between Beinwil and Beromünster. The branch line was closed down, however, in 1997.

Before it was purchased by the Swiss Confederation and integrated in the Swiss Federal Railways in 1922, the Seethalbahn (spelling of the period) even had restaurant carriages. It was a pioneer of the electrification of Switzerland's railways, starting electric service in 1910 with 5500 V 25 Hz a.c. In 1930 SBB normalized the electrification to 15 kV 16 2/3 Hz.

The Seetalbahn had the worst safety record of all Swiss Federal Railways lines, caused by many unguarded level crossings and the circumstances that it was originally constructed as a long distance tramway. In the villages between Lenzburg and Emmen it still runs beside roads and adjacent houses.

Hence you will see the De 4/4's sporting a special yellow and orange safety livery, as well as the standard green or purple. In all we will have all ten De's available all representing different states of their service life.
 

"Arbeiterpullman"

Fe 4/4 517 & 518 + 2 x Doppel-Anhängewagen + Zugführungswagen Bt4. We intend to build a complete train set, but until we have sufficient reference material about the passenger coaches the project is in hibernation.

This project is supported by