The IC 4 Zurich – Singen – Stuttgart and its predecessors
Part 1: 2010 to 2023 Re 4/4 II and EC coaches
The Re 4/4 II have been in service with SBB for 60 years, but their use is steadily declining. Until the end of 2023, the Intercity IC 4 was one of the last scheduled SBB express trains hauled by Re 4/4 II. We are taking the changeover to double-decker KISS multiple-unit trains from Deutsche Bahn DB as an opportunity to take a look back at the past of this international connection. This will be done in 3 parts so that the story is not too long. We accept that this railway history does not look back more than 25 years into the past in the first two parts, as is usual.
In the first part, the last few years with Re 4/4 II and EC coaches are documented with a few pictures. Although not all trains Zurich – Singen ran on to Stuttgart, the same consists were in use, which is why we have cheated a little and also used pictures of such trains in order to show as many different photo locations and train variants as possible.
For many years, Re 4/4 II locomotives of the first series with only one pantograph were primarily assigned to the IC 4 services. Here, on April 20, 2022 near Altenburg, Re 4/4 II 11121 with IC 4 489 crosses a goods train that had been waiting at the narrowing to single track until Neuhausen. For many years, the attached carriages had a uniform colour scheme. April 20, 2022 Photo Edi Meier, BülachRe 4/4 II 11114 with the classic composition of IC 4 488 arrives at Oerlikon station on August 28, 2021. The Re 4/4 II’s paint has faded and the overhaul deadline has been extended by performing a summary technical inspection. Behind the train you can see the 80 metre long former administration building of MFO (Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon, one of the manufacturers of the Re 4/4 II), which was moved by 60 metres in a spectacular operation in May 2012 to make room for an additional track in Oerlikon station. August 28, 2021 Photo Edi Meier, BülachOnly in the last two years have locomotives from the more recent series appeared more frequently. Here, the Re 4/4 II 11172 II is hauling the evening reinforced train IC 4 482 past a gloriously blossoming rape field near Rafz on April 28, 2022.
Should you miss the chrome letters on this Re 4/4 II 11172, you are not wrong: the locomotive came into service as MThB (Mittelthurgau Bahn) Re 4/4 II 21 and inherited the number of the SBB Re 4/4 II 11172, which was decommissioned after an accident, after the end of the MThB. April 28, 2022 Photo Edi Meier, BülachRe 4/4 II could also be photographed under German catenary on IC 4. Here, the former Swiss Express locomotive Re 4/4 II 11141 leaves the city of Singen with IC 187 Singen – Zurich in red standard colour, but still with signet on the front panel and extended buffer beam for the former automatic coupling. September 1st., 2021 Photo Edi Meier, BülachWinter pictures are a rarity in the lowlands. On 14 January 14, 2021, there was a thick and very heavy layer of wet snow in Bülach. I put on sturdy hiking boots and knee-high gaiters. So I trudged into the Hardwald forest between Bülach and Glattfelden. Several times I had to crawl under small trees that the snow had pushed almost to the ground. All around, branches or trees collapsed with a crash under the weight of the snow. I photographed at this spot for around an hour and a half. To be honest, I was glad when I escaped from the forest unharmed. The Re 4/4 II 11121 with the almost 50 minutes late IC 4 487 passes the cut slope with an icy front.
January 14, 2021 Photo Edi Meier, BülachRe 4/4 II 11108 was still running in Swiss Express colours at the time of this photo and was also the oldest SBB mainline locomotive still in regular service. It headed the IC 4 regularly until the end. Here it appeared in front of the photographer’s lens in Niederglatt on June 1st., 2020, no longer in pristine white, with train IC 4 488. June 1st., 2020 Photo Edi Meier, BülachFollowing obtained authorisation in Germany, SBB Personenverkehr had rented some Re 4/4 II 421s from SBB Cargo for the Zurich – Munich trains. The Re 4/4 II 421 379 was heading north near Rafz on August 12, 2018 with the IC 280 Zurich – Stuttgart. Behind the locomotive the buildings of the former brickworks are visible. Serviceable reserve locomotives of this stock were gladly assigned to the service of IC 4, as they were back in Zurich after three hours. August 12, 2018 Photo Edi Meier, BülachBy far the most famous spot of the line should not be missing in this report: the Rhine bridge between Eglisau and Hüntwangen. Two hours before the last photo is taken, Re 4/4 II 421 371 crosses the imposing viaduct in the most beautiful morning light with IC 282 (still without the number 4, which was only introduced in 2020) Zurich – Stuttgart and standardised rolling stock. Two cargo locomotives were in operation that day. August 12, 2018 Photo Edi Meier, BülachSBB Cargo’s Re 4/4 II 421 383 presents itself in the short-lived livery advertising the new faster Zurich – Munich connection, which ironically meant replacing it with Astoro multiple units (and as it turned out, hardly ever worked out in terms of time).
The photo with the IC 4 280 was taken on September 04, 2020 near Hüntwangen (behind the train a loading track of the gravel works). On the left of the picture you can see the last cars of IC 4 183 after the scheduled crossing in the double track section between Rafz and Hüntwangen. September 04, 2020 Photo Edi Meier, BülachThe appearance at the very end was inconsistent. On IC 183 Singen – Zurich, a modernised first class coach Apm with a new door and red line in the roof edge runs in first place behind the Re 4/4 II 11154. This photo spot with the rocks of the Glatt river loop is only possible for a few days. Before that there is no continuous sun on the track and soon the rock face is hidden behind the leaves of the forest.
March 09, 2022 Photo Edi Meier, BülachAnother photo under German catenary between Thayngen and Schaffhausen. The locomotive on IC 4 189 is Re 4/4 II 11303 and in second place is a modernised Bpm. Locomotive 11303 was once one of the test vehicles for LZB (linear train control). That would certainly be a topic of interest one day… Who has any information?
There were also rare deployments of panorama coaches instead of the Apm, which unfortunately I can’t document. The only time with a camera ready to shoot I was standing in an outside curve and the last car (panorama car) was obscured.
September 1st., 2021 Photo Edi Meier, BülachHowever, non-uniformly painted trailer loads also existed earlier. Behind the Re 4/4 II 11218 on the IC 185 Stuttgart – Zurich the first class coach Apm runs in the old grey/anthracite colour scheme. On November 06, 2011 the forest near Bülach shone in great autumn colours. The picture was taken at the same place as the winter picture already shown. November 06, 2011 Photo Edi Meier, BülachBehind the Re 4/4 II 11227 on the IC 185 Stuttgart – Zurich is an Apm in the Cisalpino design. We willl come back to this in part 2 of the story. The rest of the train consisting of Bpm has the new colour scheme. The photo was taken on 5 May 2011 near Jestetten.
Until 2017, the standard rake consisted of 1 Apm and 4 Bpm, then a fifth Bpm was added. Photo Edi Meier, BülachThis photo is doubly special: On IR 2587 Schaffhausen – Zurich, an Apm coach which still has the Cisalpino colour scheme is running behind Re 4/4 II 11229. And the Re 4/4 II already has the new headlights of the HVZ conversion version, but has not yet been repainted! Photo taken near Höri on October 27, 2013 Photo Edi Meier, BülachOnly very rarely was the train supplemented with reinforcement coaches during the day. Here, two peak traffic coaches ex RIC with lateral corridor are lined up behind the Re 4/4 II 11111. This photo of IC 280 Zurich – Stuttgart was taken near Niederglatt on August 10, 2013 and these additional coaches are probably bringing tired ravers home from the Street Parade. 10 August 2013 Photo Edi Meier, BülachThe Re 4/4 II 11127 has the IC 184 Zurich – Stuttgart train with EC coaches in the old grey/ anthracite design in tow. The picture was taken on June 24, 2010 near Oberglatt. Poorly recognisable behind the buildings: Zurich Kloten Airport June 24, 2010 Photo Edi Meier, BülachAs IC 182, Re 4/4 II 11121 has an EC coach train in the old design in tow. The photo was taken at Höri in September 2010. Presumably it is the IC 182 Zurich – Stuttgart. Yes, the Re 4/4 II were once so shiny, clean and beautifully painted…
September 2010 Photo Edi Meier, Bülach
For comments and additions to this railway history, please contact our Vice President Edi Meier. Thank you for your help.
