Kevin S. Wrote:
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>......
> There are some photos of these rack locomotives in
> operation on the Dalat Branch.
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>
>The DFB website does have a very interesting page on the engines in Vietnam. [
www.furka-bergstrecke.ch]
Unfortunately, there is only a German version. However, you can still look at the many pictures there. Just click on them for a larger view. They give an idea about the early train operation, and of the state the engines were in. Plus, there are many more pictures about the operation "Back to Switzerland". What you may also notice, there were many engines that were left behind. Those were in much worse conditions. Some parts were taken as spares, and some more shipped back later.
Overall, out of the 13 engines that were originally operating, 8 were found by the search team. Out of these 8, four were deemed worthy of restoring, two each of the HG 3/4 and HG 4/4.
The HG 3/4 were the same as the one that was still in Switzerland. Those were restored first. But one of them already needed a major overhaul after only 15 years of operation. The strain put on these engines here, is certainly one reason why the HG 4/4 are going to be virtually new engines.
By the way, the flat-bed trailer seen in post #1 was constructed in Switzerland, specifically for the operation "Back to Switzerland". It had been clear at the time, that no suitable vehicle would be found locally. I'm still full of admiration for those visionaries, and the organizers of the venture to get those engines back at a time when such a thing was almost impossible. One thing they had to tackle were bridges that were considered too weak to get across.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 12/20/2009 09:19AM by Swissboy.