RhB Ge6/6 II 703 Electric Locomotive VI (DCC-Sound)

RhB Ge6/6 II 703 Electric Locomotive VI (DCC-Sound)

1:22.5 scale model produced by LGB. This model is ready-to-run straight out of the box and would make a excellent addition to any model railway collection.

Features:

• DCC Sound Model
• Best suited to Epoch VI Model Railways
• This model mainly operates in Germany
• Decorated in RhB company markings
• Best suited to 600mm radius curves
• Directional Lighting
• Multiple Wheel Pickups

Details

The Rhaetian Railway Ge 6/6 II is a class of heavy metre-gauge electric locomotives built for the Rhaetian Railway (RhB), the main narrow-gauge network in Switzerland’s Canton of Graubünden. The Bo'Bo'Bo' six-axle design was developed in response to rising traffic demands in the 1950s, especially the need to haul heavy construction materials for hydroelectric power projects and freight loads over steep alpine routes.

The first two locomotives, numbered 701 “Raetia” and 702 “Curia”, entered service in 1958, followed by five more units (703–707) delivered in 1965. All were built by a consortium of SLM, BBC and MFO, combining robust mechanical engineering with contemporary electrical technology including low-voltage on-load tap-changer control and single-phase traction motors. With a power output of around 1,764 kW and a top speed of 80 km/h, the Ge 6/6 II could haul heavy trains over the challenging gradients of the RhB network, making it an essential workhorse on both freight and express services.

Over time the class was repainted from the original green into RhB red starting in the mid-1980s, and upgrades such as modern single-arm pantographs were fitted in later years. By the early 2020s most units were withdrawn from active service, with a few preserved for heritage purposes. The Ge 6/6 II’s distinctive articulated body, alpine rail legacy, and long service history make it a fascinating and popular prototype for metre-gauge model railway layouts, especially for scenes depicting Swiss alpine freight and passenger operations.