Page created on 10/02/2024.
Brand - Reference
Roco 70460
Type
A1A A1A 68050 with original cab. Depot of Limoges.
Mass / Current at slipping @ 12 V
415 g / 0,46 A
Comments
The wheels are not burnished, but they do have a plastic cover showing the transmission details. All six axles are powered. So it’s not an A1A A1A, but a CC! The end axle of each bogie has its two tyred wheels.
Lifting the body is easy: just spread the sides. The internal wiring is simple and clear. At last, the circuit uses LEDs. There is no electrical connection between the chassis and the body. The cabs and the 3rd front lights are illuminated by light ducts. This makes it easy to program the decoder when the body is removed, as it is possible to control the lighting of all the lights.
As for the 3rd front lights, they are switched on by default. This means that in digital mode, you have to press a function button to switch them off. It’s quite easy to reverse this behaviour by programming, at least with an ESU decoder.
DC electrical measurements, machine not run-in: start-up from 2.8 to 3 V; slip current 0.46 A and stalled motor current 1.3 A at 12 V.
As the manual doesn’t translate well into either French or English when it comes to assigning the decoder’s physical outputs, here it is, in ESU notation.
| Output | Assignment |
|---|---|
| AUX1 | Rear red lights |
| AUX2 | Front red lights |
| AUX3 | Cab 1 |
| AUX4 | Cab 2 |
| AUX5 | 3rd light 1 |
| AUX6 | 3rd light 2 |
See gamos81.altervista.org for the list of references of issued 68000 models.
Modifications
- Mounting of handrails.
- ESU Lokpilot 5 DCC PluX22 decoder.
- Front elongating device removed (no NEM box visible yet).
History
Locomotives built in 80 units from 1963 to 1968 by Compagnie des Ateliers et Forges de la Loire (C.A.F.L.), Compagnie de Construction électro-mécanique (C.E.M.) and Fives-Lille-Cail (F.L.C.). UIC Power 1660 kW (Sulzer diesel engine type 12 LVA 24, 12 cylinders, direct injection, 1980 kW). Maximum speed: 120 km/h (130 km/h in Caen). Weight in running order 106 t.
The 68000 are slightly more powerful than the BB 67000 (UIC 1260 kW), with whom they can be coupled in multiple unit. The main difference is that they embed a boiler for steam heating of trains. A system of interchangeable holds made it possible to adjust the load on the trailing axles. It has been used very little, and the load is set at 18 t per driving axle, which allows these machines to run on almost all tracks.
The A1AA1A 68005 was built as 68501.
The A1A A1A 68050 entered service in June 1966 at Limoges. It was transferred in September 1976 to Tours St Pierre, where it was written off in February 2004.
There was no 68000 in the Nord in the 1960s and
70s. Those who came to the area were probably based in Caen, as 68046
and 68047 in original livery and cabs, visible in Boulogne sur mer in
1973 in this photo of Michel Costes
(railpictures.net).
Documents
- Loco-Revue sheet no 595/596/12/1977 -
52nd series (former series). Sheet preview.
- Assignments at eurocity64.
- Assignment chronology, according to eurocity64.
- Photos on RailFanEurope.
- Wikipedia Article.
- trains-europe.fr website.
- Roco instruction leaflet.
| Dimension | Actual | 1:87 | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall length | 18 010 | 207.0 | 207.0 |
| Chassis length | 16 720 | 192.2 | 192.3 |
| Width | 2 920 | 33.6 | 34.3 |
| Height | 4 280 | 49.2 | 49.8 |
| Pivot distance | 9 500 | 109.2 | 109.0 |
| Bogie wheelbase | 3 000 | 34.5 | 34.4 |
| Driving wheel diameter | 1 250 | 14.4 | 14.3 |
| Trailing wheel diameter | 950 | 10.9 | 10.8 |
This figure varied subsequently because some exchanges
between the 68000 and 68500 series happened.
Document available as a PDF.
If you are interested, please let me know by e-mail,
specifying the title of the document-s.
For conditions, see page
Loco-Revue documentary sheets. .
No surprises on unboxing. The handrails still have to be fitted. There are no spares: ideally, the front plastic handrails should be glued on, but this won’t be easy from the inside. The handrails are delivered uncut: cutting pliers are essential, and if possible deburring, otherwise there’s a risk of scratching the paintwork on the body.
The instructions are as succinct as usual.
The markings are very fine: depot name, end numbers. The side plates are raised and silver-coloured: there are no photo-etched plates to stick on as on the previous model with reinforced cabs.
Note: end cab 1 is the one with three chrome trim bars.