Original page created on 20/03/2020; updated on 11/03/2025.
Brand - Reference
Jouef HJ4122-3
Type
A4Dtuxj TEE 66 called “Mistral 69” coach with generator.
| UIC number | Revision date |
| 61 87 81-89 717-7 | 8.8.74 |
Weight
167 g; 139 g after decreasing weight (NEM: 118 to 153 g).
Comments
The Jouef model UIC number places it in the first series, mounted on Y26 D/E bogies with mechanical suspension. It appears that the bogies here are of the air suspension type.
The coach runs very well. Curiously, the bogie pivots are oiled (the bearings too…).
In terms of details, the steps are not easy to set up, and limit the bogie rotation. Perhaps it would have been better if the steps were attached to them. The jumpers have no location, only a moulded stump is present on the chassis. The ugly wheels are very shiny and have 1.1 mm flanges. Their internal distance is 14.3 mm, not in accordance with NEM (14.5 ± 0.1).
Above the buffer beam, there is a curious platform in addition to the mobile gangway, which would make the work of the coupling man complicated to say the least. The mobile gangway is not of the correct type.
The interior fittings are moulded in a single part. Unlike its siblings, this coach is not easy to disassemble. There seem to be glued areas between the chassis, the fittings and the body. This will not facilitate interior decoration. Reinforcing crosspieces block the body ends: it will be necessary to mill them for the lighting! Finally, the technical indication plates are very easily unglued, and there is no indication of where to put them back exactly, except for traces of glue.
In conclusion, these coaches are quite disappointing for the price and especially compared to the latest DEV coaches released, which are cheaper and yet more detailed.
See:
- Forum Loco-Revue.
- gamos81.altervista.org for the reference list of issued Mistral 69 coaches.
Modifications
- One ballast plate (26 g) removed.
- Installation of home-made electric jumpers.
- Electrical equipment: current pickup by brass bearings. 3-pole conductive coupling to power the train. Tail lamps. Control of the whole by function decoder.
- Installation of a three point suspension and rectification of height.
- Steps mounted on the bogie at one end, to improve the running in curve.
History
Coaches called Mistral 69, built in two series by Carel et Fouché. First series (type 64-66) delivered in 1968 and 1969 for the Paris - Marseille - Nice (Le Mistral), Paris - Dortmund (Paris - Ruhr) and Paris - Brussels - Amsterdam routes. Second series (type 70) delivered in 1973 and 1974 to strengthen the previous routes and for the Paris - Milan route (Le Cisalpin).
These coaches consist of a part accessible to travellers (unlike the A2Dx PBA), fitted with a central corridor, a service half-compartment fitted out like a 2nd class UIC coach, a van, and a generator set room.
Main characteristics: tare 56.5 t; 21 seats, air-conditioned; speed limit 160 km/h. Bogies Y26 D/E with mechanical suspension for the first series, and Y26 P with pneumatic suspension for the second. 660 hp (486 kW) Poyaud Diesel generator group with 580 kVA alternator (these last figures seem contradictory).
Sources : Encyclopédie des voitures SNCF, pages 341 to 351 (issue 1990) ; Le Train, les Archives de la DEV, volume 2, pages 28 to 63.
Documents
- AFAC - Chemins de Fer No. 297 of 1972.
- Les voitures TEE inox 1964-1966 in Le Train, Les archives de la DEV volume 2.
- Encyclopédie des voitures SNCF, pages 341 to 351.
- Wikipedia article.
- trains-europe.fr website.
- eurocity64.fr website.
- DocRail website.
A4Dtuxj TEE 66 coach - Photo G. Coudert in Le Train - Archives de la DEV vol. 2.
| Dimension | Actual | 1:87 | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall length | 25 500 | 293.1 | 293.5 |
| Body length | 25 140 | 289.0 | 289.5 |
| Chassis length | 24 200 | 278.2 | 282.0 |
| Width | 2 858 | 32.9 | 33.0 |
| Height | 4 050 | 46.6 | 46.7 |
| Pivot distance | 18 100 | 208.0 | 207.8 |
| Bogie wheelbase (Y26) | 2 500 | 28.7 | 28.7 |
| Wheel diameter | 920 | 10.6 | 10.5 |
| D | B | U | |
| 1.1 | 14.3 1 | 23.6 | |
|
|||
| Table of registration from Le matériel moteur SNCF | |||
| Type | Order | UIC No. | Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| A4Dtuxj | 64-66 | 61 87 81-89 711 to 724 | 14 |
| A4Dtuxj | 70 | 61 87 81-89 725 to 729 | 5 |
The first impression is favourable. The appearance is better rendered than on the LS Models’. The black and thinner window joints, as well as the wider red TEE strip (even a little too wide) contribute to this better rendering. But, if we go into the details, it’s less brilliant…