A8u and A8tu “Mistral 69” coaches Jouef

Original page created on 20/03/2020; updated on 11/03/2025.

Brand - Reference

Jouef HJ4122-1 and -2, HJ4123-1 and -2

Type

A8u and A8tu TEE 66 known as “Mistral 69”

UIC number Revision date
61 87 18-89 894-2 5 16.12.74
61 87 18-89 895-9 5 16.4.74
61 87 18-89 924-7 5 12.3.74
61 87 18-89 930-4 5 16.10.74

Weight

165 (A8u) and 162 g (A8tu); around 140 g after decreasing weight (NEM: 118 to 153 g)

Comments

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…

These coaches run 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, apart from the corridor wall for the A8u. Disassembly is easy, both for the roof and for the chassis. However, reinforcing crosspieces block the ends and half of some compartments: 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:

Modifications

  • One ballast plate (26 g) removed.
  • Installation of home-made electric jumpers.
  • Electrical equipment: 3-pole conductive couplings. Tail lamps for the A8tu No. 924.
  • Bogies milled to improve the running in curve with the steps mounted
  • 23.6 mm long axles changed for longer ones (24.0) due to excessive clearance in the bearings.

History

Coaches called Mistral 69, built in two series by Carel et Fouché. First series (type 64-66) delivered from 1968 to 1970 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 are either 8 compartments (A8u), or central corridor (A8tu). The second series of A8tu were bought by the Swiss federal railways (SBB - CFF) for five units and by the Belgian railways (SNCB) for six units.

Main characteristics (A8u / A8tu): tare 45 / 43.5 t; 48 / 46 seats, air-conditioned; speed limit 160 km/h. Bogies Y28 E.

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.
  • Loco-Revue sheet no 295 / 31970 - 70 a 25 (older series). Sheet preview.LR sheet
  • 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.

A8u Mistral 69 coach JouefA8u Mistral 69 coach Jouef

A8tu TEE 66

A8tu TEE 66 coach - Photo J.-P. Demoy in Encyclopédie des voitures SNCF.

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 47.1 1
Pivot distance 18 100 208.0 207.8
Bogie wheelbase (Y28) 2 560 29.4 28.6
Wheel diameter 920 10.6 10.5
D B U
1.1 14.3 2 23.6
  1. Average; varies from 47.0 to 47.4.
  2. NEM: 14.5 ± 0.1.
Table of registration from Le matériel moteur SNCF
Type Order UIC No. Number
A8uj 64-66 61 87 18-89 888 to 914 27
A8uj 70 61 87 18-89 943 to 957 15
A8tuj 64-66 61 87 18-89 915 to 942 28
A8tuj 1 70 61 85 18-89 000 to 004 5
A8tuj 2 70 61 88 18-89 991 to 996 6
Aruxj 3 64-66 61 87 84-89 101 to 104 4
A3rtuj 66 61 87 84-89 036 and 037 2
A3rtuj 70 61 87 84-89 038 to 040 3
A4Dtuxj 64-66 61 87 81-89 711 to 724 14
A4Dtuxj 70 61 87 81-89 725 to 729 5
Vruj 64-66 61 87 88-89 051 to 061 11
Vruj 70 61 87 88-89 062 and 063 2
  1. Property SBB-FFS-CFF.
  2. Property SNCB.
  3. Bar special Mistral with shop, secretary office and hair dressing room.

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. .