Original page created on 06/12/2017; updated on 10/03/2024.
Brand - Reference
REE VB-185 and VB-188
Type
A4c4B5c5x UIC 66 type in green livery and UIC 67 in C160 livery.
| UIC number | Revision date |
| 51 87 44-70 277-1 4 | 17.9.71 |
| Home base: Bordeaux | |
| 51 87 44-70 334-0 5 | 21.4.72 |
| Home base: Paris-Conflans | |
Weight
137 g (NEM: 113 to 146 g)
Comments
The roof has a still visible and rather irregular junction. The three-point suspension is quite theoretical because the chassis does not lean on the bogies. There are still no brass bearings, and the rolling ability of some of the coaches is not very good. The gangways do not stand vertically. In short, nothing has changed!
See:
- Loco-Revue Forum.
- gamos81.altervista.org for the reference list of issued UIC coach models.
Modifications
- 3-point sitting restored by interposition of 0.3 mm shims glued on the bogie frame, bosses side.
- 11-LED lighting strip powered by wires wound on the axles and
controlled by latching reed switch. See the pictures.
History
Coaches according to the UIC specifications (Y type), 24.5 m long, delivered from 1968 to 1973 by De Dietrich and CIMT Lorraine. See the full list opposite, with delivery dates and regions of assignment.
Main characteristics: seats (sitting/lying) 24/16 in 1st class; 40/30 in 2nd class. Empty weight: 43.5 t. Speed limit: 150 then 160 km/h. All these coaches have raised roofs. Y24a1s bogies.
Some coaches are equipped with “Couchettes libres” indicators on the 1st class side.
Documents
- Loco-Revue sheet No. 318 / 70 c 27 (former series).
- Loco-Revue No. 627 of July/August 1999, p. 30-35.
- Ferrovissime No. 6 of June 2008, p. 16-22.
- Ferrovissime No. 8 of September 2008, p. 45-54.
- Wikipedia article.
- eurocity64.fr website.
- trains-europe.fr website.
- DocRail website.
Photo J.-M. Frybourg in Encyclopédie des voitures SNCF, ed. 1990, p. 306.
Anonymous photo on DocRail.
| Dimension | Actual | 1:87 | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall length | 24 500 | 281.6 | 282.5 |
| Chassis length | 23 200 | 266.7 | 266.5 |
| Width | 2 880 | 33.1 | 33.4 |
| Height | 4 230 | 48.6 | 48.7 1 |
| Pivot distance | 17 200 | 197.7 | 197.3 |
| Bogie wheelbase | 2 300 | 26.4 | 26.5 |
| Wheel diameter | 920 | 10.6 | 10.6 |
|
|||
| List of the UIC
A4c4B5c5x UIC. Sources: eurocity64.fr and Le matéreil moteur de la SNCF by Jacques Defrance, ed. 1977. |
||||
| Type | Deliv. | UIC No. | Number | Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UIC 65 | 1968 | 51 87 44-70 281 to 305 | 25 | Sud-Ouest |
| UIC 66 | 1968 | 51 87 44-70 251 to 280 | 30 | Sud-Ouest |
| UIC 66 | 1968 | 51 87 44-70 306 to 315 | 10 | Est |
| UIC 67 | 1972 | 51 87 44-70 316 to 365 | 50 | Sud-Est |
| UIC 71 | 1973 | 51 87 44-70 366 to 375 (exc. 371) | 9 | Sud-Est |
| UIC 71 | 1973 | 51 87 44-70 376 to 395 | 20 | Est |
| UIC 71 | 1973 | 51 87 44-70 396 to 425 (exc. 403) | 29 | Nord |
These coaches have the same qualities and defects as the previous ones, namely a correct appearance (with door windows a little too small) and many details that are already mounted: nothing is to be added by the amateur.
The interior fittings are in day position. For the night, it will be necessary to lower the blinds, i.e. to add blinds, because only some windows are equipped.
There are now three drawbar ends of different lengths depending on the radius of the curves to be travelled. For me, this choice is a second best: at other brands, Roco in particular, the circulation with almost joined buffers is possible regardless of the curve’s radius. The holding of these drawbar ends seems a little weak, in any case much more than the coupling heads’.