FIRE-FIGHTING and RESCUE TRAIN
For many years Fire-fighting and Rescue trains ** have been based at strategic locations throughout the Swiss rail
network. The two types in service were introduced in either 1976 or 1996 and both shared the same disadvantage
of needing a separate diesel locomotive to provide motive power. With this problem in mind and in anticipation
of the Lötschberg Base Tunnel opening in 2007 the first of a new generation of self-propelled trains has been
delivered to the SBB at Brig during the Summer of 2004.
** German = Lösch- und Rettungszug (LRZ)
French = Train d'extinction et de sauvetage (TES)
Italian = Treno di spegnimento e di salvataggio (TSS)
The new train consists of an Equipment Vehicle and a Rescue Vehicle, both of which are self-propelled and based on the MPV produced by Windhoff GmbH in Germany. In addition there is an unpowered Fire-Fighting car (built by Josef Meyer Waggon AG) that remains permanently coupled to the Equipment Vehicle. Specialised fire and safety equipment is provided by Dräger Safety AG.
Both the Swiss Federal Railways and BLS were closely involved in the trains development and a similar one equipped with two Rescue Vehicles, is being supplied to the BLS and will be based at Frütigen.
The SBB Fire fighting and Rescue Train at Brig Station in September 2004. The 3-car train is 59 m. long and weighs approx. 234 t. Its 4 diesel engines develop 1250 kW of power and can propel the train at speeds of up to 100 km/h.
Equipment Vehicle (Gerätefahrzeug) XTmas 80 85 9882925-3
The Driving Cab of this vehicle will also normally be used as the control centre
for the firefighting operations. The fire fighting monitors on the roof of this vehicle and the Fire fighting car
can be controlled remotely from this cab. Foam and water connections are also provided outside the vehicle which
enable hoses to be used to attack the fire. A self-protection device is also fitted to the vehicle to provide a
water curtain should it be required to enter an area where the fire is burning close to the track. Breathing air
bottles are stored in the roof of the vehicle to supply face masks in the driving/control cab and a slight overpressure
can also be created in the cab to prevent the ingress of smoke. The onboard compressor can supply 1000 ltrs/min
of breathing air at 300 bar pressure in order to replenish the bottles at the end of the operation. The compressor
is powered by a 50 kW generator which also feeds the lighting and other electrical systems. The vehicle is driven
by two diesel engines that provide approx. 660 kW of power.
Fire-fighting Car (Tanklöschwagen) Xas 80 85 9802924-3
The unpowered Fire-fighting car is permanently coupled to the Equipment vehicle.
It is equipped with a Driving Cab and can also be used as a control vehicle if required. A diesel-driven pump takes
water from the 50 m3 stainless
steel tank and supplies the roof mounted monitors and the flexible hose connections. This
pump is located in a compartment at the opposite end to the driving cab along with the Compressed Air Foam System
(CAFS) and its associated tank. Breathing air is supplied to the Driving Cab from bottles mounted beneath the vehicle.
Rescue Vehicle (Rettungsfahrzeug) XTmas 80 85 9882 926-1
When the train reaches the incident the Rescue Vehicle can be detached and using
its own diesel engines act as a shuttle to evacuate injured persons and other passengers to a safe location. The
rescue container is supplied with breathing air from bottles mounted on the roof and can accomodate 9 casualties
on stretchers or up to 70 people standing. 
INTERESTING LINKS:
Windhoff GmbH http://www.windhoff.de/e/index_wh.htm
Rollout photos of Fire & Rescue Train http://www.windhoff.de/e/v1/lrz/index.htm
Josef Meyer Waggon AG http://www.josefmeyer.ch
Draeger Safety AG http://www.draeger.com/ST/internet/CH/de/index.jsp
Bern LRZ http://www.sbblrz.ch/lrz/lrz_start.htm