Exclusive importer for Belgium and Luxembourg
ViTrains products are only available via the official hobbyshops.
Euro-scale, for the Idea, the
preparation
and supervision of the dossier
et
ViTrains Models
For the conception of the plans
and moulds, and for the assembling
Have the pleasure to introduce to the
public of Belgian and International
Train Fans the exact replica in H0 scale of the quadricurrent
electric engine Class 16 of the Belgian State Railways (SNCB)
The model is equipped with a central Igarachi motor with two flywheels and transmission by a double-Cardan system on the four axles, of which two are equipped with bindings. A mass of 480 grams gives him a great power of traction under all the possible operating conditions. It is equipped with a switch to work with track or overhead line power, of NEM 362 coupler boxes, a NEM digital interface and inversion of lights according to the riding direction. A bogie is designed to receive a shoe for the 3-rails AC system. A original version in 3-rails AC is planned for the end 2007 (see the catalogue). The model is also designed to allow the installation of a LokSound decoder with loudspeaker.
15 different versions will be made. They'll be delivered within two years, the six first delivered in 2007 (see the catalogue), and the first one to be delivered in July (Art. 2164 - 1604 Era IV-V).
The imposed public price is 179 euro for the versions with 3 pantographs in 2-rails DC analogic. The imposed public price for "FRECCIA DEL SOLE" version with the 4th pantograph in 2-rails DC analogic is 187 euros. The price for the versions in 3-rails AC digital is currently under study and will be notified later.
A little history of the Class 16
in the middle of the 60's, with the development of international Express trains & TEE Trains, the Belgian State Railways became aware of the need of a new electric engine for the trains in order to ride outside of the country without any engine change and time losses.
The longest runs in Belgium were only about three hours long, with sometimes a heading change (between Ličge Guillemins and Paris North Station). All the foreign rail networks had opted for a different electrical system : 1.5 Kv (Dutch Railways), 15 kV 16 2/3 Hz (German Railways), 25 kV 50 Hz (French and Luxembourg Railways).
With the collaboration of the ACEC in Charleroi and the Brugeoise & Nivelles in Bruges, the Belgian Railways Study Office designed a quadricurrent engine first named Class 160 and later modified in Class 16. The European Locomotive by excellence was born.
Build only at 8 pieces from 1966, the Class 16 engines have known a career that few engines from other European railroad networks could be able to achieve, even today.
In 1974 the 1601 and 1602 carried out an exploit never reedited by other electric engines. From May to September, they rode from Brussels South Station to Spiez (Swizerland) with the touristic train "FRECCIA DEL SOLE" (Brussels - Rimini) on a ride of 743 km long, crossing the borders of 4 countries (Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Swizerland) and riding on 5 different networks under 3 electrical current systems : 3 kV (Belgium), 25 kV 50 Hz (France & Luxembourg), 15 kV 16 2/3 Hz (Swizerland, on Federal Railways and on the Bern Lotschberg Simplon private railroad- BLS).
They had the privilege to ride with many TEE Trains : On the Paris-Brussels axis with the « BRABANT », « ILE DE FRANCE », « ETOILE DU NORD », « OISEAU BLEU », « RUBENS » and « MEMLING » trains, on the Paris –Ličge – Köln axis with the « PARSIFAL » , « MOLIERE », « PARIS RHUR » trains, and on the Brussels - Ličge – Köln axis with the « DIAMANT » and « SAPHIR » trains.
No less important were the many express trains on the Paris-Ličge-Kobenhavn / Stockolm axis like the « NORD EXPRESS », « PARIS SKANDINAVIEN EXPRESS » and « VIKING EXPRESS » trains, but also to Eastern Europe like the « OST WEST EXPRESS » train from Paris to Moscow and Leningrad, the « JAN KIEPURA » from Bruxelles to Warschau and Moscow, the « TAUERN EXPRESS » from Oostende to Split and the « OOSTENDE WIEN EXPRESS » from Oostende to Vienna.
After more than 40 years of a noble career on the rails all around Europe, from Paris to Dortmund, Köln to Oostende, Paris to Brussels and Ličge and Brussels to Spiez, the Class 16 (reduced to 5 units) is still of great use today on the Belgian lines.
Class 16 : The Dream becomes Reality !
According to the timing, we present you on this website the first moulding tests of the HO scale model of the Class 16 from ViTrains.
For this model, this firm inaugurates a new range of Igarachi (Skewed) motors. This type of electric motor has the characteristic to have a skewed rotor, which confers him a flexibility of rotation without dead point, like with commutation of the brushes on the collector, as well as a quieter and more powerfull operation than for the current brand of motors.
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July 2007
Imposed public price : 179,00 euro
September 2007
Imposed public price : 179,00 euro
October 2007
Imposed public price : 187,00 euro
November 2007
Imposed public price : 179,00 euro
Décember 2007
Imposed public price : 179,00 euro
Era IV - 2 rails DC
Décember 2007
Imposed public price : 190,00 euros
Era IV - 3 rails AC (ESU decoder)
November 2007
Imposed public price : 249,00 euro
Photo : Robert Gaberell
November 2007
Imposed public price : 233,00 euro
More, the pantographs type AM of the Class 16 will
be sold separately as spare parts or superdetailing parts for class 15,
18, 26 etc.
They will be made in sets : 2 DC 3 Kv (for Class 26 for example), 1 DC 3Kv
& 1 AC 25 Kv (for Class 15 or SNCF CC4010), or 1 DC 3Kv (SNCB) + 1 15Kv AC
(DB) & 1 AC 25Kv (SNCF) for Class 18.
Flush glazing, fully articulated, independent coupled units, headlight with led connected to micro connectors, red/white directional LED lightning, electrical connectors between coach with micro connectors, pick-up on all axles, prepared for AC, prepared for Digital and sound, Sommerfeldt pantographs, will work from track or overhead, 5-pole central motor, metal chassis, Cardan transmission, exact scale bogies, high quality finish, realistic Add-on detail pack.
Art. 1001 - Advised public price : 295 euro
Super-details not assembled on pictures.
Headlight with led connected to micro connectors, red/white directional LED lightning, pick-up on all axles, prepared for AC, will work from track or overhead, FS 52/92 Pantographs, prepared for Digital and sound, 5-pole central motor, metal chassis, Drive by 2 Cardan shafts, axles & wheels of burnished brass, exact scale bogies, high quality finish, realistic Add-on detail pack.
Art. 2001 - Advised public price : 180,00 euro
Super-details not assembled on pictures.
