Berliners called them “Coke cans.” Series 485 trains continued to rattle faithfully along the tracks of his S-Bahn rapid transit system in Berlin for decades. Currently, his 22 cars, the last of the old trains, were the first to be commissioned and manufactured. German Democratic Republic (GDR) Back wall dividing berlinand Germany is retreating east and west.
On November 12th, the old 485 will make its final run around the city before being retired.
Germany is actually modernizing the entire country Deutsche Bahn railway network As part of our efforts to make rail travel more energy efficient, Support climate change goals.
For Deutsche Bahn’s long-suffering customers, such a move cannot come soon enough. They complain that Germany’s reputation for good, on-time trains has waned for some time, with frequent delays, cancellations and slow and outdated rolling stock. Breaks down too often.
Pioneering technology of the 1970s
But “coke can” trains were state-of-the-art technology in the 1970s, when East Germany’s Reichsbahn commissioned its first rolling stock from its factory in Henningsdorf, northwest of Berlin.
Registered in East Berlin as the 270 series (renamed 485 after moving west), the vehicle boasts a lightweight aluminum shell and can recover energy to generate electricity to power the train. It was equipped with a state-of-the-art braking system. .
The new model underwent several test runs in the late 1980s, but it was not until the early 1990s that all vehicles were ready for operation. The Berlin Wall had fallen and the process of German unification was well underway. The newly lacquered cars drove around the entire city, not just Berlin’s eastern districts.
Since then, the vehicle has undergone several changes, including a change in style. From 2002 onwards, the bright crimson hue of the vehicles was replaced by the Berlin S-Bahn’s iconic burgundy red and ocher combination. But beyond the cosmetic changes, the Model 485 proved to be surprisingly robust. Berlin originally planned to phase them out in the mid-2000s, but only started replacing them with the new 483 and 484 models last year.
design flaw
Older 485s had much weaker motors than newer models and had several design flaws, including a snowflake-like air-cooling ventilation system that could slip through slots and melt and damage electronic components. There is likely to be.
The new trains use a separate channel to cool the electronics in the undercarriage, protecting them from the weather outside. Newer models are also more wheelchair accessible. While the 485 model left a small gap between the platform and the train, the new version sits flush with the station platform.
The final death of the 485 came with the introduction of a remote-controlled train safety system that facilitated speed monitoring and emergency braking monitoring. Old vehicles had to be retired because they were not compatible with the new system.
Aesthetically, the 485 looks old. The blocky train, with a flat slate windshield on the driver’s carriage, is a curvy, high-tech version of his new 484 series, which the Berlin S-Bahn likens to “his iPad speeding.” It has a nostalgic look compared to its elegance.
Announcing the retirement of the 485 series, Peter Buchner, managing director of Berlin S-Bahn, said: “With air conditioning, modern displays and camera technology, the trains offer passengers greater comfort, capacity and reliability. We will provide it.” “After 36 years of service, we can say goodbye to the 485 Series and enjoy a well-deserved retirement.”
formal farewell
S-Bahn Berlin sends out the 485 in style.
On November 12, every hour from 9:57 a.m. to 1:57 p.m., four 485 trains from all directions will gather at Schöneweide station and stand side by side for a moment of silence. After five ‘rendezvous’, two trains depart from his S-Bahn network. The remaining two cars will proceed in the opposite direction along Berlin’s Ringbahn, stopping once at Beusselstraße station before making the final journey to their final destination, Schöneweide. Estimated arrival time: 3:17 p.m.
German history on rails
The history of the Model 485 coincides with the changes in Germany after unification.
The original factory where the trains were manufactured was named after Hans Beimler, a communist politician and Nazi resistance fighter who escaped from the Dachau concentration camp and was hailed as a hero of East Germany.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, factories that produced everything from trains to household appliances to garden furniture were split up and sold off. The railway division was acquired by the German group AEG and later by the Canadian group Bombardier. In the process, most of the factory’s employees were laid off.
To commemorate the retirement of the last Type 485, Berlin S-Bahn is selling hundreds of seats on its trains and giving the thickly upholstered seats a second life as furniture and souvenirs for railway enthusiasts.
And not all cars are scrapped. Berlin plans to keep one of his Model 485s intact. It has been donated to the German Technical Museum as part of its permanent exhibition.
Editor: Elizabeth Grenier
