DB Class 724
Encyclopedia
The Class 724 operated by the German national railway, Deutsche Bundesbahn
, was a railway department vehicle used for testing Indusi
installations. Only three examples of this class existed.
VT 95 906, one of the original prototypes of its class, was converted in the repair shop (Ausbesserungswerk
or Aw) at Kassel
into a test vehicle for Indusi railway installations. Designated as 6205 Wt it began its new duties on 25 February 1964 at Bahnbetriebswerk
(Bw) Wuppertal
and replaced the measurement draisine
previously used for this task. On 1 January 1968 it was given the number 724 001-3. The installation of testing magnets on both sides of the vehicle in 1971 considerably improved its utility, making it possible to test station entry and exit signals in one pass. Number 724 001 was retired on 18 January 1986 at Bw Heidelberg
. Since then the vehicle was left by itself for many years and eventually stood in a very dilapidated state in front of Worms
locomotive shed. In 2007 the railbus was bought up by the Vulkaneifelbahn and taken away to Gerolstein
, where the intention is to restore it in the medium-term.
No. 724 001 is the last existing Uerdingen railbus prototype, the former Class VT 95.
Deutsche Bundesbahn
The Deutsche Bundesbahn or DB was formed as the state railway of the newly established Federal Republic of Germany on September 7, 1949 as a successor of the Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft '...
, was a railway department vehicle used for testing Indusi
Punktförmige Zugbeeinflussung
PZB or Indusi is an intermittent cab signalling system and train protection system used in Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Romania, Israel and on one line in Canada....
installations. Only three examples of this class existed.
724 001
After its retirement on 21 June 1963, having clocked up 1,236,000 kilometres, the Uerdingen railbusUerdingen railbus
The Uerdingen railbus is the common term for the multiple units which were developed by the German firm of Waggonfabrik Uerdingen for the Deutsche Bundesbahn and private railways after the Second World War. These vehicles were diesel-powered, twin-axle railbuses of light construction...
VT 95 906, one of the original prototypes of its class, was converted in the repair shop (Ausbesserungswerk
Ausbesserungswerk
An Ausbesserungswerk is a railway facility in German-speaking countries, the primary function of which is the repair of railway vehicles or their components. It is thus equivalent to a 'repair shop' or 'works'...
or Aw) at Kassel
Kassel
Kassel is a town located on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Kassel Regierungsbezirk and the Kreis of the same name and has approximately 195,000 inhabitants.- History :...
into a test vehicle for Indusi railway installations. Designated as 6205 Wt it began its new duties on 25 February 1964 at Bahnbetriebswerk
Bahnbetriebswerk
A Bahnbetriebswerk is the equivalent of a locomotive depot on the German and Austrian railways. It is an installation that carries out the maintenance, minor repairs, refuelling and cleaning of locomotives and other motive power. In addition it organises the deployment of locomotives and crews...
(Bw) Wuppertal
Wuppertal
Wuppertal is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in and around the Wupper river valley, and is situated east of the city of Düsseldorf and south of the Ruhr area. With a population of approximately 350,000, it is the largest city in the Bergisches Land...
and replaced the measurement draisine
Draisine
A draisine primarily refers to a light auxiliary rail vehicle, driven by service personnel, equipped to transport crew and material necessary for the maintenance of railway infrastructure....
previously used for this task. On 1 January 1968 it was given the number 724 001-3. The installation of testing magnets on both sides of the vehicle in 1971 considerably improved its utility, making it possible to test station entry and exit signals in one pass. Number 724 001 was retired on 18 January 1986 at Bw Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
. Since then the vehicle was left by itself for many years and eventually stood in a very dilapidated state in front of Worms
Worms, Germany
Worms is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on the Rhine River. At the end of 2004, it had 85,829 inhabitants.Established by the Celts, who called it Borbetomagus, Worms today remains embattled with the cities Trier and Cologne over the title of "Oldest City in Germany." Worms is the only...
locomotive shed. In 2007 the railbus was bought up by the Vulkaneifelbahn and taken away to Gerolstein
Gerolstein
Gerolstein is a town in the Vulkaneifel district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is the seat of the like-named Verbandsgemeinde. Gerolstein is headquarters to a large mineral water firm, Gerolsteiner Brunnen...
, where the intention is to restore it in the medium-term.
No. 724 001 is the last existing Uerdingen railbus prototype, the former Class VT 95.
- Vehicle number: 724 001-3 ex 6205 Wt; VT 95 906
- Class: 724
- Manufacturer: Uerdingen 1950 / 56752
- Conversion: 1968 AW Kassel
- Length over buffersBuffer (rail transport)A buffer is a part of the buffers-and-chain coupling system used on the railway systems of many countries, among them most of those in Europe, for attaching railway vehicles to one another....
: 10,650 mm - Empty weight: 15 t
- Top speed: 90 km/h
- Power: 110 kW
