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RWE Rheinbraun 503 Neurath, 25-09-2008. © Eddy Konijnendijk.

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RWE Rheinbraun 509 Sinsteden, 25-09-2008. © Eddy Konijnendijk.

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RWE Rheinbraun 510 Sinsteden, 25-09-2008. © Eddy Konijnendijk.

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RWE Rheinbraun 503 Sinsteden, 25-09-2008. © Eddy Konijnendijk.

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RWE Rheinbraun 509 Sinsteden, 25-09-2008. © Eddy Konijnendijk.

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RWE Rheinbraun 505 Niederaussem, 25-09-2008. © Eddy Konijnendijk.

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Rheinbraun 501 pulling near Frimmersdorf on 21st of July 2007. Photo ©Arnim v. Herff

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Rheinbraun 502 pushing near Frimmersdorf on 21st of July 2007. Photo ©Arnim v. Herff

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Rheinbraun 509 near Frimmersdorf on 21st of July 2007. Photo ©Arnim v. Herff

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503 of RWE Rheinbraun pulls a train of empty coal wagons to the opencast mine Hambach on 10 October 2001. As far as I know, this brown coal mine is the biggest artificial hole of the world. The trains run on standard gauge track, but the loading gauge is bigger than on DB lines. Also the axle load is higher, I think it is 35 metric tons because this four-axled loco has 140 tons. The maximum speed is 60 km/h, and this loco belongs to the EL 2000 class which has 2800 kW. The catenary is feeded with 6000 V at 50 Hz. Only one of the two big pantographs is used, the other one serves as a spare. The two little tilted pantographs on the sides are used under the loading facility, where a normal catenary is not possible. The single cab is wider than the rest of the train. If the train has to be reversed, the loco stays at the new rear end, and the driver uses one of the control desks in the side gondolas, which are facing backwards. Which side he chooses obviously depends on the side where the signals are. An acoustic signal on the first car is active in pushed operation. For driving forward like in the picture there is a control desk in the middle of the cab. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

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A detail view onto the roof of 503 of RWE Rheinbraun seen on the Hambach line on 10 October 2001. The four pantographs are all mounted above the rear bogie. On normal lines one of the two big ones is used, the other one is a spare. Under the loading facilities, the catenary is on the side, there the little tilted pantographs are neccessary. Of course it is not possible to pass switches with this tilted layout, but on short straight pieces of track it works. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

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503 of RWE Rheinbraun returns from the opencast mine Hambach on 10 October 2001. There is a turning loop at the loading facility so the train has not to be pushed on the way back. The 21 wagons are filled with brown coal. Somewhere I heard that a typical train carries 1400 metric tons of coal, but I think that refers to the trains with 14 wagons that can be seen behind the older class EL 1 locos. As far as I know, the axle load is 35 tons, so a four-axled coal wagon has 140 tons total, and so 100 tons coal per wagon seems to make sense. If this is true, this class EL 2000 loco pulls a train carrying 2100 tons of coal. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

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The single cab of loco 503 of RWE Power (formerly Rheinbraun) seen from the right side. There is one central control desk (in the foreground) for driving forward, and two lateral control desks (the left one visible in the background) in the extensions of the cab for driving backwards (pushing the train). The two levers at the far edge of the central desk allow provisional forward operation using the lateral seat, this might be useful for shunting. The picture was taken at the opencast mine Garzweiler (north west of Cologne) on 12 August 2007, at a rail vehicle exhibition in the course of an open day. In the background is a special train which came from the RIM (Rheinisches Industriebahn-Museum), it's loco used to work at the power station Frimmersdorf close to Garzweiler in the past. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz (christoph.schmitz2@post.rwth-aachen.de)

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504 of RWE Power (formerly Rheinbraun) slowly pulls it's coal train through the loading facility at the opencast mine Garzweiler (north west of Cologne) on 22 July 2007. There are two loading units, each spanning two tracks to allow continuous loading. The right unit, which spans the two foremost tracks and is used for overburden, was not operating on that Sunday. The catenary, which passes under the loading facility, is suspended laterally. Thus the main pantographs of the loco are down and it is powered by the small tilted pantograph which can be seen just below the stair of the facility. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz (christoph.schmitz2@post.rwth-aachen.de)

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504 of RWE Power (formerly Rheinbraun) enters the terminal loop at the opencast mine Hambach (west of Cologne) with an empty coal train on 15 July 2007. The single cab has extensions on both sides which protrude the loading gauge of the cars, allowing the driver to look along the train when the loco is pushing the train (what is not necessary on this line, but on other branches of the network). The signal visible above the train belongs to the exit of the loop. In opposition to the entrance it is double-tracked, as it is located next to the loading facility which has five tracks. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz (christoph.schmitz2@post.rwth-aachen.de)

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506 of RWE Rheinbraun pulls a train of empty coal wagons to the opencast mine Hambach on 10 October 2001. The side gondola of the cab is clearly visible. Just behind the rear window is one of the control desks that the driver uses when the loco pushes the train. Next to it in the sidewall the handle of the entrance door is visible. On the other side is the same layout. Only one of the two big pantographs is used, the other one serves as a spare. The two little tilted pantographs on the sides are used under the loading facility, where a normal catenary is not possible. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

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507 of RWE Rheinbraun pulls a train of empty coal wagons to the opencast mine Hambach on 10 October 2001. The side gondola of the cab is clearly visible. Just behind the rear window is one of the control desks that the driver uses when the loco pushes the train. Next to it in the sidewall the handle of the entrance door is visible. On the other side is the same layout. Only one of the two big pantographs is used, the other one serves as a spare. The two little tilted pantographs on the sides are used under the loading facility, where a normal catenary is not possible. Some coal was dropped onto the roof. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

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509 of RWE Rheinbraun pulls a train of empty coal wagons to the opencast mine Hambach on 10 October 2001. Just behind the side window is a control desk which faces backward. It (or the other one at the other side) is used when the loco pushes the train. The control desk for the forward direction is in the middle of the cab. Only one of the two big pantographs is used, the other one serves as a spare. The two little tilted pantographs on the sides are used under the loading facility, where a normal catenary is not possible. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

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509 of RWE Rheinbraun returns from the opencast mine Hambach on 10 October 2001. There is a turning loop at the loading facility so the train has not to be pushed on the way back. Obviously someone is sitting in the left side gondola, but the control desk for this direction is in the middle, and you can see the driver there if you take a closer look. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

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509 of RWE Power (formerly Rheinbraun) runs towards the opencast mine Hambach (west of Cologne) with an empty coal train on 15 July 2007. The single cab has extensions on both sides which protrude the loading gauge of the cars, allowing the driver to look along the train when the loco is pushing the train (what is not necessary on this line due to terminal loops, but on other branches of the network). In this view the grass next to the track and the first car can be seen looking through the extensions. Far in the background a double crossover is visible. This train has the usual length of 14 cars which can carry a total of 1260 t of coal. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz (christoph.schmitz2@post.rwth-aachen.de)