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