542 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. The maximum speed is 60 km/h, and this loco belongs to the older EL 1 class. The catenary is feeded with 6000 V at 50 Hz. Both of the big pantographs are used in normal operation. 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. The driver sits in one of the side gondolas, the seat is more or less facing sidewards, with the back at the outside, so he can steer the train in both directions. Which side he chooses in backward operation obviously depends on the side where the signals are. An acoustic signal on the first car is active in pushed operation.

Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz