Home > Railcars & MUs > MT5400

MT5401 to MT5420

  • DMU-1
  • Quantity built: 20
  • First year: 1954 / 1955
  • Power: 340 HP (2 x 170 HP)
  • Manufacturer: SCF Verney (Société Centrale de Chemins de Fer Verney, Le Mans)


History

SCF is a subsidiary of Group VERNEY (now part of CONNEX). This group is a century old branch line operator turned into bus operator after WWII. The group was mostly active in western France and operated small manufacturing plant in Le Mans, its hometown. The plant was first set up to maintain rolling stock used by Verney on its branch lines. It was then expanded to built some specialty equipment such as railcars before and just after WWII. It largest order for SNCF was a batch of 160 light railcar trailers delivered from 1950 to 1952. The MT5400 is the last railway rolling stock ever produced by this plant.

The last four Verney railcars in revenue operation in France were withdrawn in 2003. These units (X201 to X205) currently operated on the meter gauge line « Le Blanc Argent ».

The MT5400 had two flat diesel motors mounted under the floor. This is very different from the French railcar practice at the time and is inspired from Germany. Indeed MAN supplied the W6V 14/18 6 cylinders diesel engines and AEG made the electric transmissions. The railcar had a pneumatic braking type Knorr 6.

The frame and the body were a single girder box. It was made of welded steel using square or triangular beams. The fully equipped unit weighted 34 t and measured 17m long. It could carry 24 persons in 2nd class and 40 in 3rd class.

Along with the railcars, SCF supplied 30 trailers, numbered MR401 à MR430. These trailers weighted 20t.

On request of SCF, the railcar was tested by SNCF before being shipped overland to Turkey. In Turkey, the MT5400 were send to Izmir and worked on the light lines of that region.

Liveries

The MT5400 left France with a white / blue livery.

The the blue was replaced by a red color and the front-end "mustachioes" were replaced by more modern lines

The final livery was a variation of the previous one with some red applied around the front-end windows.

Pictures

MT5400 and 2 trailers at Yedikule in April 1956, running under the brand new 25KV catenary. Photo Alan Swale

MT5400 and 2 trailers at Yedikule in April 1956, running Under the brand new 25KV catenary. Photo Alan Swale

Railcar MT5411 and trailer MR404. Scan Eljas Pölhö

Railcar MT5411 and trailer MR404. Scan Eljas Pölhö

MT5400 and a trailer heading south through the Izmir suburbs. 6th March 1977. Photo Robin Lush

MT5400 and a trailer heading south through the Izmir suburbs. 6th March 1977. Photo Robin Lush

MT5410, dumped in Aydin, September 2001. Photos Altan Ataman

MT5410, dumped in Aydin, September 2001. Photos Altan Ataman

Close up of the markings on MT5410 showing a power of 2x550hp?

Close up of the markings on MT5410 showing a power of 2x550hp. This can only be a painting mistake? Photo Altan Ataman

MT5420 dumped in Aydin, September 2001.Photos Altan Ataman

MT5420 dumped in Aydin, September 2001.Photos Altan Ataman

MR414 converted for service use

MR414 converted for service use: the fourth window is blinded and the door are modified. Adana, October 1998, Photo Malcom Peakman

Quick jump to: