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VC Holding 185.1  
in short
order details
Rail4chem was set up in 2000 under the joint ownership of German firms BASF, Hoyer GmbH Internationale Fachspedition and VTG, and Swiss company Bertschi. Through its subsidiaries Rail4chem Benelux, Rail4chem Transalpin in Basel and Fer Polska the group had operating permits for Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Switzerland.

Hannover Mobilien Leasing GmbH and Deutsche Leasing, two German financial companies, made it possible for Rail4Chem to introduce new Traxx locomotives type F140 AC2 in its fleet. Between 2002 and 2005 eight such machines were delivered, all painted in green and silver. They are homologated for services in Germany, Austria and additionally in Switzerland, as they are equipped with Swiss detection system ZUB/Integra and with a Swiss pantograph with small contacts, obligatory for running through the narrow Swiss tunnels. Rail4Chen decided to sell two 145-CL series locomotives when the new electrics arrived.

In 2008, Rail4Chem was taken over by Veolia Cargo from France. In 2009, all activities of Veolia Cargo outside of France were sold to the SNCF, again from France.

 
8 locomotives
order date unknown
delivery 01.2003 - 11.2005
homologated for Germany, Austria and Switzerland
> designation 185 517, 532-533, 541-543, 549-550
 
operator official website:
http://www.rail4chem.com
Bombardier official website:
http://www.transportation.bombardier.com
 
VC Holding 185.1: news  
open news
2012-11-09 [EU] Various livery news
 
update 2012|11|09
[EU] Various livery news
News collected from the paint shops in the last couple of months:

- RTC ES 64 F4-007 has been repainted in the blue zebra-livery in Kassel.
- Captrain 185 550 now has the Captrain livery too.
- New logos for the LTE EuroRunner locomotives.
- Hector Rail ES 64 U2-017 is in Linz. Its black livery is replaced with orange and grey
- More Akiem 37000s re-appear in a neutral silver livery; 37013, 37016 and 37017.

open news
2012-11-02 [DE] 185 550 Captrainized
 
update 2012|11|02
[DE] 185 550 Captrainized
Today, Captrain 185 550-1 was seen in Kassel in, wel, Captrain design.
open news
2012-03-07 [DE] new Captrain / Traxx Care livery for 185 532 [updated]
 
update 2012|03|07
[DE] new Captrain / Traxx Care livery for 185 532 [updated]
On 16.02.2012, unit 185 532-9 was outshopped by Bombardier in Kassel with a new livery. The colors are no surprise, however the general design is different from other Captrain-colored units, the cabins are completely lime. Also Traxx Care logos have been added to the design, similar to those on 185 513-9. - GZ/KAR
open news
2012-03-07 [DE] yet another locomotive in Captrain design: 185 549
 
update 2012|03|07
[DE] yet another locomotive in Captrain design: 185 549
Yet another ex-r4c locomotive in a new Captrain-design; 185 549-3. This machine got a complete overhaul in Eisenach (REV UEIX 07.03.2012). - CK
open news
2011-10-16 [DE] now also 185 542 Captrainized
 
update 2011|10|16
[DE] now also 185 542 Captrainized
After 185 543, now also unit 542 is Captrainized. The locomotive got a general overhaul at Uwe Adam EVU including a restyling in the current livery of Captrain; light grey with lime green cab ends.

Curious is that unit 541, which looked similar to the 542, also in green and silver with European Bulls logos, did not get an restyling. The 541 was overhauled at mgw Service GmbH & Co. in Krefeld.

open news
2011-10-16 [DE] 185 550 after Bleicherode
 
update 2011|10|16
[DE] 185 550 after Bleicherode
Not only ES 64 F4-204 was damaged during the accident in Bleicherode. The train on which this EuroSprinter collapsed was hauled by 185 550. However the damage on this green and silver machine is much less severe. However the 550 is checked right now. Captrain hopes it will run soon again. It will be used bei RBB again.
open news
2010-08-25 [DE] 185 517 sounding D on tour across Germany
 
update 2010|08|25
[DE] 185 517 sounding D on tour across Germany
Today, the sounding D express has set of for a 19-day journey across Germany. This special train will collect typical sounds from different German cities and combine those into characteristic soundscapes. Along the way, the sounding D train will be in the center of many musical activities and concerts. Alpha Trains' 185 517 has become sounding D locomotive for this occasion, including a special livery and three special coaches.

BTW: picture upload of 185 517 is enabled again!

VC Holding 185.1: Further developments  
In 2005, Rail4Chem joined European Bulls, a pan-European cooperation for freight transport. 185 541, 542 and 549 were decorated with additional European Bulls logos to communicate this membership. 185 543 got promotional vinyls for Transpetrol. All other machines only got Rail4Chem logos.

In November 2005, brand new R4C 185 550 crashed into a waiting convoy, and was severely damaged. After only few days of commercial service, it had to return to Kassel. Bombardier needed six months to repair the damage, and finally the machine was up and running again in May 2006.

consolidation phase Around 2007-2008, the consolidation phase started in the European freight market, large (former state) operators started to buy their open access competitors, taking them out of the market. In 2008, On 20.02.2008, it was announced that Rail4Chem was sold by its stakeholders to Veolia Cargo from France. The Veolia mother company decided to sell Veolia Cargo to Eurotunnel/SNCF in 2009, a deal which was finalized in December 2009. All Veolia activities outside France from then on were part of the SNCF concern, which also acquired ITL from Germany in 2008.

On 01.01.2010, these take overs had only affected the looks of the 185 517, as it had its first main overhaul in the Autumn of 2009. It lost its R4C logos, but its base livery stayed the same.

VC Holding 185.1: Select your Locomotive:  
Bombardier 33531 2002 TRAXX F140 AC1 Bo'Bo'-el 185 517-0 29 picture(s) available   revision data available graphics available  
Bombardier 33636 2004 TRAXX F140 AC1 Bo'Bo'-el 185 532-9 34 picture(s) available   revision data available graphics available  
Bombardier 33639 2004 TRAXX F140 AC1 Bo'Bo'-el 185 533-7 11 picture(s) available   revision data available graphics available  
Bombardier 33720 2005 TRAXX F140 AC1 Bo'Bo'-el 185 541-0 29 picture(s) available   revision data available graphics available  
Bombardier 33723 2005 TRAXX F140 AC1 Bo'Bo'-el 185 542-8 21 picture(s) available   revision data available graphics available  
Bombardier 33727 2005 TRAXX F140 AC1 Bo'Bo'-el 185 543-6 35 picture(s) available   revision data available graphics available  
Bombardier 33737 2005 TRAXX F140 AC1 Bo'Bo'-el 185 549-3 28 picture(s) available   revision data available graphics available  
Bombardier 33741 2005 TRAXX F140 AC1 Bo'Bo'-el 185 550-1 24 picture(s) available   revision data available graphics available