BE 545 – Nostalgic railcar “Wellensittich”
Exciting excursions with the “Wellensittich”
Built in 1953, this railcar with the original designation Be 4/4 is a pioneering act and is still considered the forefather of high-performance railcars today. Experience a different kind of train journey in this historic rail vehicle. The railcar has 56 seats and is known among train experts and enthusiasts as the “Wellensittich”. In 2001, it was given back its original paint job of light/dark green, and ever since then it's been available to all those who enjoy taking an extraordinary train journey. The interior was completely refurbished in 2010. The “Wellensittich” also offers a special treat in that anyone who rides it can stand on the front platform and watch the driver operate the train.
- 56 Number of seats Extra seating can be added depending on the route travelled
- suitable for serving refreshments Special catering train
Rail vehicle details technical data, features
General information Be 545 761 former designation: Be 4/4
- Be 545 761 Designation former designation: Be 4/4
- 1 Quantity
- 761 Number
- 1953 Put into service
Technical data
- 23.7 m Length
- 64 t Weight
- 1,470 kW Power output
- 125 km/h Maximum speed
Seating
- 56 Seats (second class)
- 4 Folding seats
- No Wheelchair spaces wheelchair accessibility is limited
- In the luggage compartment Bicycle spaces
Features
- No Low-floor entrance
- No Air conditioning
- Yes Heating
- Yes Passenger information on the train Train route display boards
- No Passenger information in the train
- 1 WC not wheelchair-accessible
- No Baby-changing facilities in WC
- No Video surveillance
- No Power sockets for electronic devices
- Linoleum Flooring
- Yes Rubbish bin at seats
- No Newspaper collection box
History historic vehicle
The Be 4/4 761–763 units were among the group of the first-ever high-performance railcars in Switzerland.
With their output of 2,000 hp, they were approved for use with international trains (Bern–Paris) between Bern and Neuchâtel.
At the beginning of the 1950s, BN decided it needed more powerful railcars. This led to the procurement of the high-performance Ce 4/4 (later Be 4/4) 761–762 units, which were delivered in 1953. Railcar No. 763 went into service for GBS in 1956.
The Be 4/4 761 has been part of BLS Ltd’s historic rail vehicle collection since 2003 and can be booked for extraordinary journeys.
Contact advice and assistance
We organise and drive the train while you celebrate and have fun
Whether it’s for 20 or as many as 2,000 guests, we can offer you modern and nostalgic trains, or even just a single carriage.
We take care of the catering and ambience, arrange live music or magician performances and even organise a festive reception at the train station at your destination if you'd like.
