Stadtbahnwagen M/N

Stadtbahnwagen M/N
M8C 1408 from Essen
Stock type	Light Rail Vehicle/Tramcar
Manufacturer	Duewag, MAN
Constructed	1975–1999
Number built	326[1]
Specifications
Train length	20.4 m (66 ft 11+1⁄8 in) (M/N6) 26.6 m (87 ft 3+1⁄4 in) (M/N8)
Width	2.30 m (7 ft 6+1⁄2 in)[2]
Articulated sections	2 (M/N6), 3 (M/N8)
Power supply	600V [3]

The Stadtbahnwagen Typ M/N (translation Type "M/N" Light Rail Vehicle) is a light rail vehicle used by several Stadtbahn and tram networks in Germany and Austria[4] plus second hand in Poland, Romania and Turkey.[5] It was mainly developed by Düsseldorf-based Duewag, who also built most of the vehicles. As the type evolved over two decades of production, some vehicles have little more in common than their outer dimensions and the basic configuration of a two or thee-part vehicle on three or four bogies with both outer ones powered.

History

Development started when the transport authorities from Bochum, Essen and Mülheim asked Duewag to develop a standardised vehicle for their meter gauge tram networks, soon followed by Bielefeld and Krefeld. Initially the tramcar was designated Stadtbahnwagen R (R = Ruhr), but the definitve name became Stadtbahn M (M = Meterspur (meter gauge)). In 1976, the Stadtbahnwagen N (N = Normalspur (standard gauge)) for Nuremberg was introduced, followed by a chopper-controlled version for Dortmund in 1978.[6]

Subtypes

Different variants are usually referred to by a combination of their gauge, number of axles and a letter denoting the motor type.

M/N 6/8 S	SIMATIC-Schaltwerksteuerung (SIMATIC-regulated camshaft control)
M/N 6/8 C	Chopper control
M/N 6/8 D	Drehstromantrieb (three-phase motors)

Further reading

• Michael Kochems, Die Stadtbahnwagen der Typen M und N. Entwicklung – Technik – Einsatz, Transpress 2005, ISBN 9783613712577 (in German)

See also

• Moderus Beta (modernized tram)

References

1. Bielefeld: Farewell to a fleet and a last hope for M8C 516 & 544, retrieved 2023-08-13.
2. Triebwagen 332 (in German), retrieved 2023-08-13.
3. Triebwagen N8 (in German), retrieved 2023-08-13.
4. DUEWAG Stadtbahnwagen - Typ N (in German), retrieved 2023-08-13.
5. DUEWAG Stadtbahnwagen - Typ M (in German), retrieved 2023-08-13.
6. De Stadtbahn M/N van Düwag, ‘overgangsmodel’ op zijn retour (in Dutch), retrieved 2023-08-13.