Arnold HN2616S - RENFE, electric multiple unit of the 444 series, multiple unit 444-004 in red and yellow livery, era IV, with DCC sound decoder

Arnold HN2616S - RENFE, electric multiple unit of the 444 series, multiple unit 444-004 in red and yellow livery, era IV, with DCC sound decoder

 

Prototype information

In the early 1970s, Renfe began a new phase with the introduction of express trains with electric traction, equipped with the 432 series railcars. The success of the new formula and the demand for the extension of these services to other corridors led Renfe to order a new series of electric railcars.
The fourteen 444 series trains improved the comfort of the 432 series with new air suspension and soundproofing, greater reliability and new interior fittings. The external appearance of the new trains maintained the red base color of the 432 series trains, replacing the silver lines with yellow stripes, which gave the 444 a unique and striking look among Renfe's other trains. The configuration of the 444 trains consisted of a railcar with driver's cab, parcel van and 72 seats in second class, an intermediate car with 88 seats in second class and a trailer with driver's cab, cafeteria and 52 seats in first class.

Mechanically, the 444 had the same bogies and traction motors as the 440, with a total power of 1,160 kW, distributed between the four motors of the power car. The power supply of these trains was only at 3 kV, unlike the 432, which operated at two voltages from 1,500 to 3,000 V, a clear adaptation to the abolition of the 1,500 V routes that Renfe was carrying out.
The first service of the 444 was the new Intercity between Madrid and Valencia via Albacete on 1 June 1980, a service created for these trains and served by four trains in each direction every day. One of the services went as far as Castellón. The average speed of these trains was over 100 km/h. They offered amenities such as catering for first class passengers at their seats, press, public address system and hostess service included in the fare.
The service offered by these trains was soon transferred to other routes, where it became known as the Electrotren service, the name by which these magnificent trains would become known. The new long-distance connections that were transferred to the Electrotrenes 444 were Barcelona - Seville, Madrid - Seville and Barcelona - Malaga.
By integrating the new Electrotrenes 444.500, the Electrotren services could be expanded to include the routes Madrid - Zaragoza, Madrid - Alicante, Madrid - Hendaye, Madrid - Gijón, Barcelona - Irún, Barcelona - Gijón and Vigo - Hendaye.

 

Technical details

- New design
- All variants with prototypically different details of the locomotive body
- Functional Scharfenber coupling for multiple traction
- Magnetic coupling between the carriages
- Powerful five-pole motor with flywheels
- Headlights and taillights illuminated depending on the direction of travel
- Digital interface NEM 662 (Next-18)
- Sound version with rectangular loudspeaker (15 x 11 mm)
- Minimum radius (as with all Arnold models): 192 m
- Metal pantographs

 

 

 

Characteristics:

Manufacturer:	Arnold
Item number:	HN2616S
number of pieces:	Set of 3 pieces
EAN:	5063129023324
Product Type:	Multiple unit
track:	N
scale:	1:160
model series:	444
Company number:	444 001-2
Railway company:	Renfe
country:	IT
epoch:	IV
Metal model:	partly made of metal
grinder:	No
Electricity system:	DC
operation mode:	DCC Sound
interface:	Next18 (NEM662)
Digital decoder:	Yes (ESU LokSound5)
engine:	5-pole motor
Motor with flywheel:	Yes
Length over buffer:	499mm
Minimum radius:	192mm
coupling:	Shaft NEM 355 with KK kinematics
digital coupling:	No
Interior design:	equipped with interior furnishings
Headlight:	LED headlight
Sound:	Yes
Age recommendation:	14 years and older
WEEE No.:	DE47027570