Buchli drive

The system minimises the impact on rail tracks due to the reduction in the overall unsprung weight.

In a Buchli drive a driven gear wheel is securely fixed to the locomotive frame.

[1] A disadvantage of the drive was the large number of moving parts, which demanded frequent lubrication and careful maintenance.

With this implementation, a strongly one-sided weight distribution occurs in the underframe through the remote gear wheels.

In order to maintain stability of the locomotive on the longitudinal axis, heavy equipment inside the locomotive body must be arranged on the opposite side of the drive equipment.

[2] The taps in the wheel disk are warped about 90 degrees against each other so that the drive imbalance can be reduced.

French tracks had 100 express train locomotives using the Buchli drive, in service for fifty years.