HE2016 RENFE, tilting high-speed EMU class 443, with yellow roof and old logo, ep. IVa

The Electrotrén Basculante 443, better known as "Platanito", was Spain's first contact with high speed. Its Italian conception, designed to increase speeds in curves, made use of the so-called Active Tilting, a pioneering technology that consisted of tilting the car bodies in curves, increasing the speed of the trains as they passed through them, without interfering with the comfort of the passengers. Amazed by the results of the Italian prototype, RENFE management decided at the end of the 1970s to request a prototype adapted to the Spanish network, which was delivered in 1976.

The "Platanito" reached 200 km/h during its first year of testing, and visited a large part of our geography, even providing commercial service on several lines of the National Network. For years it held the speed record in Spain, 206.8 km/h. Unfortunately, during these tests it suffered a breakdown from which it was unable to recover. The lack of spare parts and the cost involved, as it was a single unit, precipitated its decommissioning. Since then it remained in the Fuencarral depot with an uncertain destiny, even to the point of signing a scrapping order. Fortunately, it was saved and, since 1994, it has been stored on one of the tracks of the Castejón de Ebro station, under the disinterested care of a group of volunteers who continue to watch over it.

Such a popular and at the same time unique vehicle deserved to be reproduced and to roll around the models of the enthusiasts. This is our way of paying tribute to this mythical automobile. And the fact is that, the "Platanito" is, above all and just like us, an Electrotren.



Characteristics of the model:

- Couplers with electrical connection between cars.

- 5-pole motor with flywheels.

- Metal chassis for all cars

- Detailed interior

- White or red lights depending on the direction of travel

- Interior light

- Exterior and interior lighting control in digital mode

- 21-pin MTC connector (NEM660)

- Digital versions with sound using ESU LokSound V5 decoder

- Fine and robust metal pantographs with different versions according to era

- Length between ends: 1230 mm

- Minimum radius: 356.5 mm