Afternoon all!

Without much preamble, here's a set of a few snaps I made earlier this afternoon upon having an unexpected encounter at Frankfurt Southern Station...

With a set of two measuring coaches – the far one being a driving trailer converted from a Bimdzf type InterRegio driving trailer – , DB Systemtechnik's 120 502 – formerly known as 120 160, which number but remains written out on the body sides – is having a layover on an inspection run, while two of the train crew were disembarking and possibly obtaining some snacks from one of the outlets around the station.

In 2005, 120 153 and 160 had been sold to DB Systemtechnik for network inspection and other departmental services. They were treated to a full revision at the Nuremberg works, renumbered as 120 501 and 502, and given special markings on the body sides. They but have been spotted also working normal passenger services on several occasions.

Zooming in on Bogie 1 with the very prominent Flexicoil springs. As per the servicing inscriptions, the loco has had a revision cycle extension till 30 January 2012 at the Munich depot. Under German rules, full revisions are due every six years, though cycle extensions can be granted up till a total of eight years from the previous revision.

The pantograph on the Cab 2 end has been dedicated to OHLE measurements and is, to my knowledge, only used on such occasions.

As DB Systemtechnik also offer their services to foreign railways, their inspection coaches are certified pretty much in all standard gauge countries of Continental Europe.

And this would be the measuring equipment on one of the two bogies, used for running quality and track alignment tests.

Oh, I don't know – I wouldn't mind riding in one of these sets at all! The sign says, "No entry for passengers."