ZURICH  - FRANKFURT (M) ICE 70 Helvetia

It's a cloudy, dull morning in Zurich as ICE 70 prepares for its 8 hour run to Hamburg.  This particular model is the first generation of the ICE. There is a power car at each end providing 13,400 hp ( 9980 kW) to power the 12 coach train.

A view of the cab. There is only one set of controls and one person 'at the wheel'. The driver was nice enough to give me a quick tour though it was only a couple of minutes to departure time. The circular dial on the right is the speedo which goes all the way to 300 kmph though model had a sign indicating a max speed of 280 kmph.

It would appears that all major German engineering firms have contributed to the ICE effort !

Another view of the "loco" (if it can be called that) at Basel. The train traveled at a relatively modest pace in Switzerland with speeds not exceeding 170 kmph. The pace picked up on entering Germany, especially after Karlsruhe. A three km streach between Karlsruhe and Mannheim was done in 42 seconds!.

ICE 70 at Frankfurt HBF af the end of my journey. The train will halt here for a full five minutes before reversing directions and heading to Hamburg.

ICE 70 is cleared for departure and  resumes its journey towards Hamburg.