French vintage Z 5100 EMU

Shot in the early 90's. Departure & cab ride. Typical old cab sounds : Bell on green signal, hooter on yellow signal announcing next red signal. Clock ticking sound = Speed - time & state of signals recorder on paper tape. Stainless steel cars built in the 50's under American Budd license. Catenary Voltage 1,500 V DC. Throttle commands a JH system ( electric motor driving a shaft with cams and contactors to activate a starting rheostat ) Westhinghouse type Breaks. Maximum authorized speed : 120 kilometers ph = 75 mph. Originally used by commuters south of Paris for decades and later on as Interurbans as can be seen here. No longer in use. 1 Train is being preserved by Rail Fans. At the end of the video can be seen just before the signal a long steel bar in the middle of the track. This bar is called a " crocodile " it provides a positive or negative voltage according to the color of the signal ( green or yellow / red ) to a brush under the train activating the bell or the hooter and printing a mark on the paper tape.