Windhoff
Encyclopedia
Windhoff is a German manufacturer of specialised railways trains, originally dating from 1889.
It is particularly known for the CargoSprinter
concept, a diesel multiple unit
train for transporting intermodal container
s (shipping containers). Variations of the CargoSprinter concept have been used for maintenance vehicles, such as the British Rail MPV
and Lötschberg Base Tunnel
fire and rescue train.
near Münster, Germany in 1889 manufacturing machines for the weaving
industry and founded by Rudolf Windhoff. By 1901 the company was employing over 100 people.
As similar control mechanisms were used for steam-driven automated weaving looms and for stream-driven railway traverser
s and turntable
s, Rudolf Windhoff also founded the (Windhoff Brothers' Engine and Vehicle Factory).
In 1913, these two private companies were combined to form the share-based (Windhoff Machine Factory Rheine). This combined company suffered losses during the 1930s. Later, a bomb destroyed the manufacturing premises on 5 October 1944. In 1957 the company stopped manufacturing normal locomotives and start to concentrate on tracking machines (ballast tamper
s).
The Windhoff company was first listed on the stock exchange in 1993.
On 19 December 2001, the main company was declared bankrupt and the industrial plant and railway engineering divisions being taken over on 1 March 2002, to become part of Georgsmarienhütte Holdings GmbH. The Windhoff division, as (Windhoff Railway- and Equipment Technology) continued to supply specialist railway vehicles and infrastructure with a team of around 30 people. The company is an approved railway contractor for in the United Kingdom, Sweden and Norway.
units for use within The Netherlands between Eindhoven-Acht and Rotterdam.
In August 2008, the Infraspeed, the operator of the Dutch HSL-Zuid
high-speed line ordered two 22.6-metre long MPV units to maintain the new line. The vehicles were delivered in 2008. The vehicles were delivered to Infraspeed during 2009.
In April 2009, Windhoff handed over the first of 22 new maintenance vehicles for Swiss Federal Railways.
It is particularly known for the CargoSprinter
CargoSprinter
The CargoSprinter is a multiple unit freight car;it could also be thought of as a container truck that runs on rails.Built by the German company Windhoff, it is in effect a self-propelled flatcar for containers...
concept, a diesel multiple unit
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
train for transporting intermodal container
Intermodal container
An intermodal container is a standardized reusable steel box used for the safe, efficient and secure storage and movement of materials and products within a global containerized intermodal freight transport system...
s (shipping containers). Variations of the CargoSprinter concept have been used for maintenance vehicles, such as the British Rail MPV
British Rail MPV
The Multiple-purpose Vehicle or MPV is a purpose-built departmental derivative of a diesel multiple unit. Twenty-five two-car units were ordered by Railtrack to enable it to replace its varied collection of ageing departmental vehicles, many of which were converted from redundant passenger...
and Lötschberg Base Tunnel
Lötschberg Base Tunnel
The Lötschberg Base Tunnel is a railway tunnel on the BLS Lötschbergbahn's Lötschberg Line cutting through the Alps of Switzerland some below the existing Lötschberg Tunnel. It is currently the world's longest land tunnel and accommodates passenger and freight trains. It runs between Frutigen,...
fire and rescue train.
History
The company started out as the (Machine Factory Rheine) in RheineRheine
Rheine is a city in the district of Steinfurt in Westphalia, Germany. It is the largest city in the district and the location of Rheine Air Base.-Geography:Rheine is located on the river Ems, approx. north of Münster, approx...
near Münster, Germany in 1889 manufacturing machines for the weaving
Weaving
Weaving is a method of fabric production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth. The other methods are knitting, lace making and felting. The longitudinal threads are called the warp and the lateral threads are the weft or filling...
industry and founded by Rudolf Windhoff. By 1901 the company was employing over 100 people.
As similar control mechanisms were used for steam-driven automated weaving looms and for stream-driven railway traverser
Traverser
A traverser may be a*Traverser an American progressive/alternative band* Transfer table in railway terminology* Container crane in marine/shipping terminology...
s and turntable
Turntablism
Turntablism is the art of manipulating sounds and creating music using phonograph turntables and a DJ mixer.The word 'turntablist' was coined in 1995 by DJ Babu to describe the difference between a DJ who just plays records, and one who performs by touching and moving the records, stylus and mixer...
s, Rudolf Windhoff also founded the (Windhoff Brothers' Engine and Vehicle Factory).
In 1913, these two private companies were combined to form the share-based (Windhoff Machine Factory Rheine). This combined company suffered losses during the 1930s. Later, a bomb destroyed the manufacturing premises on 5 October 1944. In 1957 the company stopped manufacturing normal locomotives and start to concentrate on tracking machines (ballast tamper
Ballast tamper
A ballast tamper or tamping machine is a machine used to pack the track ballast under railway tracks to make the tracks more durable. Prior to the introduction of mechanical tampers, this task was done by manual labour with the help of beaters...
s).
The Windhoff company was first listed on the stock exchange in 1993.
On 19 December 2001, the main company was declared bankrupt and the industrial plant and railway engineering divisions being taken over on 1 March 2002, to become part of Georgsmarienhütte Holdings GmbH. The Windhoff division, as (Windhoff Railway- and Equipment Technology) continued to supply specialist railway vehicles and infrastructure with a team of around 30 people. The company is an approved railway contractor for in the United Kingdom, Sweden and Norway.
Products
In 1999, ShortLines ordered two 3-car CargoSprinterCargoSprinter
The CargoSprinter is a multiple unit freight car;it could also be thought of as a container truck that runs on rails.Built by the German company Windhoff, it is in effect a self-propelled flatcar for containers...
units for use within The Netherlands between Eindhoven-Acht and Rotterdam.
In August 2008, the Infraspeed, the operator of the Dutch HSL-Zuid
HSL-Zuid
HSL-Zuid , is a 125 km-long high-speed railway line in the Netherlands to the Belgian border, with a branch to Breda. Together with the Belgian HSL 4 it forms the Schiphol–Antwerp high-speed railway...
high-speed line ordered two 22.6-metre long MPV units to maintain the new line. The vehicles were delivered in 2008. The vehicles were delivered to Infraspeed during 2009.
In April 2009, Windhoff handed over the first of 22 new maintenance vehicles for Swiss Federal Railways.