Key takeaways
- The Class 1142 grew out of the 1042.5 series and was upgraded for push-pull operation.
- Push-pull means no running round. The train is driven from the driving trailer, and the loco stays at the same end of the train.
- Outwardly almost impossible to tell from the 1042 – the four-digit class number decides.
- The leading 1 in the ÖBB scheme always marks an electric locomotive.
- Scope of work and fleet size change with timetable years, withdrawals and sales.
Contents
Fact file
| Vehicle type | Four-axle electric locomotive for push-pull operation |
|---|---|
| Wheel arrangement | Bo'Bo' – two two-axle bogies, all axles powered |
| Origin | Developed from the 1042.5 series of the Class 1042 |
| Special feature | Equipped for working with driving trailers without running the loco round |
| Electrification system | 15 kV / 16.7 Hz AC |
| UIC type code | 91 (electric locomotive), country code 81 for Austria |
| Typical use | Passenger services in push-pull operation, plus freight trains |
Identifying features
Is this really the class in front of you?
- Four axles in two bogies
- Boxy body, outwardly very close to the Class 1042
- Class number starts with 1142 – the surest difference from the 1042
- Often at the rear or the front of a push-pull train with a driving trailer
- Cabs at both ends, flat front of an older design
- Vehicle keeper marking A-ÖBB or that of another operator
Updated: August 2026 – A four-axle electric loco at the rear of the train, a driving trailer with a cab at the front: this picture belongs to the Class 1142 like hardly any other. It is the push-pull-capable development of a proven general-purpose locomotive. This page explains what push-pull operation means technically, why the loco therefore often runs at the back, and how to tell it apart from its original class.
The loco at the rear counts too
On a push-pull train the interesting machine is often at the back. Log the loco number and train number straight away in Traintrack.
What is the Class 1142?
The Class 1142 is a four-axle electric locomotive of the Austrian Federal Railways with the wheel arrangement Bo’Bo’, operating at 15 kV and 16.7 Hz. It grew out of the 1042.5 series – the later series of the Class 1042 that was designed for higher speeds – and was upgraded for push-pull operation.
That is the whole difference, and it is barely visible from the outside. That’s exactly why the 1042 and 1142 pair is one of the classic cases of mistaken identity in the Austrian fleet: same silhouette, same era, different class number.
Push-pull operation: what’s behind it
A push-pull train consists of a locomotive at one end and a driving trailer at the other. The driving trailer has a full cab but no traction of its own. Via a control line running through the whole train, the crew operates the locomotive at the other end from there.
The advantage lies in the way operations run:
No running round at the terminus
The loco stays at the same end of the train. There is no uncoupling, running round and recoupling – a procedure that would otherwise cost several minutes and an extra track.
Shorter turnaround times
Changing direction takes only as long as the crew needs to walk to the other cab. That allows denser timetables with the same fleet.
Fewer tracks needed
Without running-round manoeuvres, the terminus needs no run-round loops. At terminal stations and small end points in particular, that's a real advantage.
The loco pushes in one direction
In the opposite direction it runs at the rear of the train and pushes. For observers that means: the loco is sometimes at the front, sometimes at the back – without anything changing in the diagram.
Relevant for photographers
If you want to photograph a particular loco, check beforehand which end of the train it runs at in your direction of travel. Otherwise you wait for a driving trailer and only get the machine from behind – or the other way round.
The matching counterpart in the Austrian fleet is the ÖBB CityShuttle driving trailer, which makes exactly this form of operation possible.
Where it fits in the ÖBB class scheme
| Class | Origin | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|
| 1042 | basic design from 1963 | four-axle general-purpose loco, wide range of duties |
| 1042.5 | later series of the same class | designed for higher speeds |
| 1142 | developed from the 1042.5 series | push-pull capable, works with driving trailers |
| 1141 | derived from the older Class 1041 | separate, older design line |
| 1044 | younger generation of four-axle electric locos | more powerful, different styling |
| 1144 | derived from the Class 1044 | likewise upgraded for push-pull operation |
The pattern is clear: after an upgrade, the ÖBB assign a new class number instead of adding to the old one. That’s how the 1042.5 became the 1142 – and the ÖBB 1144 was created from the younger four-axle generation following the same pattern. If you know this principle, you can often guess where a vehicle comes from even when the number is unfamiliar.
The number decides, not the shape
With closely related classes, only the markings help. Photograph them as well and file the sighting correctly straight away.
Spotting in practice
Push-pull services are pleasant for spotters because they run regularly and the vehicles pass the same spot several times a day. But they are also tricky, because the loco isn’t always where you expect it.
Three points help:
- Note the train number. It clearly identifies the service and helps you find the same set again later. Where the train number is shown and how to find it out is explained in the guide to finding the train number.
- Check both ends of the train. On the platform it pays to look towards the back – that’s where the loco is on a push-pull train being propelled.
- Watch out for the timetable change. Which services are loco-hauled keeps shifting, because multiple units are increasingly taking over. Current community sightings are more reliable here than any static list.
- Allow for turnaround times at the terminus. Because there’s no running round, layovers are short. If you want to photograph the loco at the end of the train in peace, be at the right section of the platform before arrival rather than setting off afterwards.
The basic order of identification is set out in the guide to identifying rolling-stock classes, and the photographic basics in the guide to good photos of trains.
Photographically, push-pull operation brings a quirk you should understand once. A propelled train shows you the driving trailer first and the locomotive only at the end. If you’re on the platform and press the shutter at the first vehicle, you’ve got the driving trailer in the bag and missed the loco. Conversely: when the loco is pulling, it comes first and the driving trailer brings up the rear.
That leads to a simple rule for choosing your position. If you specifically want the machine, position yourself so that you can see the whole train rather than standing close to the platform end. A greater distance costs you focal length but secures the subject – regardless of which end the loco happens to be at. With regular diagrams, it’s also worth observing the direction of travel once before choosing a viewpoint: it usually stays the same throughout the day.
Platform edge and track area are off limits
With push-pull trains, the train sets off again in the other direction at the terminus without a loco running round – so movements come faster and more quietly than many expect. Tracks, platform edges, shunting areas and operational railway land are off limits. Only take photos from publicly accessible areas; what is permitted in individual cases depends on local regulations.
Common mix-ups
It points to a Class 1142 if …
- the loco has four axles in two bogies
- the number starts with 1142
- a driving trailer is running at the other end of the train
- the design is boxy and of an older generation
Look more closely if …
- an identically shaped loco is running without a driving trailer
- you only see the machine from behind or against the light
- the markings are hard to read because of dirt
It's not a 1142 if …
- the number starts with 1042, 1141, 1044 or 1144
- you count six axles
- the front is steeply raked – then the loco belongs to the Taurus family
Verdict
The Class 1142 shows how a small technical addition changes everyday operations. The push-pull equipment is barely visible from outside, but it determines how an entire train is turned round at the terminus. For identification, that means: shape and number of axles narrow it down, the class number decides. And if you want to photograph a 1142, you should know in advance which end of the train it’s running at that day.
In short
Four-axle ÖBB electric loco from the 1042.5 series, upgraded for push-pull operation. How to identify it: count the axles, look at the train formation, read the number. A driving trailer at the other end of the train is a strong clue, the markings are the proof.
Loco-hauled services are getting rarer
Multiple units are taking over step by step. Log what you can still see today – Traintrack sorts it for you.
Summary
- The Class 1142 stands for the push-pull upgrade of a proven general-purpose locomotive and so shaped Austrian passenger services.
- Push-pull operation saves time spent running round and shunting staff, and explains why the loco often runs at the rear of the train.
- Outwardly it barely differs from the original Class 1042; the number is what counts.
- Which services are currently worked by which vehicles changes with the timetable – check the latest situation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ÖBB Class 1142?
The Class 1142 is a four-axle electric locomotive of the ÖBB that grew out of the 1042.5 series. The crucial difference from the original class lies in its equipment for push-pull operation: the loco can be controlled remotely from a driving trailer without being run round at the terminus.
What does push-pull operation mean?
The train has the locomotive at one end and a driving trailer with a cab at the other. For the return journey, the crew simply changes cabs – the loco stays where it is and propels the train. This saves time spent running round, shunting staff and track occupation, and is standard in local and regional services.
How do I tell the 1142 from the 1042?
By the number. Both classes come from the same design line and look very similar from the outside, because the 1142 was developed from the 1042.5 series. The push-pull equipment is barely visible from outside. The only reliable feature is therefore the four-digit class number on the front and bodyside.
Why does the loco sometimes push the train?
Because in push-pull operation the direction of travel changes while the loco stays at the same end of the train. In one direction it pulls, in the other it pushes. That's completely normal and nothing special. For photographers it means: depending on the direction of travel, the more interesting view of the loco may be at the rear of the train.
How does the Austrian class numbering scheme work?
The ÖBB designate traction units as a Reihe (class) with a number that is usually four digits long. The first digit gives the type of traction: 1 for electric locomotives, 2 for diesel locomotives, 4 for electric multiple units, 5 for diesel multiple units. A decimal digit, as in 1042.5, marks a sub-type within the same class.
Where am I most likely to find the Class 1142?
Wherever loco-hauled passenger trains run with driving trailers. Exactly which services those are changes with every timetable change and with the growing spread of multiple units. So rely on current sightings from the community rather than on older diagram lists from the internet.
Does the 1142 haul freight trains too?
It comes from a line of general-purpose locomotives and is basically suited to it. What a particular machine actually works is decided by the diagram. For identification, that means: the train behind the loco is a clue, but not proof. The class number remains the decisive feature.
What makes a good sighting?
The full vehicle number, date, location and, where possible, the train number. With push-pull trains in particular, the train number is helpful because it clearly identifies the service – even if the loco was running at the rear and you only saw it briefly. A photo of the data panel additionally secures the identification.
Log your sighting of the ÖBB Class 1142
Date, location and vehicle number logged in seconds – and visible to the community.
Related classes
ÖBB Class 1042
The Class 1042 is the ÖBB's classic four-axle general-purpose electric. Here's how to identify it and place the 1042.5 sub-class.
Electric locoÖBB Class 1144
The Class 1144 emerged from converted Class 1044 locomotives. What the second digit of the ÖBB class number reveals, and how to tell the two classes apart for sure.
Driving trailerÖBB CityShuttle Control Car
A control car has a driving cab but no motor. Here's how push-pull operation works on the ÖBB CityShuttle – and how to spot the control car for sure.
Electric locoÖBB Class 1110
The Class 1110 is the ÖBB's six-axle mountain-route locomotive and a close relative of the Class 1010. Here's how to identify and tell them apart.
Electric locoÖBB Class 1141
The Class 1141 grew out of the older Class 1041. Here's how to recognise the four-axle veteran and understand the logic behind the reclassification.
Electric locoÖBB Class 1010
The Class 1010 was a six-axle general-purpose electric locomotive of the ÖBB and today only runs on heritage duty. Here's how to place it and tell it apart from the Class 1110.
Who is behind it
Groups, brands, manufacturers and operators – who owns whom and how to recognise them out in the field.
Where to see the ÖBB Class 1142
Specific viewpoints with lighting times, coordinates and an honest verdict on whether the trip is worth it.
Brennerbahn near Gries am Brenner
Between Innsbruck and the summit the Brennerbahn climbs a good 800 metres – in loops, over viaducts and through spiral tunnels. Near Gries am Brenner you can watch this from public footpaths, with heavy freight trains running in double-heading and with banking locomotives.
Junction stationInnsbruck Hauptbahnhof
Innsbruck is the only place in Austria where the Brenner axis, the Arlberg line and the Lower Inn Valley line meet. The result is a station where locomotives are constantly being moved, coupled and set up – against a mountain backdrop no other main station can match.
Mountain lineTauern Railway near Schwarzach-St. Veit
At Schwarzach-St. Veit two main lines split apart at a wedge station, and just south of it the climb into the High Tauern begins. Loops, viaducts and car-carrier trains make the north ramp one of the most distinctive mountain spots in Austria.
Related guides from the blog
