8362 - the SNCF bo-bo BB25531- fitted with Kaydee couplers
Prototype information:
| When the BB25100 and 25200's were under
development at MTE, SNCF and Alsthom were designing a small dual voltage
loco, based on the dc powered BB8500. The first BB25500's were introduced
in 1964 and were mixed traffic locos. Equipped with rheostatic braking and
speed control, they could haul passenger trains at 140 km/h as well as
freight trains at 100 km/h. Although under-powered the fitting of
push-pull control allowed them to operate with heavier trains. Little
appreciated because of their bad riding due to the small bogies, the last
sub-class locos were equipped with roomier cabs offering more comfort to
the drivers. Initially seen at the head of express trains, they soon
handed over haulage of these prestigious trains to the faster dual voltage
locos such as the BB25200 or the 22200's. The BB 25500's then transferred
to the suburban trains in the Paris area working out of Montparnasse
station towards Mantes by Plaisirs, operating in push-pull mode with
double decker coaches and driving trailers. They also operated the
regional trains in the Rhone-Alps and Burgundy and in particular between
Lyon and Grenoble. Used on the Riviera between Marseilles and Ventimiglia,
they competed with the Z23500 from 1998 for the local services with which
they shared haulage of the Provence-Alps Riviera trains. The remainder of
the class was mainly used on freight, in particular on the Large Belt
where these machines dominated traffic since electrification had driven
out the CC65500's Originally in green livery, they adopted the grey
'concrete' colour before receiving specific 'Multiservices, FRET and
Ile-de-France'
liveries dependent upon their roles.
Restricted in speed nowadays due to their poor braking means they only have a few more years of service left before their withdrawal. The locos are based at depots in Montrouge, Achères, Turns, Dijon, Rennes, Vénissieux and Marseilles. |
| Number built: | 194 |
| Operating area : | East and South East regions |
|
Number ranges: |
BB25501 to 25544 - BB25545 to 25555. - BB25556 to 25587 - BB25588 to 25694 |
| Maximum speed: | 140 km/h (90 mile/h) |
| Operating Voltages | 1500v DC and 25Kv AC |
|
Power: |
4000 HP |
|
Weight |
79 tons |
| Date entered service: | 1964 |
| Builder | Alsthom |