After various tests carried out on the prototype locos BB 30001 and 30002 (formerly called 26001 and 26002) which were derived from the BB 9400, SNCF decided to build a locomotive able to operate under four different voltages, the CC40100. With an innovative exterior design, these machines were the first equipped with a raked back windscreen on the cab front which earned them the nickname "Broken Nose".

The idea of being able to operate under four different power supplies was flawed as the Belgium system of 1500 volts dc was practically never used.

A few years after the delivery of the CC40100's,  SNCB decided to buy some identical locos, known as the class 18 and having a stainless steel body with yellow and blue highlighting. (Jouef model 8899)

During their thirty year career, the CC40100's made their reputation hauling the prestigious TEE and wore the matching red and silver livery of the stainless steel coaches of the Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam or Mistral 69 trains, which they continued to haul until their withdrawal.

However towards the end maintenance costs rose as their poor reliability became a problem.

Since 1994-95, the TGV Network replaced them on the majority of the route to Belgium whilst by-passing the traditional route beyond the Northern LGV. During the summer timetable of May 31 1996 that the last locos still in service, the CC40109 and 40110 were seen on the SNCF, at the time of the arrival of TGV PBA Thalys.  The Belgian class 18 locos operated running connecting services until their withdrawal on July 12, 1999. The class 15 on the German services was replaced in December 1997 by TGV PBKA Thalys. Whereas it took 2h 30 in 1995 to go from Paris-Nord to Brussels-Midi, nowadays this is reduced to 1h 25  running at 300 km/h between the two European capitals. The disappearance of the CC40100 constituted the end of the halcyon days of the TEE criss-crossing Europe in the last part of the 20th century.

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