| SNCF 2D2 5500 | |
| Powertype: | Electric |
| Builder: | CEM - Fives-Lille |
| Builddate: | - |
| Totalproduction: | 50 |
| Uicclass: | 2′Do2′ |
| Length: | 17.78frac=8NaNfrac=8 |
| Electricsystem: | 1,500 V DC |
| Collectionmethod: | 2× Pantograph |
| Tractionmotors: | 4× 1000 hp motors |
| Maxspeed: | 130km/h, later 140km/h |
| Operator: | Compagnie du chemin de fer de Paris à Orléans, then SNCF |
| Numinclass: | 50 |
| Fleetnumbers: | E 500 series with the PO, then SNCF 2D2 500 and 2D2 5503-5537, 5538-5545, 5546-5550 |
| Deliverydate: | 5503-5537: May 1933, 5538-5545: December 1937, 5546-5550: April 1942 |
| Retiredate: | 1978 through 1980 |
| Preservedunits: | 2D2 5516 at Cité du train, 2D2 5525 in excursion service |
The 2D2 5500 were electric locomotives operated by the Compagnie du chemin de fer de Paris à Orléans, then SNCF in France, in operation from 1933 to 1980.
This class originated on the PO with the two class locomotives of 1925. These had four traction motors, one per axle, driving through Buchli drives and following Swiss practice. They were considered to be more reliable in service than other PO electric locos.
The locomotives operated from a catenary with two pantographs, powering four 1000hp motors. Each locomotive had over of wire for the series-wound electric motors. The driver would start the engines in series, with only voltage applied at 350 A. The resistance applied to the engines was progressively removed and the locomotive's speed increased, then switching to series-parallel operation and finally parallel only at . Rheostatic braking was also possible, with the rotors connected in series and shunt resistances across each field winding. Engineers watched the line ahead through a circular frosted lens in the windshield.
Thirty five units were ordered by the PO to run on its newly electrified Paris-Orleans-Toulouse/Bordeaux lines, numbers 503 to 537, delivered between 1933 and 1935. The next 15 locomotives were delivered until 1943 to the PO.[1]
The units travelled 220000km (140,000miles) between overhauls. They were known to be very low vibration locomotives.
A 1946 SNCF film shows 2D2 5550 travelling on the 211km (131miles) Paris-Le Mans line, noting that 2D2 units delivered before 1942 had over 1000000km (1,000,000miles) travelled, some over 3000000km (2,000,000miles).
Post-war, the Paris-Lyon line was electrified and an improved 2-Do-2 class, the was ordered. 35 of these were delivered by 1950, but after this the rigid-framed electric locomotive was replaced by a Co-Co bogie design, the CC 7100.
2D2 5516 is preserved at Cite du Train. It was put in service in July 1933 and retired in 1978, having travelled over 7800000km (4,800,000miles).