SNCF Class CC 6500 explained

SNCF Class CC 6500
Powertype:Electric
Builder:Alsthom and MTE
Builddate:1969-1975
Totalproduction:78
Rebuilder:Alsthom (for Amtrak)
Rebuilddate:1976
Numberrebuilt:1
Uicclass:C′C′
Wheeldiameter:1140mm
Length:20.19m (66.24feet)
Electricsystem:1.5 kV DC Catenary
25 kV 50 Hz AC Catenary (in addition, CC 21000 only)
11 kV 25 Hz AC Catenary (Amtrak)
Collectionmethod:Pantograph
Tractionmotors:Two TTB 665 A1, 1.5 kV self-ventilating
Maxspeed:160or
Poweroutput:5900kW
Tractiveeffort:263kN at 74km/h
121kN at 161km/h
Operator:SNCF, Amtrak
Nicknames:Nez cassé (broken nose), French Fry (Amtrak demonstrator)

The SNCF Class CC 6500 is a class of 1.5 kV DC electric locomotives. The CC 6500 was, together with the and diesel CC 72000, the first generation of the 'Nez Cassé' family of locomotives and designed for hauling express trains with speeds up to 200km/h but also used for heavy freight trains. Among the trains they hauled in their first years of service were the SNCF flagship train Le Mistral and Trans Europ Express trains Aquitaine, Le Capitole and l'Étendard.[1]

Technical details

The locomotives had 3-axle monomotor bogies with each set of 3 axles coupled by gears. Speed regulation was by rheostats and series-parallel control. The motors had double armatures so there were four "demi-motors" which allowed three motor groupings: full series, series-parallel and full parallel. The power controller had 28 steps.

The second batch of CC 6500 locomotives were equipped with third-rail electrical pickups for use on the steeply-graded Maurienne line in the Alps, which were removed when the line was converted to overhead catenary supplies.[2]

Production

Between 1969 and 1976 a total of 74 were built, with the last of this class taken out of service in 2007.Four more were built as dual-system 1.5 kV DC/25 kV AC locomotives, and designated Class CC 21000. These were reconfigured for use as DC only locomotives between 1995 and 1996, taking the total of CC 6500 locomotives to 78.[2]

Names

Around half the class received names. Most are named after French towns, except CC 6572, which was named to commemorate the World War II railway workers resistance group, Résistance-Fer.

NumberNameNumberName
CC 6502Ivry-sur-SeineCC 6526Choisy-le-Roi
CC 6504Vitry-sur-SeineCC 6527Amboise
CC 6505Sainte-Foy-la-GrandeCC 6529Issoudun
CC 6508MontaubanCC 6530Cahors
CC 6509AgenCC 6531Saint-Pierre-des-Corps
CC 6510CarcassonneCC 6533Beautiran
CC 6512NarbonneCC 6534Béziers
CC 6513CognacCC 6535Saint-Chamond
CC 6514PoitiersCC 6536Annecy
CC 6515BloisCC 6537Salon-de-Provence
CC 6516ChâtelleraultCC 6560Oullins
CC 6517ArcachonCC 6563Laval
CC 6518OrléansCC 6564Beaune
CC 6519AngoulèmeCC 6566Maubeuge
CC 6520RuffecCC 6567Brest
CC 6521SaintesCC 6569La Mulatière
CC 6522LimogesCC 6570Armentières
CC 6523BriveCC 6571Jeumont
CC 6524ToulouseCC 6572Résistance-Fer
CC 6525ChâteaurouxCC 6574Dole

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. [O. S. Nock|Nock, O.S.]
  2. Book: Haydock . David . Fox, Peter. French Railways: Locomotives and Multiple Units . 1999 . Platform 5 . 1-872524-87-7 . 17 . 4.