SNCF Class BB 9200

The SNCF Class BB 9200 1500 V DC electric locomotives were built by Schneider-Jeumont/CEM between 1958-1964. 92 of them were built, the last being withdrawn in 2014.

SNCF BB 9200
SNCF BB 9218 in the original livery at Pau in 1986
Type and origin Power type Electric Builder Creusot-Loire, Jeumont-Schneider and Compagnie Électro-Mécanique Build date 1957–1964 Total produced 92
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Bo′Bo′ Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) Wheel diameter 1,250 mm (4 ft 1+1⁄4 in) Wheelbase 9.200 m (30 ft 2+1⁄4 in) ​  • Bogie 3.200 m (10 ft 6 in) Length 16.200 m (53 ft 1+3⁄4 in) Width 2.980 m (9 ft 9+3⁄8 in) Height 4.191 m (13 ft 9 in) Loco weight 82.8 tonnes (81.5 long tons; 91.3 short tons) Electric system/s 1500 V DC Current pickup(s) Pantograph, type G1, 2 off Traction motors GLM 931 B, 1500 volt, force ventilated, 4 off
Performance figures Maximum speed 200 km/h (124 mph) Power output: ​  • Continuous 3,850 kW (5,160 hp)
Career Operators SNCF Numbers BB 9201 – BB 9292 Retired 2003–2015

History

These locomotives are products of the Jacquemin product family, offspring of the prototype BB 9004, and named after the engineer who designed their bogies.

The locomotives were designed for a maximum speed of 160 km/h (99 mph) and were the first such engines in France. In the late sixties, a small group of locomotives was converted for 200 km/h (120 mph) operation, hauling prestige TEE trains like the Capitole - these locomotives were called the BB 9200 Capitole. These types were later superseded by the CC 6500 locomotives. Some of these locomotives covered more than 10 million kilometres (6.2 million miles) before they were withdrawn.

Service

The regular services of the BB 9200 locomotives were inter-regional trains between Paris Montparnasse and Le Mans, between Paris Austerlitz and Tours and between Paris Gare de Lyon, Dijon and Lyon. Some were in service on freight trains. Phasing out of the class was completed by 2014.

Names

Two members of the class were named.

Number	Name	Number	Name
9248	La Teste-de-Buch	9280	Arpajon

BB 9200 Capitole

BB Rouge in Mulhouse

The BB 9200 Capitole was a variant of the SNCF Class BB 9200 locomotive specially constructed for operating high speed trains running at speeds greater than 160 km/h or 99 mph). Due to the special colour scheme they were also called the BB rouge. They also sported Capitole front plates and single-arm pantographs; the rest of the class had diamond pantographs. From 1967 to 1970 the SNCF started the high speed service with the Capitole between Paris and Toulouse. This route included some sections with a speed of more than 200 km/h (120 mph).

• BB 9291 and 9292 : locomotive variants constructed for 250 km/h (160 mph).
• BB 9278, 9281, 9282 and 9288 : locomotive variants, that were conversions of standard members of the class, and limited to 200 km/h (120 mph).

Models of the BB 9200 rouges with their Capitol plates were produced by Märklin, Lima, Jouef and Roco.

References

• Cuny, Vincent (September 2007). "Le Capitole c'est pas Japon". Correspondences Ferroviares (in French) (34): 50–59.
• Porcher, Thierry (March–April 2007). "Il y a 40 ans - La Révolution Rouge du CAPITOLE". Objectif Rail (in French) (20): 38–45.

External links

• Märklin SNCF BB 9200 BahnWahn.de