BB 8500

The BB 8500 are electric Locomotive S of the SNCF functioning under a supply voltage of 1500 volts continuous. They are sometimes called Danseuses , reference to their random suspension.

Design

As astonishing as that can appear, these engines result from BB 25500 per subtraction of the equipment single-phase current. The remainder of the machine is identical to its series mother on the majority of the points: double reduction, frame…

This series of engines was conceived in an objective of versatility: it is suited to operation in multiple unit and has a report/ratio of reduction " small vitesse" for the goods trains and another " large vitesse" for the transport and the travellers.

The BB 8501 to 5 had origin a panoramic cabin with panes of angle. The following ones (until BB 8587) have nothing any more but two frontal panes, for safety reasons. The whole of BB 8501 to 8587 is sometimes called " small cabine" in opposition to the following under-series. Indeed, starting from BB 8588, a lengthening of the case was carried out for the installation of a future European coupler, ever installed. This series is characterized by an additional pane between the door from access and the end from the machines. More recent, this second part of the series is also more comfortable for the drivers.

In addition to these distinctions of cabin, one will note that the BB 8501 to 8536 are been driven by TAB engines; 660 A1 whereas the following ones have 660 B1, more powerful.

Services

Envisaged to ensure a service as general-purpose as possible, BB 8500 traversed the majority of the lines electrified in 1500 V continuous.

Currently, one at the head finds them passenger trains on several networks FOR THE THIRD TIME and Transilien, tractor drawing RRR or VB 2N for example. The courses are generally limited and moderate speeds being given their not very powerful suspension.

A big part of the series were used for the traction of the trains of freight: in unit multiples, on their gear ratio low speed these machines were particularly effective at the head of heavy trains: cereals, inter-sorting, etc They were replaced by BB 27000

From 1997, some elements were transformed into BB 88500 in order to carry out operations or service road, in a way similar to BB 8100 transformed into BB 80000.

In 2001, a small score of machines was assigned to the growths on the Ligne of Maurienne. They had been renumbered BB 8700 and receive a limited restoration. They were erased between 2004 and 2005.

Following the example BB 8700, in 2002 the BB 8500 assigned to the services FOR THE THIRD TIME Burgundy around Dijon, they, were also renovated with enlarging of one of the driving cabins. Their reform is planned for 2007-2008, replaced by 8500/25500 large cabins come from Ile de France.

See too

Material engine of the SNCF

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