SJ Rc

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Rc

Rc6 operated by SJ
Power type	Electric
Builder	ASEA
Build date	1967-88
Total production	360
UIC classification	Bo'Bo'
Gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in)
Wheel diameter	1,300 mm
Length	15,400 mm
Locomotive weight	80 tonnes (Rc1) 76.8 tonnes (Rc2, 3) 78 tonnes (Rc4, 6, 7)
Electric system(s)	15 kV 16⅔ AC
Top speed	135 km/h (Rc1, 2, 4, 5) 160 km/h (Rc3, 6) 180 km/h (Rc7)
Power output	3,600 kW
Tractive effort	275 kN (Rc1, 2) 235 kN (Rc3, 6) 290 kN (Rc4)

Two Rc4 and a Rc2 (in the middle) of Green Cargo.

Banverket construction train hauled by an Rc engine.

TÅGAB Rc2 with an empty wood train near Hallsberg.

Rc4 in old SJ colors, owned by Green Cargo.

Rc is the most used electric locomotive in Sweden. Rc is a universal locomotive used both in freight and passenger trains. The largest operates are SJ and Green Cargo, but also Veolia Transportation, Tågåkeriet and the infrastructure company Banverket operate it as well.

[edit] History

The Rc-locomotive first appeared in 1967 to replace the 1950s Ra-locomotive, the 1940s F-locomotive and the older D- and Da-locomotives.

[edit] Versions

Althogether there have been 8 versions of the Rc-locomotive in Sweden including the freight locomotive Rm designed to pull iron ore trains. Rc1, Rc2, Rc4, and Rc5 have a maximum allowed speed of 135 km/h. Rc3 and Rc6 have a maximum allowed speed of 160 km/h. Rc7 was a rebuild of Rc6 meant to haul replacement trains needed when the X2000 trains were canceled or delayed. Rc7 had a maximum allowed speed of 180 km/h. However, the maximum speed permitted without emergency electromagnetic track brakes is 160 km/h, and converting the carriages proved too expensive. For that reason all Rc7 were subsequently converted back to Rc6. Rc1-Rc7 all weigh around 75-80 tons but the Rm weigh around 90 tons. The Rm's top speed is only 100 km/h but they are more powerful.

The Rc and Rc-based locomotives have been exported to a other countries. The Austrian Railways bought 10 Rc2 with extra breaks for the alpine conditions, ÖBB Class 1043. One of the locos were badly damaged in an accident but the remaining nine have been bought by the Swedish company Tågåkeriet i Bergslagen AB (TÅGAB), and returned to Sweden. A slightly altered Rc4 has been sold to Norges Statsbaner of Norway, known as El 16. The RAI 40-700 class of eight engines where exported to Iran in the early eighties for use on the electrified stretches near the then-Soviet border, these were based on Rc4 but with Rm-type boogies, sand-proof air filters and no round windows on the side. The AEM-7 used by Amtrak is also based on the Rc4.

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