| Rc | |
|---|---|
| Rc6 operated by SJ | |
| Power type | Electric |
| Builder | ASEA |
| Build date | 1967-88 |
| Total produced | 360 |
| UIC classification | Bo'Bo' |
| Gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
| Wheel diameter | 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in) |
| Length | 15.4 m (51 ft) |
| Locomotive weight | 80 t (79 long tons; 88 short tons) (Rc1) 76.8 t (75.6 long tons; 84.7 short tons) (Rc2, 3) 78 t (77 long tons; 86 short tons) (Rc4, 6, 7) |
| Electric system | 15 kV 16⅔ AC |
| Current collection method |
Pantograph |
| Top speed | 135 km/h (84 mph) (Rc1, 2, 4, 5) 160 km/h (99 mph) (Rc3, 6) 180 km/h (110 mph) (Rc7) |
| Power output | 3,600 kW (4,800 hp) |
| Tractive effort | 275 kN (62,000 lbf) (Rc1, 2) 235 kN (53,000 lbf) (Rc3, 6) 290 kN (65,000 lbf) (Rc4) |
The SJ Class Rc is the most used electric locomotive in Sweden. Rc is a universal locomotive used both in freight and passenger trains. The largest operators are SJ and Green Cargo, although Veolia Transport, Tågåkeriet and the Swedish Transport Administration operate it as well.
Contents |
The Rc-locomotive first appeared in 1967 to replace the 1950s Ra-locomotive, the 1940s F-locomotive and the older D- and Da-locomotives.
Altogether 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 X 2000 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 between 75 and 80 tonnes, whilst the Rm weighs 90 tonnes. The Rm's top speed is only 100 km/h, but due to the nature of their work, they are more powerful locomotives.
The Rc and Rc-based locomotives have been exported to an other countries. The Austrian Federal Railways bought 10 Rc2 with extra brakes for the alpine conditions, ÖBB Class 1043. One of the locos was 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 Norwegian State Railways of Norway, known as El 16. The RAI 40-700 class (see Iranian Railways RC4) of eight engines were 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 bogies, sand-proof air filters and no round windows on the side. In 1977, an Rc4 was tested in the United States for use with Amtrak's passenger trains. The Rc4 engine proved successful and would become the basis for the AEM-7.
42 class locomotives are being refurbished by Bombardier for Green Cargo. They include various upgrades and are now known as class Rd.[1]
| Model | Operator | Built | Years | Power | Top speed | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SJ Rc1 | Green Cargo | 20 | 1967-68 | 3,600 kW | 135 km/h | |
| SJ Rc2 | Green Cargo | 100 | 1969-75 | 3,600 kW | 135 km/h | |
| SJ Rc3 | SJ AB and Green Cargo | 23 | 1970-71 | 3,600 kW | 160 km/h | Rebuilt from Rc2 |
| ÖBB Class 1043 | Tågab and Swedish Rail Administration and TGOJ | 9 | 1971-73 | 4,000 kW | 135 km/h | |
| SJ Rc4 | Green Cargo | 130 | 1975-82 | 3,600 kW | 135 km/h | 160 km/h for Rc4P |
| SJ Rm | Green Cargo | 6 | 1977 | 3,600 kW | 100 km/h | |
| NSB El 16 | CargoNet | 17 | 1977-84 | 4,440 kW | 135 km/h | |
| AEM-7 | Amtrak | 65 | 1978-88 | 5,200 kW | 201 km/h | |
| RAI 40-700 class | Islamic Republic of Iran Railways | 8 | 1982 | 3,600 | 100 km/h | |
| SJ Rc5 | Swedish State Railways | 60 | 1982-86 | 3,600 kW | 135 km/h | All now converted to Rc6 |
| SJ Rc6 | SJ AB and SSRT | 40 | 1982-86 | 3,600 kW | 160 km/h | 60 rebuilt from Rc5 |
| SJ Rc7 | SJ AB | 2 | 2001 | 3,600 kW | 180 km/h | Rebuilt from Rc6, all now converted back to Rc6 |
Photos of various Rc locomotives
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