SNCF Class CC 6500

The SNCF Class CC 6500 is a class of 1.5 kV DC electric locomotives. The CC 6500 was, together with the CC 40100 and diesel CC 72000, the first generation of the 'Nez Cassé' family of locomotives and designed for hauling express trains with speeds up to 200 km/h (124 mph) 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.[2]

SNCF Class CC 6500
CC-6572 Résistance-Fer at Cité du Train de Mulhouse, Mulhouse, France
Type and origin
Power typeElectric
BuilderAlsthom and MTE
Build date1969-1975
Total produced78
RebuilderAlsthom (for Amtrak)
Rebuild date1976
Number rebuilt1
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICC′C′
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Wheel diameter1,140 mm (44.88 in)
Length20.19 m (66 ft 3 in)
Loco weight
  • CC 6539 to 74 : 115 tonnes (113 long tons; 127 short tons)
  • CC 6539 to 74 : 118 tonnes (116 long tons; 130 short tons)
  • X996 : 132.5 tonnes (130.4 long tons; 146.1 short tons)[1]
Electric system/s1.5 kV DC Catenary
25 kV 50 Hz AC Catenary (in addition, CC 21000 only)
11 kV 25 Hz AC Catenary (Amtrak)
Current pickup(s)Pantograph
Traction motorsTwo TTB 665 A1, 1.5 kV self-ventilating
Performance figures
Maximum speed160 or 200 km/h (99 or 124 mph)
Power output5,900 kW (7,900 hp)
Tractive effort263 kN (59,000 lbf) at 74 km/h (46 mph)
121 kN (27,000 lbf) at 161 km/h (100 mph)
Career
OperatorsSNCF, Amtrak
NicknamesNez cassé (broken nose), French Fry (Amtrak demonstrator)

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.[3]

Production
CC 6508 pulling into Basel station in 1993

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.[3]

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.[3]

Number Name Number Name
CC 6502 Ivry-sur-Seine CC 6526 Choisy-le-Roi
CC 6504 Vitry-sur-Seine CC 6527 Amboise
CC 6505 Sainte-Foy-la-Grande CC 6529 Issoudun
CC 6508 Montauban CC 6530 Cahors
CC 6509 Agen CC 6531 Saint-Pierre-des-Corps
CC 6510 Carcassonne CC 6533 Beautiran
CC 6512 Narbonne CC 6534 Béziers
CC 6513 Cognac CC 6535 Saint-Chamond
CC 6514 Poitiers CC 6536 Annecy
CC 6515 Blois CC 6537 Salon-de-Provence
CC 6516 Châtellerault CC 6560 Oullins
CC 6517 Arcachon CC 6563 Laval
CC 6518 Orléans CC 6564 Beaune
CC 6519 Angoulème CC 6566 Maubeuge
CC 6520 Ruffec CC 6567 Brest
CC 6521 Saintes CC 6569 La Mulatière
CC 6522 Limoges CC 6570 Armentières
CC 6523 Brive CC 6571 Jeumont
CC 6524 Toulouse CC 6572 Résistance-Fer
CC 6525 Châteauroux CC 6574 Dole

References
  1. Hérubel, Olivier; Zalkind, Jacques (2000), CC 6500 - CC 21000, Éditions de la Régordane, p. 178.
  2. Nock, O.S. (1978). "The Aquitaine: pioneer of electric power", in World Atlas of Railways, pp. 120–121. New York: Mayflower Books (original publisher: Artists House, London, UK). ISBN 0-8317-9500-X.
  3. Haydock, David; Fox, Peter (1999). French Railways: Locomotives and Multiple Units (4 ed.). Platform 5. p. 17. ISBN 1-872524-87-7.

Further reading
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