SNCF Class BB 8500

Class BB 8500
SNCF BB 8629 at Matabiau Station,Toulouse(2006-07-05)
Type and origin Power type Electric Builder Alstom Build date 1964–1974 Total produced 146
Specifications Configuration: ​ •UIC B'B' Gauge 1,435 mm(4 ft8+1⁄2in) Driverdia. 1,100 mm (43.31 in) Length 14.70 m (48 ft 2.7 in) (8501-8536) 14.94 m (49 ft 0.2 in) (8537-8587) 15.57 m (51 ft 1.0 in)(8588-8646) Loco weight 78 t (77 long tons; 86 short tons) (8501-8536) 79 t (78 long tons; 87 short tons) (8537-8587) 80 t (79 long tons; 88 short tons) (8588-8646) Electric system/s 1.5kVDCCatenary Current pickup(s) Pantograph Traction motors 2×660 TAB A1 (8501-8536) or 2×TAB 660B1 (8537-8646) monomotors
Performance figures Maximum speed 100 or 140 km/h (62 or 87 mph) Power output 2,610 kW (3,500 hp) (8501-8536) 2,940 kW (3,940 hp) (8537-8646) Tractive effort 323 or 197 kN (72,600 or 44,300 lbf)
Career Operators SNCF VFE* SNCF TER† SNCF Transilien‡ SNCF Infra¤ Class ¤BB 8500 †‡BB 8500 & BB88500 Number in class 2 †43 ‡4 ¤2 Nicknames Danseuses(Dancers) Locale Tournay-Capvern †TER Bourgogne, Midi-Pyrénées, Languedoc & Rhône-Alpes.ECSat Paris-Gare de Lyon, Paris-Gare d'Austerlitz& Lyon Disposition Banking engine ‡¤to be passed to TER

TheSNCF Class BB 8500class are part of a series ofelectric locomotivesbuilt byAlsthomforSNCF.They are thedirect currentversion of the 25 kValternating currentSNCF BB 17000and dual systemSNCF BB 25500.

The locomotives are fitted withmonomotorbogieswith two different gear ratios. This allows them to increase their tractive effort in exchange for a reduction in their top speed. This makes them suitable for bothfreightandpassenger trains.They acquired the nicknameDanseuses(dancers) due to their tendency to sway from side to side at speed, which led to them beingblackedat a number of depots.

They were built in three distinct batches, leading to detail differences. They remain in use as mixed traffic locomotives, mostly with TER and but with some remaining for special duties. Thirty locomotives, dedicated toempty stockmoves, have been reclassified asBB 88500.Likewise in 2001, 20 of the class were rebuilt for freightbankingworkings on theMaurienne line.They were classified asBB 8700for this period.

Names

Five members of the class were named.

Number	Name
8600	Fleury-les-Aubrey
8602	Foix
8603	Lannemezan
8604	Cerdagne
8605	Saint-Gaudens

Preservation

A single locomotive, BB 8616, is preserved atMohon.