The SNCF Class BB 66700 is a series of diesel-electric locomotives operated by the French national railway company, SNCF. These locomotives represent a specific sub-class derived from the larger and more numerous SNCF Class BB 66000 series, distinguished primarily by significant re-engining and modifications to enhance their performance and extend their operational life.
Overview
The BB 66700 class locomotives were created as part of SNCF's modernization efforts for its extensive fleet of BB 66000 series diesel locomotives. The original BB 66000s, built from 1959 to 1968, were equipped with MGO V12 diesel engines. Over their operational life, many of these units underwent various re-engining and refurbishment programs, leading to the creation of several distinct sub-classes. The BB 66700 designation typically applies to units that were re-engined with a more powerful SACM MGO V16 BSHR diesel engine. This upgrade provided improved power output and reliability, adapting them for heavier duties or specific operational requirements.Technical Characteristics
- Type: Diesel-electric locomotive
- Wheel Arrangement: Bo'Bo' (four axles, all motored, arranged in two two-axle bogies)
- Power Output: Approximately 1,000 kW (1,340 hp)
- Top Speed: Generally 90 km/h (56 mph)
- Engine: SACM MGO V16 BSHR (specific engine type for this variant, different from the original BB 66000's V12)
- Transmission: Electric (main generator supplies power to traction motors)
- Operator: SNCF
- Built/Rebuilt: These locomotives were created by re-engining and modifying existing BB 66000 units, primarily during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
- Number Built/Re-engined: A relatively small number of units, typically around 20-30, were specifically designated as BB 66700, making them one of the rarer sub-classes of the 66000 family.
Service History and Use
The BB 66700s were versatile locomotives, utilized for a variety of duties across the French rail network. Their enhanced power and robust construction made them particularly suitable for:- Freight services: Hauling medium-weight freight trains, often on secondary lines.
- Shunting: Performing heavy shunting operations in large marshalling yards.
- Infrastructure work: Frequently assigned to special trains for track maintenance, engineering works, and particularly for snow plough services during winter months, where their reliable power was crucial.
- Occasional passenger duties: While not their primary role, they could occasionally be seen on local or regional passenger services, especially during locomotive shortages or for special workings.
As part of the larger BB 66000 family, the BB 66700s played an important role in SNCF's diesel locomotive fleet for several decades. However, with the ongoing electrification of the French railway network and the introduction of newer, more fuel-efficient diesel locomotives, the BB 66700 class, along with much of its parent class, was progressively withdrawn from active SNCF service starting in the early 2000s. Some units may have subsequently found second lives with private railway operators or have been acquired for preservation.
See Also
- SNCF Class BB 66000 (Parent class)
- SNCF (Société nationale des chemins de fer français)
- Diesel-electric locomotive
- Bo'Bo' (Locomotive wheel arrangement)