SBB-CFF-FFS Re 420

SBB-CFF-FFS Re 420
Re 420 together with an Re 620
Type and origin Power type Electric Builder SLM Winterthur BBC Baden MFO Zürich SAAS Geneva Build date 1964, 1967–1985 Total produced 277 Re 4/4II 26 Re 4/4III
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR B-B  • UIC Bo′Bo′ Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) Length 15,410 mm (50 ft 7 in) over buffers Width 2,970 mm (9 ft 9 in) Height 4,500 mm (14 ft 9 in) Loco weight 80–85 tonnes (79–84 long tons; 88–94 short tons) Electric system/s 15 kV  16 2⁄3 Hz AC Catenary Current pickup(s) Pantograph Loco brake Air and Dynamic
Performance figures Maximum speed 140 km/h (87 mph) Re 4/4II 125 km/h (78 mph) Re 4/4III Power output 4,700 kW (6,300 hp) Tractive effort Continuous: 150 kN (34,000 lbf) @105 km/h (65 mph), Maximum: 255 kN (57,000 lbf) Brakeforce 135 kN (30,000 lbf)
Career Operators SBB-CFF-FFS, BLS Class Re 4/4II, later Re 420 Re 4/4III, later Re 430 Numbers 11101–11349, 11371–11397, later SBB 420 101–420 349; 421 371–421 397, BLS 420 501–420 512; 11350–11370 = 430 350–370 and RM/CR 436 111–115 Disposition Re 4/4II: 6 withdrawn, 12 sold to BLS, of which 6 withdrawn, 259 in SBB service (2010) Re 4/4III: 21 in SBBC and 5 in CR service

The Re 420, originally (and still widely called) Re 4/4^II, series are the most common electric locomotives of the Swiss Federal Railways. They are used for passenger services throughout Switzerland alone or in pairs. For freight services, they are sometimes paired with the Re 620, especially in mountainous regions. That pairing is referred to by the term Re 10/10. The Re 430, originally known as the Re 4/4^III, are a derivative of the Re 420 modified for higher traction but lower speed.

The Re 420 locomotives were produced over a period of 21 years, from 1964 to 1985.

Re 4/4^III (Re 430 SBB/Re 436 Private) Subseries:

When Südostbahn had the opportunity to buy one of the first batch of 50 Re 4/4^II locomotives before delivery, it had the gear modified for higher traction and lower speed for the steep routes of the SOB. This locomotive was delivered as number 41 (and is now SBB 11350). Based on the SOB experience, the SBB ordered a batch of 20 Re 4/4^III in 1969 for use on the Gotthard route (three of those loks were sold to the SOB in the 1980s and were renumbered Re 4/4 42–44. Those loks were returned to the SBB between 1996 and 1998 in exchange for the four prototype Re 4/4^IV which have since operated as Re 446. The predecessors of Regionalverkehr Mittelland (EBT-VHB-SMB) ordered a total of five Re 4/4^III (111–113, 141, 181, later 111–115) that are now working as Re 436 111–115 for Crossrail AG.

Six Re 4/4^II (11196 to 11201; later 11195 to 11200) were equipped with a wider pantograph wiper in order to conform with DB and ÖBB standards, which allowed these units to operate EuroCity trains over the border to Bregenz and Lindau. These workings are now covered by the last series, 11371 to 11397, which were rebuilt for use in Germany and Austria, not only with a different pantograph but also Indusi and other things necessary for use abroad. These locomotives are classified Re 421 and are lettered for SBB Cargo but also pull passenger trains to Bregenz and Lindau. (11384 was never converted as it was already withdrawn with fire damage)