SJ Ra

The Ra or Rapid was an electric locomotive of the Swedish State Railways ( SJ). A total of ten pieces of Allmänna Svenska Aktiebolaget Elektriska were produced. The Ra were used as express locomotives and were up in the 1990s in use.

History

Already in the 40s of the 20th century became apparent that the SJ needed faster locomotives for their high-speed trains. Therefore, he was ordered in 1953 for ASEA two electric bogie locomotives. The design of the machine was inspired by North American locomotives, including the design of the cabs with their rounded stems. The locomotives were painted orange and wore a blue trim. So they stood out clearly from the other Swedish electric locomotives from that time were painted brown.

As proven, the two machines delivered in 1955, SJ ordered from ASEA another eight pieces of the same type that were delivered in 1961. Later, all ten vehicles were upgraded and got an orange and white paint after the Rc -Lok scheme and smaller headlights type Marshal. Although the regular speed limit on Swedish routes in the 50s, only 130 km / h was the locomotives of Ra series were designed for a maximum speed of 150 km / hr. They came mainly on the lines Stockholm- Gothenburg and Stockholm -Oslo used. From about 1970, the Ra locomotives were gradually supplanted by machines of the type Rc from the high-quality service and transported from there to mainly regional trains in the areas of Mälardalen and Bergslagen.

Except for two locomotives all Ra in the late 80s were decommissioned. The remaining two were in operation until 1996. Most Ra locomotives have been preserved in railroad museums or railroad clubs. Among other things, the Ra 846 and Ra 988 are located at the Swedish Railway Museum in Gävle and the Ra 847 at the Museum Association Bergslagernas Järnvägssällskap in Gothenburg. Last was long used by Tagab for test drives on behalf of Banverket.