CFL Class 3600

The BB 12000 was the first French production electric locomotive class for the AC system 25 kV 50 Hz All previous French electric locomotives were operated with direct current.

After experimenting on a powered industrial current of 50 Hz in Haute -Savoie track this series were built from 1954 to 148 copies. Along with the series BB 13000, CC 14000 CC and 14100 include the series so that the first generation of AC locomotives in France. Her first application was the 303 km long stretch of Thionville to Valenciennes. The positive experiences that you made ​​here, led to the decision to conduct all future rail electrification, with the exception of extensions to the existing DC network with alternating current. As a result, the area of ​​operation of the locomotives extended to the whole of the North East, with the arrival of the BB 16500 and especially the BB 16000 but were ousted in subordinate services.

The last machines of this series were retired in January 2000, but several copies are preserved.

Because of their unusual shape she was nicknamed " Iron " (fer à repasser ).

BB 12000 in the CFL

20 machines were delivered as a series of 3600 by Luxembourg to the CFL. In March 2005, the 3602 was retired as the last of their series. They can be seen as a permanent loan in Augsburg Railway Park. The 3608 remains operational obtained in Luxembourg.