Product Features and Details
Locomotive Model:
The Jouef French Electric locomotive class CC6500 is a very impressive model with exceptional running performance and extensive detail. The model is equipped with a powerful 5 pole motor with flywheel, full cab interiors, sprung loaded pantographs, intricate roof details and much more. Model is also equipped with a high-end factory installed sound decoder and LED White/red headlights that coordinate with direction of travel. Model is very heavy so it can pull long and heavy trains. Jouef used all the modern technology available on the market today. Add a Jouef model to your collection today.
Model Details:
Locomotive Prototype:
The SNCF's inaugural CC 6500 locomotives marked a significant technological leap. These 1.5 kV machines were designed without the use of power electronics, a feat of engineering excellence. They were well-suited for pulling passenger trains at speeds of up to 200 km/h, as well as freight trains at 100 km/h. These locomotives retained the iconic "broken nose" design, originally conceived by Paul Arzens for the CC 40100 series, complete with distinctive inclined windshields. Adorning them was the elegant "Grand Confort" livery, featuring a combination of red and metal gray, accentuated by a vibrant orange stripe. It's worth noting that the 21 locomotives (CC 6539 to 6559) known as the "Maurienne" series stood out with their green livery and were equipped with third rail rubbers. Starting in 1970, these robust locomotives, boasting a formidable 5,900 kW of power, proudly served prestigious trains like the "Capitole," "Aquitaine," and "Mistral" until the advent of the TGV Sud-Est and TGV Atlantique. Following this prosperous era, they transitioned towards freight train services and regional TER trains before ultimately being retired between 2003 and 2007.
Passenger Model Car Info:
"The Jouef 'Mistral' Trans European Coaches are renowned for their exceptional level of detail. These passenger cars boast complete interiors and meticulously crafted undercarriage details. The livery and printing quality on these coaches are truly excellent. They make for a perfect complement to the Jouef 'Mistral' CC6500 Electric locomotives."
Prototype Passenger Car Info:
"Le Mistral," a high-speed train named after the cold north-western wind that sweeps through the Rhône Valley to the Mediterranean Sea, played a vital role in connecting Paris and Marseille starting in 1950. Its service extended to Nice in 1952, consistently boasting the finest rolling stock in the French Railways' arsenal during that era.
In 1965, "Le Mistral" received an elevated status as a Trans Europ Express. Four years later, the "new Mistral" was unveiled, featuring the latest advancements in long-distance Inox steel coaches. These coaches, often referred to as "Mistral 69," came in various configurations, including compartments (A8u), open spaces (A8tu), restaurants (Vru), bars (Arux), and luggage vans/generators (A4Dtux).
The train departing from Paris comprised two sections, one destined for Marseille and the other bound for Nice, totaling 14 coaches. Additional coaches were added as needed to cater to changing passenger demands. Typically, the locomotive used for traction was the CC6500, often proudly displaying the "MISTRAL" emblem on the front, as exemplified by the Jouef model HJ2428/S.
This composition of the TEE "Mistral" remained in service until 1981 when the high-speed TGV made its debut on the Paris-Lyon line, marking a significant milestone in the landscape of French rail travel.
