Product Features and Details
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.
