NS Class 1600

NS Class 1600
NS Class 1800

Railion 1612 at Amersfoort
Type and origin
Power type Electric
Builder Alsthom-Atlantique, MTE Creusot-Loire
Build date 1981-1983
Total produced 58
Specifications
UIC class B'B'
Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in) standard gauge
Length 17,600 mm (57 ft 8 78 in)
Loco weight 83 t (82 long tons; 91 short tons)
Electric system(s) 1.5 kv DC Catenary
Current collection Pantograph
Performance figures
Maximum speed 200 km/h (120 mph)
(in practice 160 km/h or 99 mph)
Power output 4,600 kW (6,200 hp)[1]
Tractive effort 294 kN (66,000 lbf)[1]
Career
Operators Railion Nederland, NS Reizigers
Class 1600/1800
Number in class 1600=23, 1800=34
Numbers In the ranges 1601-1622, 1823-1824, 1625, 1826-1858
Disposition Active

The NS Class 1600 is a type of B-B electric locomotive built by Alstom between 1980 and 1983 based on the SNCF Class BB 7200, and in use by the Dutch Railways since 1981. They were styled by the French industrial designer Paul Arzens.

The Class 1600 was ordered in 1978, after several types of locomotives were tested in the 1970s. One of those was the SNCF BB 7200, on which the 1600 is based. The 58 locomotives were delivered between 1981 and 1983. As a result of their delivery, the old Class 1000 and Class 1500 units were taken out of service.

Thanks to the electronic power control, these locomotives were not only the most economical but also the most powerful locomotives that Dutch Railways had.

NS/Railion Class 1600

In 1999 the freight division of NS, NS Cargo, was sold to Deutsche Bahn became part of Railion as Railion Nederland. The locomotives that became the property of Railion kept their old number (1601–1637). No. 1637 was repainted red as an advertisement for the Dutch brewery Heineken and was repainted in NS Yellow in 2004.

Currently, Railion Nederland is looking to replace the Class 1600 locomotives with new multi-current locomotives type BR 189 from Germany. In early 2008 these started running into the Netherlands from Germany.

NS Class 1800

The locomotives that went to NS-Reizigers (1638–1658) had their numbers raised by 200, thus keeping their number but now in the 1800 series. In later years 10 more of the 1600 locomotives where sold to NS-Reizigers and subsequently renumbered to the 1800 series. The 1800 series was now 1823, 1824 and 1826 to 1858. Retaining the last 2 digits of their number. No. 1838 was involved in a heavy but non-fatal train crash at Amsterdam Central Station in 2005 and due to the extensive damage later scrapped.

Names

All the 1600s and 1800s carry names & crests of Dutch towns and cities.

See also

Class 1700, similar to the 1600/1800 class. Some of the Class 1700 has automatic couplers (so they can quickly couple the NS DD-AR double-decker trains they are used for), which is missing on the 1600/1800 (which have never been used for these trains). The Class 1700 is a modernised version, is heavier than the 1600/1800 and has different (i.e. more modern) systems for braking and "Automatische Trein Beinvloeding ATB" (Automatic Train Control).

References

  1. 1 2 Haydock, David; Fox, Peter; Garvin, Brian (2008). European Handbook No. 1 Benelux Railways Locomotives & Coaching Stock (Fifth ed.). Sheffield, UK: Platform 5 Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-902336-64-0.
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