The SNCF Class BB 9300 was a class of French 1500V DC electric locomotives built by Schneider-Jeumont/CEM between 1967 and 1969. They were later mainly used on passenger services around Marseille, Avignon, Nîmes, Narbonne and Toulouse,[1] and all had been withdrawn by 2014.

SNCF BB 9300
BB 9329 at Paris Gare d'Austerlitz on 5 September 2005
Type and origin
Power typeElectric
BuilderFrance Schneider-Jeumont
France CEM
Build date1967–1969
Total produced40
Specifications
Configuration:
 • UICBo′Bo′
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Length16.20 m (53 ft 2 in)
Width2.98 m (9 ft 9 in)
Height4.20 m (13 ft 9 in)
Electric system/s1.5 kV DC Catenary
Current pickup(s)Pantograph
Traction motors4x Alsthom GLM 931B
Loco brakeRheostatic brakes
Performance figures
Maximum speed160 km/h (99 mph)
Power output3,850 kW (5,160 hp)
Tractive effort260 kN (58,000 lbf)
Career
OperatorsSNCF
ClassBB 9300
Number in class0 (2014)
Numbers/
LocaleSouth West France - No further north than Tours, no further east than Marseille
First run1967 - 1969
DispositionOut Of Service

Description

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The locomotives were 16.2 m (53 ft 2 in) long, weighed 82 t (81 long tons; 90 short tons) and had a tractive effort of 260 kN (58,000 lbf) giving a maximum speed of 160 km/h (99 mph)[1]

Technically, the class was closely derived from BB 9200. They were fitted with one-legged type AM18B pantographs unlike the BB 9200s, which were fitted with diamond type G pantographs. Differences between the two classes were notable at the bogie level, in particular the suspension system. Only the last BB 9200s were equipped with rheostatic braking, while all BB 9300s were equipped with it. The louvres were longer than on the BB 9200. The driver’s cab benefited from new ergonomics and the standardised controls fitted to most locomotives built from 1965.

Operational use

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BB 9322 hauling the Catalan Talgo at Genève-Cornavin, 1979

When first delivered, they were assigned to lines in the South-East region, to provide traction for the Rapid and Express trains. From 1967 to 1970, some locomotives were rostered to haul the prestigious TEE Mistral before the advent of the more powerful CC 6500. BB 9319 to 9331 were fitted with special hydrostatic compensated buffers between 1975 and 1981, necessary for hauling the Talgo III-RD trainsets of Renfe on the two services using this stock: TEE Catalan-Talgo Geneva - Barcelona, from Geneva to Narbonne where diesel traction took over, during the period when this train was routed via Lyon-Brotteaux instead of Grenoble; and the Barcelona-Talgo sleeper train, linking Paris and Barcelona, from Paris-Austerlitz to Toulouse, where it was again handed over to diesel traction.

In 1977, the arrival of the new BB 7200s at the Villeneuve depot for service on the Paris-Lyon-Marseille artery displaced the less powerful BB 9300s. They were then progressively transferred to the Toulouse depot. By 1981, the entire class was allocated to Toulouse to operate express and mainline trains between Paris and Toulouse or Bordeaux, and on the cross-country lines of the South-West, as well as a few freight or postal trains.

At the end of the 2000s, the BB 9300s, like their BB 9200 cousins, experienced a sharp drop in activity due to the appearance of new regional multiple units.[2] Some were stored out of use, the others remained in operation on the Teoz connections, then CIC and TER services, still around Toulouse and Bordeaux. They were regularly used to move empty coaching stock between Bordeaux and Juvisy.

Depot allocations

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The Villeneuve depot received all 40 locomotives of the class as soon as they were delivered, from 1967 to 1969. From 1977, they were gradually transferred to the Toulouse depot. By 1981 they were all at Toulouse and would remain so until the end of their career.[3]

Fleet list

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The last members of the class were withdrawn on 2 September 2014[4]

Number Commissioned Withdrawn Final Livery Last Depot Name (Date)
BB 9301 2 December 1967 2 September 2014 Multiservice STF Midi-Py
BB 9302 30 January 1968 11 August 1993 Oullins Toulouse
BB 9303 25 February 1968 28 March 2013 Traveling Toulouse
BB 9304 4 March 1968 10 April 2012 Multiservice Toulouse
BB 9305 31 March 1968 6 May 2010 Multiservice Toulouse
BB 9306 17 April 1968 30 June 2013 Traveling Toulouse
BB 9307 29 April 1968 4 July 2011 Multiservice Toulouse
BB 9308 12 May 1968 12 April 2010 Multiservice Toulouse
BB 9309 21 June 1968 7 January 2013 Concrete Toulouse
BB 9310 19 July 1968 20 January 2011 Concrete Toulouse
BB 9311 2 August 1968 18 November 2009 Multiservice Toulouse
BB 9312 2 September 1968 1 February 2011 Multiservice Toulouse
BB 9313 21 September 1968 30 November 2011 Multiservice Toulouse
BB 9314 29 September 1968 26 October 2007 Concrete Toulouse
BB 9315 12 October 1968 1 February 2011 Multiservice Toulouse
BB 9316 25 October 1968 26 March 2013 Traveling Toulouse
BB 9317 9 November 1968 28 March 2013 Multiservice Toulouse
BB 9318 23 November 1968 29 March 2013 Traveling Toulouse
BB 9319 14 December 1968 2 September 2014 Concrete STF Midi-Py
BB 9320 22 December 1968 7 January 2013 Multiservice Toulouse
BB 9321 20 January 1969 10 September 2010 Concrete Toulouse
BB 9322 25 January 1969 26 June 2013 Traveling Toulouse
BB 9323 2 February 1969 29 March 2013 Concrete Toulouse
BB 9324 22 February 1969 1 December 2009 Concrete Toulouse
BB 9325 3 March 1969 30 November 2012 Multiservice Toulouse
BB 9326 10 March 1969 27 November 2012 Traveling Toulouse Montrabé (15 October 1988)
BB 9327 21 March 1969 16 January 2012 Concrete Toulouse
BB 9328 4 April 1969 12 December 2011 Concrete Toulouse
BB 9329 13 April 1969 10 June 2010 Concrete Toulouse Castres (23 September 1982)
BB 9330 25 April 1969 29 March 2010 Concrete Toulouse
BB 9331 2 May 1969 16 January 2012 Concrete Toulouse
BB 9332 12 May 1969 21 February 2008 Concrete Toulouse
BB 9333 3 May 1969 4 June 2010 Concrete Toulouse
BB 9334 5 June 1969 23 November 2009 Concrete Toulouse
BB 9335 20 June 1969 25 January 2010 Multiservice Toulouse
BB 9336 28 June 1969 10 September 2006 Concrete Toulouse
BB 9337 13 July 1969 31 May 2011 Concrete Toulouse
BB 9338 26 July 1969 16 January 2012 Multiservice Toulouse
BB 9339 1 October 1969 29 March 2013 Concrete Toulouse
BB 9340 21 November 1969 6 July 2010 Concrete Toulouse

Accidents and incidents

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  • BB 9302 was eventually written off following a collision on a level crossing, which occurred on 21 September 1990 at Chéry-Lury[4]
  • BB 9305 appeared in the film Ceux qui m'aiment prendront le train. (Those who love me will take the train).

Preservation

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References

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  1. ^ a b Garvin, Brian; Fox, Peter; Appleby, Chris (1986). SNCF/French National Railways. Sheffield: Platform Five. p. 21. ISBN 0-906579-62-7.
  2. ^ Droissey, F (September 2014). "BB 9300 : Fin des prolongations". Rail Passion. No. 203. p. 11.
  3. ^ Moret, Bruno (February 1999). "Les BB 9301 à 9340". Le Train. No. 130. pp. 54–57.
  4. ^ a b c d "Trains du Sud-Ouest" (PDF). Trains du Sud-Ouest. Retrieved 15 March 2021.

Bibliography

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  • Defrance, Jacques (1969). Le matériel moteur de la SNCF. Paris: La Vie du Rail.
  • Redouty, Denis (2007). Le matériel moteur de la SNCF. Paris: La Vie du Rail. ISBN 978-2-915034-65-3.
  • Constant, Oliver (2004). Encyclopédie du matériel moteur SNCF, "les locomotives à courant continu 1.500 V,. Le Train.