SJ Rb

Rb is an electric locomotive operated by Swedish State Railways (Swedish: Statens Järnvägar, SJ). Six locomotives were built by ASEA, in three series designated Rb1, Rb2 or Rb3.

History

During the 1950s SJ saw the need for a new universal locomotive, since the D-series was aging. In 1955 the Ra-series had proved successful with bogie wheels. At the same time there was interest to make a locomotive that could be exported abroad. The result was an agreement between ASEA and SJ where six test engines were delivered. The testing of the Rb was successful and based on this exports were made to the Yugoslav Railways (JŽ class 441) and Căile Ferate Române of Romania (CFR classes 43 and 44). The result of the testing was the Rc locomotive that was produced in 360 copies for SJ, in addition to export to Amtrak, Norges Statsbaner and Österreichische Bundesbahnen. The Rb-series was in use on passenger and freight trains until the mid-1970s.

Variations

Rb1 was equipped with direct current (DC) motors with higher efficiency and thus more economical. The utilization of thyristors could convert from the alternating current (AC) used in the railway electrification system of Sweden, and one of the Rb1 locos was rebuilt to thyristor in 1965, getting the designation Rb1T.

Rb2 and Rb3 were equipped with conventional AC motors.

External links

• Järnväg.net on Rb (Swedish)