Electric locomotives - France: books - history

Les locomotives polycourant de l'artère de Paris - Bruxelles (Volume 1)

The first volume of two works of historical, technical and photographic retrospective of the great era of multi-current locomotives on the Paris-Belgium line.
This volume studies the birth and development of the concept of multi-current, through the SNCF BB-26000/30000 and CC-40100 locomotives, as well as the single-current prototype CC-10002 which was used to develop the three-axle single-engine bogie.
This study is completed by photographic themes showing the different SNCF and SNCB series in France.

Information

Les locomotives polycourant de l'artère de Paris - Bruxelles (Volume 2)

Second volume of historical, technical and photographic retrospective of the great era of multi-current locomotives on the Paris - Belgium route.
This work studies the development of the electrification of the Belgian network, the SNCB BB locomotives types 12, 15 and 16, CC type 18.
Photographic themes complete this study by showing the different SNCF and SNCB series in Belgium.

Information

1955 - Un record d'avance

Where will we stop? 243, 331, 515 km/h: so many records broken by the train. In less than forty years, the SNCF has begun the reconquest of lines on which the plane seemed to have secured absolute and incontestable primacy.
Without the CC 7121, a brave pioneer launched at full speed between Dijon and Beaune in 1954, the TGV would not exist. By pursuing its "record advance" policy, the French national company demonstrates, fifty years later, that rail is still participating in the current state of transport.

Information

La saga des nez cassés (Tome 1) - Les séries des BB

The "broken nose" family, made up of more than a thousand locomotives delivered between the mid-1960s and the end of the 1990s, occupies an emblematic place in French railway history.
Initiated by designer Paul Arzens, this series of locomotives, recognizable by their inverted windshields and the distinctive "Z" shape of their broken noses, left its mark on the railway landscape of the last century.

This work, divided into two volumes, traces the epic of the BB type series of broken noses. The first volume explores the adventures of the BB 7003 10003 10004 20011 and 20012 prototypes, playing a crucial role in the development of new railway series.
The BB 7200s, numbering 240, then enjoyed flourishing careers on the Atlantic and South East networks, while the queens of the East, the BB 15000s and the BB 22200s marked the 70s.

The book provides a detailed overview of each series, presenting their liveries, depots, owners and special features. Maps highlight the lines each series travelled.
Series such as the 1600 and 1700 enjoyed international success, operating in the Netherlands and attracting various private operators. Exploring destinations such as Morocco, Brazil and Portugal, the book provides a comprehensive view of the varied heritage of these locomotives, from their conception to their current use.

Information

La saga des nez casses (Tome 2) - Les séries des BBB et CC

NEW

This book traces the history of the CC 6500 electric locomotives, the flagship of the SNCF in the 1970s. With 74 units, they hauled prestigious trains like the TEE Mistral, Capitole, and Aquitaine, while also handling heavy freight trains on the steep slopes of La Maurienne.
We then explore their Slovenian counterparts, the SZ 363 "Brižita, " the Moroccan E900, and the 94 BBB 8000 units in South Korea. The elegant CC 21000, which operated the TEE Cisalpin between Paris and Vallorbe, and the CC 21003, briefly used by Amtrak as X996, are also highlighted.
Next, we examine the CC 40100, the first "Nez Cassé" locomotives, which hauled international trains between France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany.
The powerful CC 72000 diesel-electric locomotives, famous for pulling the TEE Jules Verne and the Arbalète, are also covered, along with their modernized version, the CC 72100. Finally, we look at the career of Portugal's 1900 and 1930 series locomotives, some of which were sent to Argentina in the early 2000s.

Information