BLS the line with electric giants.
Five generations of electrical power on BLS.
Photo.BLS
The BLS has in the beginning hosted some of the most powerful engines during its history from the beginning to present. Here is a short presentation of some of the remarkable classes of different generations of motive of power.
Ae 8/8.
Photo Hugo Müller. Scan und upload marc.eschenbacher@span.ch
In the sixties BLS was looking for a new type of engines, that could match Ae6/8 for power and Ae4/4.s light weigth. The SLM and and BBC were con tracted for construction of the the new engines. The first engine was 261 and was delivered in delivered in december of 1964. The day after delivery it hauled an 660 ton freight from Spietz to Kandersteg. After additonal testruns after delivery of the second unit in May 1965. BLS ordered in 1965 3 more engines, followed by 3 more two years later, the class was renumbered to 161 and upwards.
The 1967 engines differed from the previously by more powerful transformers, and they were delivered MU connections to able to power more heavier trains. The engines were also delivered with new numbers in 160 series. In 1971 the engines 174-180 delivered, four of them were delivered to other railroads in BLS-group, The 177 to SEZ, the 178 to GBS and BN received 179-180. In 1968 the engine 261 was rebuilt to thyristorengine in BLS shops in Spietz. The elctrical was delivered by BBC. componements