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.
RE 465
Photo by: John M. Lovda,
jlovda@attglobal.net
When SBB was looking for a new generation of power for its trains for the next century they needed a very powerful, fast but lightweight dualservice engines. This resulted in a very futurisic looking engines with some novelties. To keep the weight down, cabs and parts of the roof in clasfiber enforced plastic. BLS ordered eight engines of slightly modified form. Visulally they comfirmed they confirms to SBB. class RE460-class sisters execpt for their blue livery. The SBB. ordered themselves 10 of Re465 class leasing them to BLS. The RE 460.s are rated at 8000 hp, and are also exported to Finland (Sr2-class), Norway (El.17-class) and to China. The 465.s are rated at 8800 hp, and reaching the limit of the 4 axle engines with 2200 hp per axle!! The 230 km/h engines are used on everything from high speed Euro- and Intercitytrains to haul MU:ed heavyfreight over the gradient mainline.