SJ Ra
Encyclopedia
The SJ Class Ra is an electric locomotive
operated by Statens Järnvägar
of Sweden. Ten units were built by ASEA
, two in 1955 and eight in 1961. Ra was used on express trains until the 1990s.
-locomotives were ordered from ASEA. Inspiration for the appearance came from North America, with round shapes and a bulldog nose
. The two first units were successful and SJ ordered additional eight units from ASEA, delivered in 1961. Though never being used for more than 130 km/h, it was capable for 150 km/h, and served mainly on Stockholm - Göteborg and Stockholm - Oslo. They were mainly taken out of service in the late 1980s, though two remained in service until 1996. Most have been preserved, including at the Swedish Railway Museum
and at Nässjö Railway Museum.
Electric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
operated by Statens Järnvägar
Statens Järnvägar
The Swedish State Railways or SJ, originally the Royal Railway Board , is a former government agency responsible for operating the state railways in Sweden....
of Sweden. Ten units were built by ASEA
ASEA
Allmänna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget was a Swedish industry company. It merged with the Swiss Brown, Boveri & Cie in 1988 to form Asea Brown Boveri...
, two in 1955 and eight in 1961. Ra was used on express trains until the 1990s.
History
During the 1940s SJ had a need for quicker locomotives for their express trains. In 1953 two bogieBogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
-locomotives were ordered from ASEA. Inspiration for the appearance came from North America, with round shapes and a bulldog nose
Bulldog nose
"Bulldog nose" is the nickname given, due to their appearance, to several diesel locomotives manufactured by GM-EMD and its licencees from 1939 to 1970...
. The two first units were successful and SJ ordered additional eight units from ASEA, delivered in 1961. Though never being used for more than 130 km/h, it was capable for 150 km/h, and served mainly on Stockholm - Göteborg and Stockholm - Oslo. They were mainly taken out of service in the late 1980s, though two remained in service until 1996. Most have been preserved, including at the Swedish Railway Museum
Swedish Railway Museum
The Swedish Railway Museum, , in Gävle, Gästrikland, Sweden, national museum for Sweden's railway history.The Swedish Railway Museum is tasked with acquiring, preserving and supplying knowledge about Swedish railway history on the basis of the national collection...
and at Nässjö Railway Museum.