BLS Ae 485 273

Ae 485

Type: BLS Double-Locomotive
Producer: SLM Winterthur, BBC Baden
Build date: 1959-1966
Quantity: 2 (built 5)
Number Photographed Train: Ae 485 273
Number after UIC: Ae 485 271-275
Number Classic: Ae 8/8 271-275
Operating Weight: 160 tons
Swiss Axis Formula: Bo’Bo’+Bo’Bo’
Length over buffers: 30.23 meters
Power: 6'474 kW
Top Speed: 120 kph
Home: Switzerland
Operator: Bern-Simplon-Lötschberg Bahn (BLS)

Photo-Date: 01.06.2008
Location: Huttwil, Switzerland

Note: As in the 1950s the traffic on the Lötschberg freight route grew, the BLS had to use lead engines. Soe they order a Double-Locomotive, the Ae 8/8 are two constantly fixed Ae 4/4. During their lifetime they got upgraded. No.274 was lost in 1996 due a trafo break, No.271 and 272 where lost due a Remise fire in 1998, No.273 was declared as an historic locomotive in 2004 and No.275 was displayed at the Verkehrshaus Lucern but since 2006 she is back but not operationable. The people call the locomotives „Munis“ it’s swiss german for taurus/bull.
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