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The 2D2 5500 were electric locomotives operated by the Compagnie du chemin de fer de Paris à Orléans, then
This class originated on the PO with the two class locomotives of 1925. These had four traction motors, one per axle, driving through Buchli drives and following Swiss practice. They were considered to be more reliable in service than other PO electric locos.
The locomotives operated from a catenary with two pantographs, powering four motors. Each locomotive had over of wire for the series-wound electric motors. The driver would start the engines in series, with only voltage applied at 350 A. The resistance applied to the engines was progressively removed and the locomotive's speed increased, then switching to series-parallel operation and finally parallel only at . 
Thirty five units were ordered by the PO to run on its newly electrified Paris-Orleans-Toulouse/Bordeaux lines, numbers 503 to 537, delivered between 1933 and 1935. The next 15 locomotives were delivered until 1943 to the PO.
The units travelled between overhauls. They were known to be very low vibration locomotives.
SNCF
The Société nationale des chemins de fer français (; abbreviated as SNCF ; French for "National society of French railroads") is France's national state-owned railway company. Founded in 1938, it operates the country's national rail traffi ...
in France, in operation from 1933 to 1980.
Design and operation
This class originated on the PO with the two class locomotives of 1925. These had four traction motors, one per axle, driving through Buchli drives and following Swiss practice. They were considered to be more reliable in service than other PO electric locos.
The locomotives operated from a catenary with two pantographs, powering four motors. Each locomotive had over of wire for the series-wound electric motors. The driver would start the engines in series, with only voltage applied at 350 A. The resistance applied to the engines was progressively removed and the locomotive's speed increased, then switching to series-parallel operation and finally parallel only at . Rheostatic braking
Dynamic braking is the use of an electric traction motor as a generator when slowing a vehicle such as an electric or diesel-electric locomotive. It is termed " rheostatic" if the generated electrical power is dissipated as heat in brake grid ...
was also possible, with the rotors connected in series and shunt resistances across each field winding. Engineers watched the line ahead through a circular frosted lens in the windshield.
Thirty five units were ordered by the PO to run on its newly electrified Paris-Orleans-Toulouse/Bordeaux lines, numbers 503 to 537, delivered between 1933 and 1935. The next 15 locomotives were delivered until 1943 to the PO.
The units travelled between overhauls. They were known to be very low vibration locomotives.
Service history
A 1946 SNCF film shows 2D2 5550 travelling on the Paris-Le Mans line, noting that 2D2 units delivered before 1942 had over travelled, some over . Post-war, the Paris-Lyon line was electrified and an improved 2-Do-2 class, the was ordered. 35 of these were delivered by 1950, but after this the rigid-framed electric locomotive was replaced by a Co-Cobogie
A bogie ( ) (in some senses called a truck in North American English) is a chassis or framework that carries a wheelset, attached to a vehicle—a modular subassembly of wheels and axles. Bogies take various forms in various modes of transp ...
design, the CC 7100.
Preservation
2D2 5516 is preserved at Cite du Train. It was put in service in July 1933 and retired in 1978, having travelled over .Notes
{{SNCF locos Standard gauge electric locomotives of France SNCF locomotives 2′Do2′ locomotives 1500 V DC locomotives Fives-Lille locomotives CEM locomotives Passenger locomotives E.0501