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The SJ Class Ra (or Rapid) is an
Järnväg.net on Ra
{{Swedish railway stock Railway locomotives introduced in 1955 Ra ASEA locomotives Bo′Bo′ electric locomotives 15 kV AC locomotives Standard-gauge locomotives of Sweden
electric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or on-board energy storage such as a Battery (electricity), battery or a supercapacitor. Locomotives with on-board fuelled prime mover (locomotive), ...
operated by Swedish State Railways
The Swedish State Railways () or SJ, originally the Royal Railway Board (), was the former government agency responsible for operating the state-owned railways in Sweden.
History
The Swedish State Railways was created on 1 June 1888 as an ...
(). Ten units were built by ASEA
''Allmänna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget'' ( English translation: General Swedish Electrical Limited Company; Swedish abbreviation: ASEA) was a Swedish industrial company.
History
ASEA was founded in 1883 by Ludvig Fredholm in Västerås ...
, 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 twobogie
A bogie ( ) (or truck in North American English) comprises two or more Wheelset (rail transport), wheelsets (two Railroad wheel, wheels on an axle), in a frame, attached under a vehicle by a pivot. Bogies take various forms in various modes ...
-locomotives were ordered from ASEA. Inspiration for the appearance came from North America, with round shapes and a bulldog nose
"Bulldog nose" is the nickname given, due to their appearance, to several cab-unit diesel-electric locomotives manufactured by GM-EMD and its licensees from 1939 to 1970. The term originated with EMD F-units, as well as later E-unit models such ...
. 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. In 2012, Ra 988 was sold by the Swedish Railway Museum in 2012 and was sold to Svensk Tågkraft and is still in service.
External links
Järnväg.net on Ra
{{Swedish railway stock Railway locomotives introduced in 1955 Ra ASEA locomotives Bo′Bo′ electric locomotives 15 kV AC locomotives Standard-gauge locomotives of Sweden