Traduction automatique. Texte original en: EN - afficher l'original In 1969, the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS) commissioned the development and manufacture of a new Bo’Bo’Bo’-locomotive. It had to be the faster and more powerful than its predecessor, the Ae 6/6 electric locomotive.

The new locomotive is built by the Schweizerische Lokomotiv- und Maschinenfabrik (SLM, now part of Stadler Rail) and Brown, Boveri & Cie (BBC, now part of ABB).

At the time, the main requirements were that the locomotive had to be able to pull a 800 tonnes train, at a constant speed of 80 km/h, up a slope of a maximum of 26 per mille. The locomotive also had to be able to round the tight 300-meter curves over the Gotthard pass with a speed of at least 80 km/h.

These requirements resulted in a design with three two-axle bogies, with one traction motor per axle. The Re 6/6 power rating is impressive: 7.850 kW at 100 km/h.

4x prototypes are initially built:
- Re 6/6 11601 – 11602 with a 2-part articulated body, interconnected by hinges;
- Re 6/6 11603 – 11604 with a uniform body, a more simple and cheaper solution. / Sources: https://railcolornews.com/2018/09/18/ch-the-new-re-6-6-for-railadventure-its-first-days-of-service/

Traduction automatique. Texte original en: EN - afficher l'original A total of 85 locomotives are finally ordered based on the Re 6/6 11603 - 11604 prototypes.

These units enter service between 1975 and 1980 and are registered as Re 6/6 11605 - 11689. / Sources: https://europeantraction.com/sbb-cff-ffs-re6-6/

Traduction automatique. Texte original en: EN - afficher l'original 85x units from this series were built between 1975 and 1980 based on the Re 6/6 11603 - 11604 prototypes.

They very quickly became the standard serious heavy freight traction across Switzerland, not just on the Gotthardbahn but also elsewhere, such as on the oil traffic through the Rhône valley. They were also used on passenger trains, but were never equipped for push-pull operation, on account of their immense power being deemed far too excessive to safely push a train! / Sources: https://europeantraction.com/sbb-cff-ffs-re6-6/

Traduction automatique. Texte original en: EN - afficher l'original The 2x units from this series are sold to RailAdventure (RADVE) in 2018 where they are registered as Class 420. / Sources: https://railcolornews.com/2018/09/18/ch-the-new-re-6-6-for-railadventure-its-first-days-of-service/