Belgium: Class 11

Class 11 locomotives were part of a large family of 144 electric locomotives built in the 1980s for the Belgian Railways. This family also included Class 12, Class 21 and Class 27, with Class 11 specifically designed for cross-border service between Belgium and the Netherlands. These locomotives were nearly twice as powerful as their 1950s predecessors, such as Class 22, Class 23, and Class 25, and shared many design similarities with Class 21, differing primarily in their ability to operate under both 3,000 V DC in Belgium and 1,500 V DC in the Netherlands. They were equipped with Dutch signaling and train protection systems for seamless cross-border operations.

Service and Operation

Built to haul Benelux trains between Brussels and Amsterdam, Class 11 locomotives operated in a push-pull configuration, controlled remotely from a driving trailer when at the rear of the train. Numbered 1181 - 1192, they avoided confusion with Dutch Class 1100 locomotives that were still in service. The Class 11 units were used intensively, operating at speeds up to 140 km/h. In 2009, they were replaced by Bombardier TRAXX locomotives leased from Angel Trains (now Alpha Trains) for the Benelux service.

After being displaced from international service, Class 11 locomotives were moved to domestic peak-hour services within Belgium until their retirement in 2012. Their distinctive livery matched that of the Nederlandse Spoorwegen (Dutch Railways) coaching stock they had worked with during their operational life.

Decline and Fate

Due to their limited numbers and intensive use, the Class 11 locomotives aged rapidly and experienced frequent failures in their later years, leading to service disruptions. After withdrawal, they were stored at the Stockem depot, near Arlon. In 2014, discussions took place to sell the fleet to XTR-System Development in the Czech Republic, but the deal only went through for a similar Class 12 locomotive, leaving the Class 11 units in storage. As of 2020, all but locomotive 1187, which is preserved by the SNCB Historical Patrimonium, were reportedly sold for scrapping.

Notable Events

On August 11, 1999, locomotive 1187 became the first Class 11 unit to operate outside of the Benelux service, hauling a special train from Brussels Midi to Arlon for spectators of a total solar eclipse. This unusual event marked a rare deviation from the class’s intended international role.