After the end of Second World War, the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS) are looking to modernize their locomotives fleet for passenger traffic and replace the Ae 3/6^I units.

The new locomotive had to be able to:
- tow 300-ton trains on ramps of 12‰ at a speed of 110 km/h;
- brake 300-ton trains on ramps of 38‰;
- tow 460-ton trains on ramps of 10‰ at a speed of 75 km/h.

Bern–Lötschberg–Simplon Railway (BLS) locomotive Ae 4/4 is a source of inspiration.

The chosen locomotive for this purpose was the Re 4/4 locomotive built by Schweizerische Lokomotiv- und Maschinenfabrik (SLM) for the mechanical part and by Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon (MFO), Brown, Boveri & Cie (BBC) and Société Anonyme des Ateliers de Sécheron (SAAS) for the electrical part.

The unit cost for the locomotive was 700 000 Swiss francs.

The locomotive is equipped with a gangway connection for easier access when used in multiple control or in a shuttle train.

The first batch of 6x Re 4/4 I units is delivered between January 22nd and June 26th, 1946. They are registered 401 to 406.

All locomotives from this series are delivered in a green livery.  

The second batch of 10x Re 4/4 I units is delivered between September 17th, 1946 and April 17th, 1947. They are registered 407 to 416.  

The third batch of 10x Re 4/4 I units is delivered between May 31st and November 18th, 1948. They are registered 417 to 426.

NB: A second series registered Re 4/4^I 427 - 450 is delivered between 1950 and 1951. These units don't have the gangway connection.  

Unit Re 4/4^I 416 receives a new light green color scheme.

As this livery is too messy, the locomotive is repainted in its original livery on December 14th, 1957.  

Unit Re 4/4^I 409 receives a new cobalt blue livery.

This paint scheme is not a success so the locomotive is repainted in its original livery on July 17th, 1959.  

All 26x Re 4/4^I units are renumbered 10001 - 10026 between 1958 and 1960.  

All units receive the new red livery during the R3 revision from 1984.  

These units are retired from regular service between 1996 and 1998.  

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