NS Class 1600 and 1700: 40 years of the Dutch 'Broken Noses'

摘要

In 1981-83 Alsthom delivered 58 Bo-Bo electric locomotives to Netherlands Railways (NS) to replace the oldest electric locomotives of the postwar period. 58 locos were ordered following tests with SNCF BB 7003, the DC prototype for Class BB 7200, which was converted from AC loco BB 15007. Class 1600 was the first Dutch electric loco with electronic control systems. Following the success of Class 1600,NS ordered 81 similar Class 1700 locos from Alsthom in the 1990s. Liberalisation of the Dutch railway industry in the 1990s saw the division of Class 1600 between passenger operator NS Reizigers and freight operator NS Cargo, the latter ultimately becoming a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn. Today, 40 years after the first locos entered service, the survivors remain in gainful employment with both NS and private operators, although the introduction of more modern traction means the Nez Casse (broken nose) is becoming an increasingly rare sight on the Dutch nwetwork.