SNCF Class BB 9400

The SNCF Class BB 9400 was a class of Bo'Bo' electric locomotives of SNCF. They were used to haul L’Aquilon, a high-speed passenger train between Paris, Dijon and Lyon-Perrache.^[1] The locomotives were given the nickname "Vespa", as they were very lightweight.^[2] They were one of a series of locomotives referred to as "BB Jacquemin", as they used bogies designed by engineer André Jacquemin. The locomotive itself was designed by noted French railway designer Paul Arzens.^[3] In later years they hauled passenger trains on the difficult Béziers–Neussargues line.^[4]

The locomotive series was built between 1967 and 1969, numbered 9401 to 9535.^[4] These fell into two groups; the original group was limited to 120 km/h (75 mph), with units BB 9531 to 9535 capable of 180 km/h (110 mph).^[5] These units operated under a 1,500 V DC catenary, with a power of 2,210 kW (2,960 hp). The locomotives are 14.40 m (47 ft 3 in) long and weigh 60 t (59 long tons; 66 short tons). They were fitted for multiple unit and push–pull working.^[4] Some were modified in the 1980s to work in freight service and reclassified as BB 9600, with sound-proofed cabins and a unified control stand for the operator. The class was withdrawn from service by 1994, with one example, BB 9411, preserved on display at the Gare de Nîmes.^[5]