CC 72000

SNCF's CC 72000 locomotives are iconic diesel-electric machines, designed for non-electrified lines and put into service from 1967. With their imposing silhouette and distinctive blue-and-gray livery, they embodied modernity and power, handling both passenger and freight trains. Equipped with a Pielstick engine developing 3,550 hp, these locomotives were capable of reaching a maximum speed of 160 km/h.

Designed for comfort, they featured an ergonomic cab and a high-performance suspension system, ideal for long hauls. CC 72000s made their mark on main lines such as Paris-Cherbourg and Lyon-Bordeaux, where they replaced steam locomotives. Gradually replaced by more recent models, such as the CC 72100 or modern railcars, they remain today a nostalgic symbol of the diesel era at SNCF. Some have been preserved by railway associations to bear witness to this era.