BB 25100 & BB 25200

The BB 25100 and BB 25200 electric locomotives, introduced into service in the 1960s, represent a major step forward in railway versatility. Built by Alsthom, they are adapted to 1500 V direct current and 25 kV 50 Hz single-phase current, enabling them to operate on electrified lines of various types.

BB 25100s, with a maximum speed of 130 km/h, were mainly used for freight trains and regional passenger trains. BB 25200s, on the other hand, were designed to reach 160 km/h, making them ideal for fast and express trains on main lines. These locomotives were highly prized on mixed routes such as those linking the Alps or the Massif Central.

Robust, reliable and versatile, they provided intensive service for several decades, before being gradually replaced by newer models such as the BB 22200. Their characteristic design and their importance in the history of French railways make them emblematic machines of the golden age of railways.