Poster CC 40100

The CC 40100 is a series of ten SNCF quadr-itension electric locomotives. They were delivered in two phases, the first four in 1964, the last six in 1969-1970.

They were the first machines with inward-sloping front windows, an arrangement designed to avoid reflections in the glass and thus improve driving comfort and safety.

Paul Arzens, their designer, succeeded in combining an innovative, modern design with an impression of speed.

They were equipped with four-current to run on all standard-gauge networks in continental Europe. Their reduced gauge even enabled them to reach London via the planned Channel Tunnel.

For mainly political reasons, their Belgian cousins of the 18 series were fully used on the Liège - Cologne route throughout their career. From 1964 to 1996, the CC 40100s were used on international passenger trains between Paris and Brussels (to Amsterdam) or Liège (to Cologne), including many Trans-Europ-Express trains (TEE Brabant, Étoile du Nord, Île de France, Oiseau Bleu, etc.).

Due to their sometimes too avant-garde technology, high maintenance costs and above all average reliability, they gave way to the Thalys (TGV PBA and PBKA) in 1996.