Série 2600, nicknamed ''Nez-Cassée'' ''("Broken Nose")'', is a type of 25 kV 50 Hz electric locomotive currently used by

Comboios de Portugal CP — Comboios de Portugal, EPE (; ) is a state-owned company which operates passenger trains in Portugal. Prior to June 2009, CP stood for Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses (English: ''Portuguese Railways'') although the company has been using it ...

. They are closely based on the SNCF Class BB 15000 locomotive design. The locomotives are part of the

Nez Cassé The Nez Cassé series of locomotives is a large family of electric and diesel locomotives intended primarily for fast passenger service on the French SNCF railway system. Produced by Alstom, Alsthom for use under multiple electrification networks ...

family of locomotives, a popular locomotive style designed by

Paul Arzens Paul Arzens (28 August 1903 – 2 February 1990) was a French industrial designer of railway locomotives and motor cars. Arzens was born in Paris, at an address along the on the northern side of the city. As a young man he studied at t ...

, designed by ''Groupement 50Hz'' (a French consortium led by

Alsthom Alstom SA () is a French multinational rolling stock manufacturer which operates worldwide in rail transport markets. It is active in the fields of passenger transportation, signaling, and locomotives, producing high-speed, suburban, regional a ...

) and entered service in 1974 (Série 2600) and 1987 (Śerie 2620) Of the 12 built, 9 were still in service in 2012. They have a top speed of 160 km/h. Série 2620 is physically identical to Série 2600. Nine locomotives were assembled in Portugal by

Sorefame Sorefame (an abbreviation of ''Sociedades Reunidas de Fabricações Metálicas'', meaning ''"Reunited Society of Metalwork Fabrications")'' was a Portugal, Portuguese manufacturer of railway rolling stock and industrial equipment, such as dam gat ...

in 1987 (under licence from Groupement 50 Hz/Alsthom); as of 2012 seven remained in service. The locomotives are less powerful than the newer Série 4700 and 5600 locomotives, sometimes leading to late running on services. As of 2011, CP Carga (the freight division of CP) was able to discontinue using the Série 2600 and 2620 locomotives. As of 2012, it was expected that the remaining locomotives would be withdrawn within the next few years.Article by D N Clough, ''Today's Railways (Europe)'', issue 195 (March 2012), pages 28-30, As of 2013 all had been withdrawn from service. As part of a June 2019 government plan to reintroduce withdrawn rolling stock, it is expected that this series will re-enter service. In September 2019, a first 2600 locomotive was hauled to Contumil to be repaired, followed by four more in October. As of 2023, CP had introduced a new paint scheme for this class. The new livery was applied to unit 2628 ''(Part of Série 2620) and recently, 2604 ((Part of Série 2600)'', based on the first livery of the class 4700 (All sold to Medway). The new livery sports a modern red colour with white markings on the side with the CP logo sticking out.

Diagram

References

{{Nez Cassé locomotives Electric locomotives of Portugal Bo′Bo′ electric locomotives 25 kV AC locomotives Railway locomotives introduced in 1974 Alstom locomotives

Diagram

See also

References