CP Class 2600

Série 2600, nicknamed Nez-Cassée ("Broken Nose"), is a type of 25 kV 50 Hz electric locomotive currently used by Comboios de Portugal. They are closely based on the SNCF Class BB 15000 locomotive design. The locomotives are part of the Nez Cassé family of locomotives, a popular locomotive style designed by Paul Arzens, designed by Groupement 50 Hz (a French consortium led by Alsthom) 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 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 As of 2012, it was expected that the remaining locomotives would be withdrawn within the next few years. As of 2013 all had been withdrawn from service. As part of a June 2019 government plan to reintroduce withdrawn rolling stock, it is expected that this series will re-enter service.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.

Class of 12 Portuguese electric locomotives

CP Class 2600/2620
Locomotive 2609 at Faro station
Type and origin Power type Electric Builder Sorefame (under licence from Groupement 50 Hz/Alsthom)
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Bo'Bo' Gauge 1,668 mm (5 ft 5+21⁄32 in) Iberian gauge Electric system/s 25 kV AC Catenary Current pickup Pantograph
Performance figures Maximum speed 160 km/h (High Speed), 100 km/h (Low Speed)
Career Operators Comboios de Portugal Class 2600 Number in class 12 (8 2600's and 3 2620's) Numbers 2601–2612 2621–2629

Série 2600, nicknamed Nez-Cassée ("Broken Nose"), is a type of 25 kV 50 Hz electric locomotive currently used by Comboios de Portugal. They are closely based on the SNCF Class BB 15000 locomotive design. The locomotives are part of the Nez Cassé family of locomotives, a popular locomotive style designed by Paul Arzens, designed by Groupement 50 Hz (a French consortium led by Alsthom) and entered service in 1974 (Série 2600) and 1987 (Śerie 2620)^{[citation needed]} Of the 12 built, 9 were still in service in 2012. They have a top speed of 160 km/h.^[1]

Série 2620 is physically identical to Série 2600. Nine locomotives were assembled in Portugal by Sorefame in 1987 (under licence from Groupement 50 Hz/Alsthom); as of 2012 seven remained in service.^[2]

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.^[3] 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.^[4] In September 2019, a first 2600 locomotive was hauled to Contumil to be repaired, followed by four more in October.^[5]

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.^[6]

Diagram

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See also

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• CP Class 1900
• CP Class 1930
• Netherlands Railways (NS) class 1600 - also derived from the French BB 15000 class
• SŽ series 363
• SNCF Class BB 15000

References

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1. ^ Série 2600: CP official website
2. ^ Série 2620: CP official website (incorrectly stating a construction date of 1974)
3. ^ Article by D N Clough, Today's Railways (Europe), issue 195 (March 2012), pages 28-30, ISSN 1354-2753
4. ^ NUNES, Diogo Ferreira (28 June 2019). "45 milhões para recuperar 70 comboios da CP até 2022". Diário de Notícias. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
5. ^ Cipriano, Carlos (24 October 2019). "Comboios da CP que estavam encostados vão voltar aos carris". Público. p. 24.
6. ^ "CP tem Nova Imagem para Locomotivas" [CP has New Look for Locomotives]. TrainSpotter. No. 157. September 2023. pp. 6–8. ISSN 2183-7619.