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Rc
Rc6 operated bySJ
Type and origin Power type Electric Builder ASEA Build date 1967–1988 Total produced 366
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Bo′Bo′ Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)standard gauge Wheel diameter 1,300 mm (51.18 in) Length 15,400 mm (50 ft6+1⁄4 in) Loco weight 80 t (79 long tons; 88 short tons) (Rc1) 76.8 t (75.6 long tons; 84.7 short tons) (Rc2, 3) 78 t (77 long tons; 86 short tons) (Rc4, 6, 7) Electric system/s 15 kV  16.7 Hz ACCatenary Current pickup Pantograph
Performance figures Maximum speed 135 km/h (84 mph) (Rc1, 2, 4, 5) 160 km/h (99 mph) (Rc3, 6) 180 km/h (112 mph) (Rc7) Power output 3,600 kW (4,800 hp) Tractive effort 275 kN (62,000 lbf) (Rc1, 2) 235 kN (53,000 lbf) (Rc3, 6) 290 kN (65,000 lbf) (Rc4)

TheRc class is the most usedelectric locomotive inSweden. Built byAllmänna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget (ASEA), the Rc is a universal locomotive used both in freight and passenger trains. The largest operator isGreen Cargo, althoughSJ,Tågab,Hector Rail andTrafikverket operate it as well. Previous operators includeVeolia Transport.

The Rc-model emerged fromASEA in the 1960s. It first appeared in 1967 to replace the olderD-locomotives. Notably, ASEA facility manager and head engineer Tore Nordin was involved in designing and developing the Rc locomotive at ASEA.^[1] The initial Rc models are notable for using thyristors instead of the older relay-based system.

As of 2020, Rc-locomotives are still used all over Sweden in both passenger and freight lines, although on passenger trains they are slowly being replaced by newEMU, such asER1.

Altogether, there have been eight versions of the Rc-locomotive in Sweden, including the freight locomotive Rm designed to pull iron ore trains. Rc1, Rc2, Rc4, and Rc5 have a maximum allowed speed of 135 km/h. Rc3 and Rc6 have a maximum allowed speed of 160 km/h. Rc7 was a rebuild of Rc6 meant to haul replacement trains needed when theX 2000 trains were canceled or delayed. Rc7 had a maximum allowed speed of 180 km/h. However, the maximum speed permitted without emergency electromagnetictrack brakes is 160 km/h, and keeping extra carriages was considered too expensive. For that reason all Rc7 were subsequently converted back to Rc6. Rc1–Rc7 all weigh between 75 and 80 tonnes, whilst the Rm weighs 90 tonnes. The Rm's top speed is only 100 km/h and are more powerful locomotives.

Engines based on the Rc design were sold to other countries.ÖBB bought 10 Rc2 with extra brakes for the alpine conditions, ÖBB Class 1043. One of the locos was badly damaged in an accident but the remaining nine have been bought by the Swedish company Tågåkeriet i Bergslagen AB (TÅGAB), and returned to Sweden.^[2] A slightly altered Rc4 has been sold toNorwegian State Railways ofNorway, known asEl 16. TheRAI 40-700 class (seeIranian Railways RC4) of eight engines were exported toIran in the early eighties for use on the electrified stretches near the then-Soviet border; these were based on Rc4 but withRm-type bogies, sand-proof air filters and no round windows on the side. In 1977, an Rc4 was tested in the United States for use withAmtrak's passenger trains, designated as X995. The Rc4 engine proved successful and would become the basis for theAEM-7.

42 class Rc2 locomotives have been refurbished byBombardier forGreen Cargo. They include various upgrades and are now known as class Rd2.^[3]

• 
  Rc2 1007 on a test run in January 1967
• 
  Two Rc4 and a Rc2 (in the middle) ofGreen Cargo
• 
  Banverket construction train hauled by a formerly Austrian Rc2 engine
• 
  TÅGAB Rc2 (also ex-ÖBB) with an empty wood train near Hallsberg.
• 
  Rc4 in heritage SJ colors, owned by Green Cargo.
• 
  Rc6 in the new black SJ livery, atLuleå C
• 
  Rc6 in silver-and-red SSRT livery, operated by SJ, atLuleå C

Wikimedia Commons has media related toASEA Rc.

• Järnväg.net on Rc(in Swedish)
• Photos of various Rc locomotives

• Railway locomotives introduced in 1967
• Electric locomotives of Sweden
• 15 kV AC locomotives
• Bo′Bo′ electric locomotives
• ASEA locomotives
• Statens Järnvägar locomotives
• Green Cargo locomotives
• Rolling stock innovations
• Standard-gauge locomotives of Sweden

• CS1 Swedish-language sources (sv)
• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Articles needing additional references from January 2012
• All articles needing additional references
• Commons category link is on Wikidata
• Articles with Swedish-language sources (sv)