Belgian Railways Class 18 (Alsthom)
| Company type | Electric locomotive |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railway transportation |
| Predecessor | SNCF CC 40100 |
| Founded | 1973–1974 |
| Headquarters | Belgium |
| Products | Multi-system electric locomotives |
Number of employees | 6 units built |
The Belgian Railways Class 18 consisted of a series of electric locomotives utilized by the NMBS/SNCB. Constructed by Alsthom during the years 1973 to 1974, a total of six units were manufactured. These multi-system locomotives were based on the French SNCF CC 40100 express passenger models and were designed for international service, mainly operating on corridors such as Paris-Brussels/Liège and Oostende-Cologne. They were withdrawn from service by 1999, with Thalys electric multiple units taking over their routes.
The Class 18 featured a lightweight aluminum frame highlighted by dark blue detailing. It was capable of reaching speeds up to 180 km/h and delivered a power output of 4320 kW. Its electrical equipment was compatible with several voltage systems: 1500 V DC, 3000 V DC, 25 kV 50 Hz AC, and 15 kV AC, allowing seamless cross-border rail operations within important European networks.
Status
The fate of the six locomotives is as follows:
- 1801 Dismantled in February 2008 at Salzinnes workshops
- 1802 Dismantled in July 2009 at Courcelles-Motte
- 1803 Initially stored in Raeren, transferred to Sokolov (Czech Republic) in October 2011, scrapped February 2012
- 1804 Dismantled in July 2009 at Courcelles-Motte
- 1805 Maintained in preservation by PFT
- 1806 Stored at Raeren before relocation to Sokolov in October 2011; scrapped February 2012