Locomotive BB 17000

The BB 17000s are 25,000-volt single-voltage electric locomotives operated by the SNCF (French National Railways) between 1965 and 1968. They operated fast, express, commuter, and freight trains until their decommissioning in December 2020.

These locomotives, nicknamed "dancers," are part of the "BB Alsthom" family. They were initially painted green, then some were repainted in concrete livery as early as 1976 and in Île-de-France or En Voyage livery in the 1990s and 2000s.

Derived from the BB 25500s but without DC equipment, 105 of these locomotives were built. Their driver's cab is improved compared to the BB 16500s, with increased power and a top speed of 140 km/h.

Their nickname "dancing" comes from their poor stability due to their short bogie wheelbase, causing oscillations and significant noise on curves.

The BB 17000s use a diode bridge current rectifier system, different from the systems used on the BB 12000, BB 16000, and BB 16500. Their circular step-down mechanism is more compact and efficient.

They entered service in 1966 at the La Chapelle depot before moving to the Achères depot. Used primarily on the Transilien network since the 1990s, their retirement was accelerated by the arrival of the BB 27300s and the Z 50000s.

Some locomotives have special features, such as the BB 17005, rebuilt after an accident, or the BB 17011, which traveled the longest distance. BB 17029 retained its concrete livery until it burned down in 2010.

They served several lines, including Achères–Pontoise, Paris-Nord–Aulnoye–Jeumont, and various assignments on Transilien lines until their decommissioning.

A few locomotives have been preserved, such as BB 17013 at the Cité du Train in Mohon and BB 17016 by the Paris-Saint-Lazare Agents Association. Several were sold to Romanian Railways.