Traxx locomotives are one of the most successfull types produced in Europe in the recent years. The success is built on the modularization, reliability and Bombardier's ability to keep customers satisfied. The common components are used so widely that even the electric and diesel version of the locomotive share many parts. Each locomotive can also be upgraded for new requirements simply by adding or removing packages. The specifications alter from one European country to another, and in the open access environment the use of the locomotive will most likely be varied a lot within its long lifespan.  
       
There are currently about 1300 locomotives in use and several hundred more on order. Every day one more locomotive will be added to the existing or new fleets from the factories in Kassel, Germany or Vado Ligure, Italy. Bombardier as a major manufacturer also has other product lines, which we will study more closely later. These include many of the giant locomotives in use in Europe and China.     

The Traxx history starts with the German Class 128 prototype, which served as a test bed for various equipment. These included the new carbody, running gear, water cooled MPC converters in IGBT technology as used later on the class 185.2. Picture by Peter Christener.
   
Pre traxx series for Bombardier include classes 145 and 146.
The Class 145 is a light freight locomotive with ester cooled GTO converters, nose suspended drives, capacty to combine the power of several locomotives and train power supply.
Class 146 is similar to 145, but with fully suspended drive and geared for 160 km/h (100 mph) instead of the normal 140 km/h (87 mph).

     
 Traxx 1 series 
These units are similar to class 145, but with additional 25 kV equipment and optional additional pantographs for operations in Switzerland. The roof is lowered in the pantograph area to accommodate the pantographs fit for 25 kV operation.   
       

Bombardier Code: F140 AC1: German class 185, some Swiss Class 482 (picture above) and Swiss class 485 for the BLS (picture below).
Nose suspended drive fit for 140 kph.

   
     
Bombardier Code: P160 AC1: German class 146.1. 
Fully suspended drive and gear for 160 kph
  

 Traxx 2 series
Featured the new crash resistant carbody with straight front in lower part and flap for HVAC equipment, converters in water cooled IGBT technology, train power supply and redesigned bogies for heavier locomotive weight.
     
SBB Re 484 (F140 MS2)
Additional equipment for DC operation, individual axle drive, HVIM converter 
     

Class 185.2 (F140 AC2)
Only AC equipment and group drive, MPC converters, MPC converter
     
Class 146.2 (P160 AC2)
Similar to 185.2 but fully suspended drive instead of nose suspended drive
    
     

Traxx 2E series
Carbody like Traxx 2 but with adaptations in the under frame to accommodate converters for the electric locomotives as well as the prime mover for diesel locomotives. The converter of the electric locomotive is located in the centre of the carbody in the place, where the diesel engine is mounted in the diesel locomotives. the middle section of the locomotive has an aisle along the side wall. Water cooled IGBT converters in HVIM technology.
     
Class 186 (F140 MS)
Equipment for AC and DC operation, individual axle drive, HVIM converter nose suspended drives, train power supply, redesigned bogies allowing max speed 160 km/h with nose suspended drives (in spite having 140 in the designation!).
   
Class 483 (F140 DC)
Similar to Class 186, but only DC equipment.
   
Class S/253 (F140 DC pur)
Similar to Class 186, but redesigned converter for DC only operation, auxiliary converters are included in the traction converter, no train power supply.
     
Class 246 (P160 DE)
Diesel locomotive for passenger operation, fully suspended drives, train power supply.
   
Class 285 (F140 DE)
Diesel locomotive for freight operation, nose suspended drives, no train power supply.      

  To the top of the page   

 Common components 

The bogies for the Traxx family are quite similar, but as with any evolving product the design has been improved over and over with years. The RTS unit shows the bogie of the Traxx 2 series. The device in the middle of the bogie locking the bogie to the locomotive while it is being lifted shows that the loco is from the series 2.
      

  To the top of the page    

 Traxx Unit Pictures    

Class 185 of the Deutsche Bahn in Basel, Switzerland in 2003.  This locomotive is of Traxx F140 AC1 series. Traxx locomotives of the AC1series always have an inclined area in the corners below the lower lamps.  
   
  To the top of the page  

Class 146 on the southern border of Germany. This is a Traxx P160 AC1.     
   
The following pictures are mainly from the same place with many different railroad companies and subsidiaries.  
   
The first is a Mitsui owned RTS Traxx F140 AC2 unit of German class 185.2. These locos are equipped for operations in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. The locomotive body of the Traxx 2 series and onwards has an improved crash resistance and shows a straight lower front section in comparison to the Traxx 1 series, where the lower front section is inclined.

Picture: A German Railion (Deutsche Bahn subsidiary) colored Traxx F140 AC2 fit for operations in Germany only.

Picture: Another Traxx F140 AC1 as Swiss class 482 passes the busy Weil am Rhein station near the Swiss German border. These Swiss Federal Railways owned locomotives are equipped for operations on the Swiss and German networks. Note: not all class 482 locomotives are of the F140 AC1 type, some are also of the F140 AC2 type which is also fit for operation in Austria.     
     

Pictures above and below: A Traxx F140 AC1 locomotive of the Swiss BLS is seen passing Weil am Rhein with an intermodal train. These Swiss class 485 locomotives are equipped for operations in Switzerland and Germany as well as with the ETCS signaling system for operations on new track sections like Lötschberg base tunnel where this common European system is used.  Pictures by Ilkka Siissalo 2007. 

Picture: A traxx F140 AC2 as a Hector Rail class 241 is seen in the depot with a Veolia painted passenger train in Stockholm, Sweden. These units have the capability to run in Sweden as well as Denmark and Germany. Locomotives have also been operating on intermodal trains between Norköpping, Sweden and Wanne-Eikel, Germany since 2008. Picture by John McKey 2009.    

  



Above and below two Traxx units for the Benelux countries High Speed service Fyra. The unit E186 number 225 in in the Angel trains old colors and as the company has changed its name to Alpha trains, the color sceme for the new company can be seen below. Both are 4 current Traxx models (with 4 pantographs), capable of using overhead electricity of 1500V DC, 3000V DC, 15kV 16,7 Hz, 25kV 50 Hz.  

  To the top of the page