Most rated loco’s in Europe.

[cambsy]

I have just been on Interail trip around Europe, and got to sample quite a few different loco’s, and as not know them very well, I would be interested to know which loco’s are rated by Enthusiasts and Bashers? On my trip I did enjoy riding behind the older locos of Croatia and Sweden, and was interesting to also ride behind the modern loco’s too.

 

[Richard Scott]

To start this off there are obviously going to be differing opinions. Some of my favourites are the DB 218s, OEBB 2143s (although harder to get nowadays), Slovenian 664s (may be lucky to get one on Avtovlak train), Croatian 2044s and CZ 749s.
If you can get one ex Yugoslavian 661s are definitely worth sampling. Worth a mention are MAV 418s (original ones), SNCF 67400s (now extremely rare) and Romanian 60s and 62s.
Shame the SNCF 72000s and 72100s have gone as they were impressive locos.
All of the above are diesels, there are electrics I'll go for but that's more for rarity value than anything else although a Slovenian 363 is worth going for.

 

[AdamWW]

I have just been on Interail trip around Europe, and got to sample quite a few different loco’s, and as not know them very well, I would be interested to know which loco’s are rated by Enthusiasts and Bashers? On my trip I did enjoy riding behind the older locos of Croatia and Sweden, and was interesting to also ride behind the modern loco’s too.

I rather like the Czech/Slovak "Goggles" class 754s for their rather unconventional appearance.

 

[D6130]

I like the Trenitalia D445 class diesel-electric locos, which are now eking-out their final days on semi-rural commuter services between Firenze and Borgo San Lorenzo via Pontassieve in Tuscany and between Cagliari and Decimomannu in Sardinia.

 

[StephenHunter]

The ÖBB Class 1044s are still about on IC routes in Austria, I believe.

FS in Italy does a lot of tourist specials with vintage carriages and traction that is worth looking out for - very affordable too!

There are also some interesting railcars out there - the Czechs are keeping the M152.0 family going well; GWTR have even installed full colour VDUs in theirs.

 

[MarcVD]

The problem for railfans is that the variety is shrinking dramatically. Traxx and vectrons everywhere. Only variety comes from the liveries. Most pre-2000 series getting extinct at an alarming rate. You still find a few "broken nose" locos in France, and the more recent models that Alstom failed to sell anywhere else (26000, 36000, prima). In Switzerland it's now the beginning of the end for Re4/4 and Re6/6. Italy still has some variety. Austria will soon be the land of Taurus, Vectron and Traxx. In a few years the European railway landscape will be reduced to 5 or 6 electric models, tops.

 

[Amalie]

The problem for railfans is that the variety is shrinking dramatically. Traxx and vectrons everywhere. Only variety comes from the liveries. Most pre-2000 series getting extinct at an alarming rate. You still find a few "broken nose" locos in France, and the more recent models that Alstom failed to sell anywhere else (26000, 36000, prima). In Switzerland it's now the beginning of the end for Re4/4 and Re6/6. Italy still has some variety. Austria will soon be the land of Taurus, Vectron and Traxx. In a few years the European railway landscape will be reduced to 5 or 6 electric models, tops.

You can still find broken noses in The Netherlands, it’s quite popular with freight operators because the ex-NS 1700 locos are cheap and quite powerful. I believe that Slovenia and Portugal still use them too.

I will say of the Tauruses, what they lack in looks, they greatly make up for in sound, especially when it rains and the wheels slip as it accelerates.

That being said, it is sad to see the diverse collection of locomotives decline to just a handful. The same applies to multiple units too.

 

[StephenHunter]

Still some of the Ludmillas in freight service in Germany.

 

[Beebman]

Another 1970s ex-DR class still in freight service in Germany is the Class 155 electric (ex-DR 250). I have a soft spot for these as back in 1991 on my first visit to the East after reunification my train back from Leipzig to Frankfurt/M was hauled by one of these as far as Erfurt.

 

[43096]

I will say of the Tauruses, what they lack in looks, they greatly make up for in sound, especially when it rains and the wheels slip as it accelerates.

Taurus lacks nothing in looks. An absolutely fantastic, classic design.

 

[Amalie]

Taurus lacks nothing in looks. An absolutely fantastic, classic design.

I don’t find them ugly per se, just a bit dull. That being said, I do prefer the Taurus Railjets over the Vectron Railjets in looks. The cab car end just feels more like a high speed train.

 

[duesselmartin]

I don’t find them ugly per se, just a bit dull. That being said, I do prefer the Taurus Railjets over the Vectron Railjets in looks. The cab car end just feels more like a high speed train.

Vectron is getting dull because of the sheer amount of them.

 

[SHD]

Aren't there a handful of ex-SNCF BB25500 operating in Romania?
And many EU/EP 07 operating in Poland - probably the largest fleet of locomotives still using a classic, resistor-based traction control system

 

[AdamWW]

Aren't there a handful of ex-SNCF BB25500 operating in Romania?

They have these - don't know what class they are but I'm pretty sure ex SNCF.


(Photo of an overhead electric locomotive number 91 53 0 425570-5 hauling a rake of low coaches at Sinaia station in Romania.)

But I think my most interesting locomotive sighting recently was this (also in Romania):


(Photo of ex BR 92 025 (I think) in Railfreight two-tone grey with EWS sticker.)

A few days later it was gone so probably still in use despite the appearance (I've seen much worse in Spain!)

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

They have these - don't know what class they are but I'm pretty sure ex SNCF.

Yes, they are BB 25500.

(Photo of ex BR 92 025 (I think) in Railfreight two-tone grey with EWS sticker.)

Britten is 92 026:

File:92026 passes Kensington Olympia 18 June 2009.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

commons.wikimedia.org

It seems to be one of two class 92s with DB Cargo Romania.

 

[StephenHunter]

Vectron is getting dull because of the sheer amount of them.

Generation Bravo (or Beta) will love them.

 

[RichJF]

Generation Bravo (or Beta) will love them.

Tis by the grace of Vectron's kindly claw we enjoy this loco.

On another point the Slovenian (SZ) 664's as mentioned produce a GREAT noise when under power & hauling trains. When camping near Radovlijca in 2024 there were a few 664s that went along the Jesenice line on the other river bank. Could hear them for miles!

 

[43096]

Tis by the grace of Vectron's kindly claw we enjoy this loco.

An excellent Mitchell and Webb reference!

By Vectron you shall have it, and gladly.


And Vectrons are not dull - excellent locos.

 

[AdamWW]

And Vectrons are not dull - excellent locos.

In themselves, perhaps not.

But having Vectrons everywhere and replacing distinctively different locomotives in different countries is - in my book - somewhat dull.

 

[Amalie]

In themselves, perhaps not.

But having Vectrons everywhere and replacing distinctively different locomotives in different countries is - in my book - somewhat dull.

I’m in this same position. I really like the look of Vectrons, and I’m glad that this is the most popular locomotive over something like a Stadler Eurodual from a visual standpoint.

But just having that single homogeneous locomotive all across Europe makes things dull and boring. It’s so much more interesting and livelier to have diversity, regardless of how any specific locomotive looks.

 

[LUYMun]

For the SNCF, the electric 'Nez Cassé' ('broken nose') locos remain in regular service, though to a much lesser extant than even 5 or 10 years ago. The diesel variants are now withdrawn with a few preserved.

The BB 7200 class (DC voltage powered) can be seen working Toulouse-Bordeaux Intercités services as well as the Intercités de nuit (night train) from Paris to southern France, or at least as far as electric supply gets them to before swapping out to diesel traction. 7200s also operate some TER (regional) services centring Chambéry, though I believe their use are interchangeable with the dual-voltage BB 22000s.

There are also BB 22000s running TER services such as some Lyon-Dijon and thrice-daily Lyon-Marseille as well as Saverne-Strasbourg-Selestat in Alsace. For a cheaper option, though not covered in Interrail, Ouigo Train Classique services from Paris to Rennes/Nantes also run with 22000s.

For slightly newer traction, the 'Sybic' BB 26000 locos also run some TER and Intercités around the country, such as Strasbourg-Mulhouse-Basel, Paris-Toulouse/Clermont Ferrand, and the twice-daily Paris-Nancy-Strasbourg.

One of the most interesting (and endangered) are the antiquated BB 67400 diesel locos which the passenger subclass now remain in Strasbourg. These operate peak hour services to St Dié des Vosges and Lauterbourg.

 

[43096]

For the SNCF, the electric 'Nez Cassé' ('broken nose') locos remain in regular service, though to a much lesser extant than even 5 or 10 years ago. The diesel variants are now withdrawn with a few preserved.

The BB 7200 class (DC voltage powered) can be seen working Toulouse-Bordeaux Intercités services as well as the Intercités de nuit (night train) from Paris to southern France, or at least as far as electric supply gets them to before swapping out to diesel traction. 7200s also operate some TER (regional) services centring Chambéry, though I believe their use are interchangeable with the dual-voltage BB 22000s.

There are also BB 22000s running TER services such as some Lyon-Dijon and thrice-daily Lyon-Marseille as well as Saverne-Strasbourg-Selestat in Alsace. For a cheaper option, though not covered in Interrail, Ouigo Train Classique services from Paris to Rennes/Nantes also run with 22000s.

They are BB 22200, not 22000. 7200 (DC version) + 15000 (AC version) = 22200 (multi system version).