Ee 3/3 16408 (1946) and Ee 3/3 16451 (1965) in Biel/Bienne

Ee 3/3 16408 (1946) and Ee 3/3 16451 (1965) in Biel/Bienne.

(ID 22526)

Switzerland / Electric locomotives / Ee 3/3

Ee 3/3 16408 (1946) and Ee 3/3 16451 (1965) in Biel/Bienne.
17.11.2014

Stefan Wohlfahrt http://klein-aber-fein---imagination.startbilder.de/ 18.11.2014, 525 Calls, 0 Comments

EXIF: SONY SLT-A37, Date 2014:11:17 15:51:45, Exposure time: 0.006 s (1/160) (1/160), Blend: f/4.0, ISO640, Focal length: 30.00 (300/10)

Ee 3/3 16408 (1946) and Ee 3/3 16451 (1965) in Biel/Bienne.

A CJ local train is arriving at Le Noirmont.

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The beautifully restored SNCF C 20155 UIC No. 97 85 1 932-0 (formerly SBB Ee 3/3 II 1615, formerly SNCF C 20155) is on its way from Balsthal to Klus and was photographed near the ‘A’ entry signal in Balsthal. 8 November 2025 
Stefan Wohlfahrt

Switzerland / Electric locomotives / Ee 3/3, Switzerland / Heritage Railways and Museums / Team C 20155

 30 1200x806 Px, 05.12.2025

The SNCF C 20155 UIC No. 97 85 1 932-0 (ex SBB Ee 3/3 II 16515, ex SNCF C 20155) of the "Team C-20155" association is leaving Balsthal towards Klus. The three-point signal indicates that this is a train movement. The dual-current Ee 3/3 II, originally designed as a shunting locomotive, was procured by the SNCF in a number of nine units as mainline locomotives for freight trains between Saint Louis and Muttenz. This was due to complaints from local residents following the electrification of the SNCF line between Mulhouse and Basel. This is quite surprising, as Basel was considered a stronghold of steam operation in Switzerland around 1960! Incidentally, years later, similar complaints prevented the continuous use of CC 72000 diesel locomotives for the Line 4 long-distance trains from Paris Est to Basel. In Belfort or Mulhouse, the locomotive had to be changed in most cases. But back to the SNCF C 20155 UIC No. 97 85 1 932-0 (ex SBB Ee 3/3 II 16515, ex SNCF C 20155) of the association "Team C-20155". But back to the SNCF C 20155 UIC No. 97 85 1 932-0 (ex SBB Ee 3/3 II 16515, ex SNCF C 20155) of the "Team C-20155" association. A rare example of an SNCF locomotive, which after a good ten years went to the SBB and spent a good forty years shunting there, was later saved from scrap and restored "back" to its original SNCF version. This may seem surprising and not entirely uncontroversial. However, I think the solution is excellent; it really makes this beautiful locomotive stand out. Furthermore, while the locomotive may have been used by the SNCF in mainline service and, in cross-border traffic, ran roughly half the time on SNCF and half on SBB lines, if you consider the territorial border, the SNCF C 20150 locomotives only traveled three kilometers in France out of a total of 15 kilometers between Saint Louis and Muttenz. November 8, 2025 
Stefan Wohlfahrt

Switzerland / Electric locomotives / Ee 3/3, Switzerland / Heritage Railways and Museums / Team C 20155

 34 849x1200 Px, 19.11.2025

The SNCF C 20155 UIC No. 97 85 1 932-0 (formerly SBB Ee 3/3 II 16515, ex SNCF C 20155) belonging to the ‘Team C-20155’ association stood behind switch 12 in Balsthal and waited until the R22 had turned around. It is now driving to the platform to take interested parties on a ride in the driver's cab to Klus and back. The Ee 3/3 II travels at block distance to the half-hourly R22 towards Klus and then returns to Balsthal before the R22 makes its return journey. 8 November 2025 
Stefan Wohlfahrt

Switzerland / Electric locomotives / Ee 3/3, Switzerland / Heritage Railways and Museums / Team C 20155

 31 806x1200 Px, 12.11.2025

In 1844, the first railway line from France reached Basel. In 1957, the line was electrified. While the change in the power system did not pose a problem for passenger trains, freight trains between the marshalling yards of St-Lous and Muttenz had to be powered by diesel locomotives, resulting in complaints from residents living along the line about exhaust fumes. The SNCF subsequently purchased nine dual-current locomotives, C 20151 to C 20519, which were derived from the SBB Ee 3/3 II. From 1962 onwards, these small locomotives, with a maximum speed of only 40-60 km/h, were used in double traction for SNCF freight transport between St-Louis and Muttenz. The nine locomotives were replaced by the SNCF BB 20200 in 1971/1972 and sold to the SBB. On 9 May 1963, Schweizerische Lokomotiv- und Maschinenfabrik Winterthur delivered the C 20188 to the SNCF and, as mentioned above, sold it to the SBB in 1971/1972, which used it as a shunting locomotive, most recently in Basel SBB until 2011. The locomotive then went to the Yverdon industrial works, where it moved ICN trainsets until 2019. In 2020, it was parked in Biel/Bienne and later transferred to Balsthal with the aim of putting the last remaining dual-current Ee 3/3 back into service. As can be seen, ‘Team C 20155’ has done an excellent job, and the interesting locomotive, in its SNCF livery, is a particularly beautiful gem on Swiss tracks. The picture shows the locomotive in Balsthal during preparations for the open day on 8 November 2025. 
Stefan Wohlfahrt

Switzerland / Electric locomotives / Ee 3/3, Switzerland / Heritage Railways and Museums / Team C 20155

 59 1200x769 Px, 09.11.2025

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