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what is it?
The RAI R-C-4 is a class of 4 axle Bo'Bo' electric locomotives used by the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways; the units have a similar design to the Swedish SJ Rc4. These locomotives were purchased in 1982, in a number of 8 units, from Sweden to serve on the only electric line in the country between Tabriz and Jolfa stations, with a length of 146 km. Due to the steep slopes of up to 29 in a thousand on this axis, the operation of moving numerous freight trains to the former Soviet Union, and the inability of GM locomotives to provide proper traction, this line was equipped with an electric network.
who runs it
base stats
Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.
fun facts
- First built 47 years ago, in 1979.
- 3.6 MW is about 42 family cars (~85 kW each) flat out.
- Weighs about as much as 13 African elephants (~6 t each).
- 16 m long: about 4 cars parked nose to tail.
electric locomotive: Draws power from overhead wires or a third rail and pulls separate carriages.
spec sheet
- built
- 1979–1980
- status
- in service
- number built
- 8
- kind
- Electric
- traction
- electric
- origin
- 🇮🇷 Iran
- builders
- ASEA
- operators
- Islamic Republic of Iran Railways
- top speed
- 100 km/h
- power
- 3.6 MW
- gauge
- 1,435 mm standard gauge
- electric system
- 25 kV AC catenary
- wheel arrangement
- Bo-Bo
- length
- 16 m
- weight
- 80 t
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q16963453, Wikipedia: Iranian Railways RC4 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.