#2701
SBB Ae 4/6
🇨🇭 Switzerland ·built by Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works· from 1941· class of 12 Swiss electric locomotives
9 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. SBB Ae 4-6: Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain
- 2. SBB Ae 4-6 Montage: Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain
- 3. SBB Ae 4-6 Typenskizze: Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain
- 4. ETH-BIB SIK 01-012027 FFS Ae 4-6 10806 Emmenbruecke 280380: Hans-Peter Bärtschi· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 5. ETH-BIB SIK 01-012046 FFS Ae 4-6 10803 Erstfeld 280380: Hans-Peter Bärtschi· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 6. ETH-BIB SIK 01-014158 FFS Ae 4-6 10811 Locarno 1982-1987: Hans-Peter Bärtschi· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 7. ETH-BIB SIK 01-014168 FFS Ae 4-6 10806 Castione-Arbedo 1982: Hans-Peter Bärtschi· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 8. SBB Ae 4-6 10801: Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain
- 9. SBB Historic - F 112 00052 012 - Ae 4 6 10806 eingedrueckter Fuehrerstand II nach Zusammenstoss zwischen Castione und Claro: Unknown author Unknown author· CC BY-SA 4.0
what is it?
The Swiss locomotive class Ae 4/6 was a class of electric locomotives. They were intended as a powerful locomotive for the steep gradients of the Gotthard Railway, but smaller than the huge 'double locomotives' which had previously been tested there. They were built from 1941, during World War II, and although Switzerland remained neutral through this, material shortages led to some quality problems with these locomotives.
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 85 years ago, in 1941.
- 4.1 MW is about 48 family cars (~85 kW each) flat out.
- Weighs about as much as 18 African elephants (~6 t each).
- Served for 42 years (1941–1983).
electric locomotive: Draws power from overhead wires or a third rail and pulls separate carriages.
spec sheet
- built
- 1941–1945
- in service from
- 1941
- retired
- 1983
- status
- retired
- number built
- 12
- kind
- Electric
- traction
- electric
- origin
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- builders
- Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works, Brown, Boveri & Cie, Oerlikon Works, Société Anonyme des Ateliers de Sécheron
- operators
- Swiss Federal Railways
- top speed
- 125 km/h
- power
- 4.1 MW
- gauge
- 1,435 mm standard gauge
- electric system
- Catenary
- wheel arrangement
- (1A)Bo(A1)
- weight
- 105 t
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q2205107, Wikipedia: SBB Ae 4/6 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.