Ra 987

The Ra electric locomotive, also known as the 'Rapid locomotive', was developed by the Swedish State Railways (SJ) in the 1940s to meet the need for faster passenger locomotives. With a top speed of 150 km/h, the Ra locomotive was among the fastest of its time and was characterised by its streamlined design inspired by American diesel locomotives.

History:

The first two Ra locomotives were delivered in 1955, followed by eight more in 1961. The locomotives were mainly used on the Stockholm-Gothenburg and Stockholm-Oslo routes. Despite a maximum speed of 150 km/h, they were mostly used at speeds up to 130 km/h, which was standard for express trains at the time. With the introduction of the Rb and Rc locomotives, the Ra locomotives were moved to regional services in areas such as Bergslagen and along the East Coast Line.

Design and use:

The Ra locomotives had a streamlined design with rounded fronts and a bulge that both protected the driver and signalled the locomotive's high speed. The first four locomotives were painted in a light orange colour, while the later ones were painted a darker shade of orange with a wide white band around the locomotive body. Each locomotive was named 'Rapid' followed by a number, for example 'Rapid 1' for Ra 846.

Preserved specimens:

Several Ra locomotives have been preserved as museum vehicles. Among others, Ra 846 is at the Railway Museum, Ra 987 with us and Ra 994 at the Stockholm Cultural Society for Steam and Railway. Ra 847 was used until 2009 to pull the Swedish Rail Administration's measuring wagon "Strix".

The Ra locomotive represents an important part of Sweden's railway history and is an example of Swedish engineering from the mid-20th century.