Belgian Railways Class 70

Belgian diesel shunting locomotive

4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gaugeDriver dia.1,070 mm (42.13 in)Length12.15 m (39 ft 10 in)Loco weight85 tonnes
(83.7 long tons; 93.7 short tons)Prime mover7001/2: ABC 6DXC
7003/5/6: ABC 8DUS
7004: Cockerill CO240TransmissionElectric

Performance figures
Maximum speed	50 km/h (31 mph)
Power output	7001/2: 550 kW (740 hp) 7003/5/6: 515 kW (691 hp) 7004: 570 kW (760 hp)
Tractive effort	196 kN (44,060 lbf)

Career
Operators	SNCB/NMBS
Class	70 (originally 270)
Numbers	7001–7006 originally 270001–270006
Locale	Antwerp
Disposition	5 scrapped, 1 preserved

Class 270 (later reclassified as Class 70) locomotives were the first diesel shunters used by NMBS/SNCB. Three were initially ordered as prototypes of diesel-electric traction. Three diesel-hydraulic Class 271 locomotives were also ordered for comparison.

One loco, 7005, has been preserved by PFT at Saint Ghislain; the others were scrapped after being replaced by class 77s.^[1]

History

Built by Belgian locomotive manufacturers Baume & Marpent, the 6 class 270 locomotives were initially allocated to Ronet depot, near Namur. Their electric transmission was produced by ACEC, under licence from Westinghouse. During 1992, 7004 acquired a Cockerill diesel engine to replace its original Anglo Belgian Corporation unit.^[2]

After Ronet, during 1961 they were moved on to Antwerp to perform trip workings to and from places such as Boom, Mechelen, Mol and Turnhout.^[3] When, at the start of 1971, NMBS/SNCB adopted their current numbering system they became Class 70.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to SNCB Class 70.

^ De Neef, David (2004-08-26). "Locomotives de manoeuvre de la série 70" (in French). Retrieved 2008-02-04.
^ De Jonghe, Henk. "PFT/TSP - 270.005". Retrieved 2008-02-04.
^ Malisoux, Charles (November 2002). "Le rond-point nu" (in French). Retrieved 2008-02-04.