View source for SJ Rb

{{unref|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox locomotive
|name              = Rb
|powertype         = Electric
|image             = SJ Rb 1002-Hagalund-23-Jun-1964.jpg
|imagesize         = 300px
|caption           = Rb 1002 in Hagalund station, 1964
|builder           = [[Allmänna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget|ASEA]] (Electrical part)<br /> [[Svenska Järnvägsverkstäderna]] (Rb1), [[NOHAB]] (Rb2), [[Motala Verkstad]] (Rb3) (Mechanical part)
|builddate         = 1962
|totalproduction   = 6
|aarwheels        =  
|uicclass          = [[Bo′Bo′]]
|gauge             = {{track gauge|sg}}
|wheeldiameter     =
|length            = {{convert|15,470|mm|ftin|frac=16|abbr=on}}
|locoweight        = {{convert|74.4|t}} (Rb1)<br>{{convert|73.6|t}} (Rb2)<br>{{convert|75.2|t}} (Rb3)
|maxspeed          = {{convert|120|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}
| electricsystem   = {{15 kV AC|frac=y}} [[Overhead line|Catenary]]
|collectionmethod  = [[Pantograph (rail)|Pantograph]]
|poweroutput       = {{convert|3,200|kW|hp|abbr=on|lk=on}}
|tractiveeffort    =
|operator          = [[Statens Järnvägar]]
|fleetnumbers      = 1001-1006
|retiredate        = 1974-1976
}}

'''Rb''' is an [[electric locomotive]] operated by [[Swedish State Railways]] ({{langx|sv|Statens Järnvägar, SJ}}). Six locomotives were built by [[Allmänna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget|ASEA]], in three series designated '''Rb1''', '''Rb2''' or '''Rb3'''.

==History==
During the 1950s SJ saw the need for a new universal locomotive, since the [[SJ D|D-series]] was aging. In 1955 the [[SJ Ra|Ra-series]] had proved successful with [[bogie]] wheels. At the same time there was interest to make a locomotive that could be exported abroad. The result was an agreement between ASEA and SJ where six test engines were delivered. The testing of the Rb was successful, so it was sent to [[Romania]] for trials in 1963 for the [[Brasov]]-[[Predeal]] mainline (at the time it was electrified since 9 June 1963 and 3 more manufacturers tested their locomotives there), and later in [[Yugoslavia]] in 1967, and based on this exports were made to the [[Yugoslav Railways]] ([[JŽ class 441]] and [[JŽ series 461|461]]), [[Căile Ferate Române]] of Romania ([[CFR Class EA]] and EC) and for [[Norwegian Railways]] ([[NSB El 15]], derived from the EA class of CFR). The result of the testing of the Rb1T unit was the [[SJ Rc|Rc locomotive]] that was produced in 360 copies starting from 1967 and ending in 1988/1989 for SJ, in addition to export to [[Amtrak]] ([[AEM-7]]), [[Norwegian State Railways|Norges Statsbaner]] ([[NSB El 16]]) and [[Austrian Federal Railways|Österreichische Bundesbahnen]] ([[ÖBB Class 1043]]). The Rb-series was in use on passenger and freight trains until the mid-1970s. Parts of unit 1005 were reused in a maintenance-of-way vehicle that was scrapped in 1996 or 2004.

==Variations==
'''Rb1''' was equipped with [[direct current]] (DC) motors with higher efficiency and thus more economical. The utilization of [[thyristor]]s could convert from the [[alternating current]] (AC) used in the [[railway electrification system]] of Sweden, and one of the Rb1 locos was rebuilt to thyristor in 1965, getting the designation '''Rb1T'''. They were built by AB ASJ (AB Svenska Järnvägsverkstäderna or Swedish Rail Workshops).

'''Rb2''' and '''Rb3''' were equipped with conventional AC motors. Rb2 was built by [[NOHAB|Nydqvist och Holm Aktiebolag]] whilst Rb3 was built by the [[Motala Verkstad|Motala Workshops]].

==External links==
* [https://www.jarnvag.net/lokguide/rb Järnväg.net on Rb] {{in lang|sv}}

{{Swedish railway stock}}

[[Category:Statens Järnvägar locomotives|Rb]]
[[Category:ASEA locomotives]]
[[Category:Bo′Bo′ locomotives]]
[[Category:15 kV AC locomotives]]
[[Category:Standard gauge locomotives of Sweden]]