Class 1250 (former 1200)


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Number series: 1201-1225, 1251-1255
UIC Class: 91 84 1112 xxx-x
Number built: 25
Number in service for ACTS: 1 (June 2009)
Museum locomotives (class 1200): 2 (NSM Utrecht and BSSO Rotterdam)
Introduced: 1951-1953
Axle arrangement: Co'Co'
Hourly power rating: 2315kW
Continuous power rating: 6x368 = 2208kW
Maximum speed: 135km/h (150km/h possible)
Maximum tractive effort: 193kN
Weight in working order: 108 tonnes
Length: 18.086m
Wheel diameter (new): 1100mm
Motors: TM 94
Builder mechanical part: Werkspoor (licence: Baldwin)
Builder electrical part: Heemaf (licence: Westinghouse)

After class 1100 the Dutch Railways needed a more powerful class for heavy passenger trains and freight trains. Class 1200 was based on an American design by Baldwin/Westinghouse. Various parts were supplied in "knocked-down" form by these companies, with Heemaf supplying traction motors and Werkspoor doing the final construction.
For many years they were the prime series used for hauling the long-distance InterCity trains between Zandvoort aan Zee and Maastricht/Heerlen. In May 1998 the last locomotives of this class have been taken out of service by NS, replaced by class 1600 for freight trains. Two locomotives were preserved for historic trains, and two more for spare parts. Locomotive 1202 (+1201) was rebuilt in autumn 1998 into its original state by the National Railway Museum in Utrecht, including the original berlin blue livery. It is now in operating condition. Locomotive 1211 (+1212) has been preserved by BSSO Rotterdam (NS personnel) and will probably stay in its grey/yellow livery.
In May 1999 five locomotives were sold to private operator ACTS and these are now in service again after maintenance. They are numbered 1251-1255 and are used to haul container trains between Rotterdam and Onnen(Groningen) or Leeuwarden. In summer 2002 one locomotive got a major overhaul in the Czech Republic, the others will follow. Locomotive 1253 was sold to Herik Rail and is currently stored out-of-service. Number 1252 is also stored by ACTS. In March 2009 1254 and 1255 broke down, 1251 is the only one now left in service.