The Rc class is a family of electric locomotives built in Sweden by Allmänna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget (ASEA). The Rc is the most produced locomotive in Sweden with 366 units and is used on both passenger and freight services originally for SJ, they have since been mostly sold to other operators such as Green Cargo, Tågab, Hector Rail and Trafikverket.
History The Rc-model emerged from ASEA in the 1960s. It first appeared in 1967 to replace the older D-locomotives. Notably, ASEA facility manager and head engineer Tore Nordin was involved in designing and developing the Rc locomotive at ASEA. The initial Rc models are notable for using thyristors instead of the older relay-based system. The Rc locomotive was developed from the experimental SJ Rb locomotive produced in the early 1960s. Both the Rc, the Rb and the Rc derivative SJ Rm use thyristor-controlled DC motors instead of a more traditional relay-based system. As of 2025, Rc-locomotives are still used in Sweden on both passenger and freight lines, mostly on freight services with passenger services gradually being replaced with EMUs such as the X40.
Versions Altogether, there have been nine versions of the Rc-locomotive in Sweden, including the freight locomotive Rm designed to pull iron ore trains. Rc1, Rc2, Rc4, and Rc5 have a maximum allowed speed of 135 km/h. Rc3 and Rc6 have a maximum allowed speed of 160 km/h. Rc7 was a rebuild of Rc6 meant to haul replacement trains needed when the X 2000 trains were canceled or delayed. Rc7 had a maximum allowed speed of 180 km/h. However, the maximum speed permitted without emergency electromagnetic track brakes is 160 km/h, and refitting old carriages was considered too expensive. For that reason all Rc7 were subsequently converted back to Rc6. The Rd2/Rde variant is an upgraded Rc2 in operation with Green Cargo. Rc1–Rc7 all weigh between 75 and 80 tonnes, whilst the Rm weighs 90 tonnes. The Rm's top speed is only 100 km/h and are more powerful locomotives.
Rc 1
The first variant of the Rc series, they were delivered to SJ with start in 1967, they were built using what had been learned with the experimental Rb locomotives. The locomotives used direct current motors, with the current being directed by thyristors intead of relays. This reduced the risk for slipping and made it possible to hold a constant speed. The thyristors were cheaper to maintain than relays which lowered maintenance costs. A total of twenty locomotives where built originally with the class only being named just "Rc". Only after the Rc 2 was ordered the class was changed to Rc 1. When it was introduced it was mainly on express services replacing older SJ Ra and SJ F, bringing the previous top speed of 130 km/h up to 135 km/h. In the 1980s the locomotives were retrofitted with ATC and more rigid snow ploughs (Norrlands-plogar) replaced the earlier cowcatchers. From 1993 - 1995 they mainly pulled passenger services before being transferred to the cargo division. Between 1996 and 2000 the locomotives were rebuilt for use on marshalling yards. Thus they were refitted remote control and replaced SJ U as shunters. In 2001 they were transferred to Green Cargo when SJs Cargo division was split of. The first Rc ever built was in 2014 sold to Swedish Railway Museum and repainted in a 1970s retro livery, another Rc 1 numbered 1021 was also bought to be used for spare parts. It was later restored and is used by the Trafikverket for internal transports and tests, it is painted in bright red. The last Rc 1s was in service with Tågab, as of 2023 written off and used for spare parts.
Rc 2
The second variant of Rc locomotives was built using lessons learnt from the Rc 1. Deliveries started in 1969 and concluded in 1975, a total of 100 were produced and had the number of thyristors had almost been halved from the earlier Rc 1. In the beginning they pulled the same services as Rc 1 before being placed with Green Cargo after the 2001 split. A total of 24 of the Rc 2 was during the 1990s upgraded to 160 km/h operations and renamed to be included in the Rc 3 class, they stayed with SJ AB after the split in 2001. Sometime later, around thirty locomotives were fitted with remote control. Tågkompaniet leased a couple of Rc 2 on their night train services to Norrland between 2000 and 2001. From 2007 TGOJ used Rc 2 as replacements for previous El 16 no longer in operation. Tågab bought five Rc 3 locomotives from SJ and converted two of them to Rc 2 and the lower top speed of 135 km/h, this is advantageous when only carrying cargo. Two more Rc 3 locomotives joined the fleet from Trafikverket and had their top speed reduced as well along with another of the SJ locomotives. This brought Tågabs total fleet to five. During spring 2007 Green Cargo decided to upgrade 42 of its Rc 2, the upgrades included an improved working environment, new brakes and electronics. At the end of 2014 all of Green Cargos 79 Rc 2 received the upgrade with the new class being called Rd 2.
The Austrian ÖBB Class 1043, was similar to the Rc 2 when delivered, with the only difference was minor brake adjustments, the last six locomotives also had a more powerful engine, they were used on both passenger and cargo services. While in Austria they received two stacked upper headlights instead of the original three horizontal. In 2001 nine locomotives returned to Sweden when they were bought by Tågab, and retrofitted with new brakes and ATC, three were kept by Tågab, three sold to Banverket. The last three were leased to TGOJ. All locomotives received new paint jobs matching their new operators. ELL (ellinjelok) was the name given by Banverket meaning “mainline electric locomotive”. The trains leased to TGOJ returned to Tågab in 2005, and the three Banverket trains were transferred to Infranord in 2010. Two were sold to Tågab in 2012 and 2017 respectively; their last train also left the fleet in 2017 but for Svensk Tågkraft. One Tågab locomotive (001) got its original ÖBB livery restored in 2025.
Rc 3
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