In the search for powerful and fast, four-axle electric locomotives, the SNCF had already made trials with the BB 9001 to 9004. The result was the BB 9200 that was manufactured since 1957. Due to the bogies designed by André Jacquemin, they got the nickname “BB Jacquemin”. The basic variant could reach a top speed of 160 km/h and was initially used for important passenger trains from Paris into the southeast.
For the “Le Capitole” express, two locomotives were built with bogies which were good for 250 km/h. They were approved for 200 km/h and four additional locomotives were rebuilt for 200 km/h. After new locomotives and the TGV had been introduced in the early eighties, they were relegated to freight and commuter service. The last ten were retired from commuter service in 2010.
