NS Class 1600

The NS Class 1600 is a type of B′B′ electric locomotive built by Alstom between 1980 and 1983 based on the SNCF Class BB 7200, and in use by Nederlandse Spoorwegen. They were styled by the French industrial designer Paul Arzens. The Class 1600 was ordered in 1978, after several types of locomotives were tested in the 1970s. One of those was the SNCF BB 7200, on which the 1600 is based. Forty-eight 1600s were delivered in 1980 followed by a further 10 between 1981 and 1983, the latter being fitted with push pull equipment for use with DDM-1 double deck carriages. As a result of their delivery, the old Class 1000 and Class 1500 units were taken out of service. Thanks to the electronic power control, these locomotives were not only the most economical but also the most powerful locomotives that Dutch Railways had.