Class 6FE Electric Locomotive

These electric locomotives with six axles were supplied to SNTF by GEC Alsthom in the mid-1990s to supplement and to some extent replace the East German-built machines on heavy phosphate traffic in the east of Algeria.

Special Features
Algeria's only electrified main line is the steeply graded route in the east from the Mediterranean port of Annaba south to Tebessa and Djebel Onk, providing access to the reserves of iron ore and phosphates that form SNTF's principal freight commodities. Designed to haul trailing loads of up to 2,700 tons, the 14 Class 6FE locomotives were ordered from GEC Alsthom to modernize the LEW/Skoda-built Class 6CE machines in which turn had replaced the French-built traction dating from the 1930s. Traction equipment for the 6FE was developed and supplied by ACEC, a Belgian company that now forms part of Alstom.