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The SJ Class Ra (or Rapid) is an electric locomotive operated by Swedish State Railways (Swedish: Statens Järnvägar, SJ). Ten units were built by ASEA, two in 1955 and eight in 1961. Ra was used on express trains until the 1990s.
History[]
During the 1940s SJ had a need for quicker locomotives for their express trains. In 1953 two bogie-locomotives were ordered from ASEA. Inspiration for the appearance came from North America, with round shapes and a bulldog nose. The two first units were successful and SJ ordered additional eight units from ASEA, delivered in 1961. Though never being used for more than 130 km/h, it was capable for 150 km/h, and served mainly on Stockholm - Göteborg and Stockholm - Oslo. They were mainly taken out of service in the late 1980s, though two remained in service until 1996. Most have been preserved, including at the Swedish Railway Museum and at . In 2012, Ra 988 was sold by the Swedish Railway Museum in 2012 and was sold to Svensk Tågkraft and is still in service.
