The TRAXX locomotive history starts with the German Class 128 prototype (128 001), which served as a test bed for various equipment. It was manufactured by German company AEG in 1994 as 12X. The new innovations included the new carbody parts, running gear, water cooled MPC converters in IGBT technology as used later on the class 185.2 and numerous other detailed parts. Every detail was carefully studied. Since locomotives most of the time are evolution products instead of being something quite new and revolutionary, the prototype shows features of both its predecessors and some design features of the upcoming TRAXX product line.

Picture above of the prototype in Kassel by Peter Christener.

In the picture below the same locomotive in its much later storage in Oerlikon, Switzerland. Picture by Peider Swisstrip.

Lowest below a German DB class 120 locomotive, which was the starting class for the design of the 128. First looks can be deceiving, but once you start looking from one component to another, you notice the differences clearly. Every detail has been carefully gone through to form the class 128 prototype. Picture of the class 120 unit in Köln, Germany by Ilkka Siissalo.

The background for TRAXX series of locomotives lied in the need to cut costs where it was possible. Before the TRAXX was introduced there was a long lived thinking of manufacturing universal locomotives, units that could be used for any purpose railroads could offer. Examples of the thinking are the German class 120 (above picture), Swiss LOK2000 program variants Re460, Re465, El18 and Sr2, and the Siemens ES64U2 Taurus locomotives. These universal use locos included high power high speed use, which was in many cases not at all needed, or the cost to enable this feature was not justifiable for other uses.

At the same time the railroads in Europe found themselves in the situation with opening borders, which lead for the need of flexible but cheap designs. With a successful locomotive, many operators might eventually end up buying the same models, as happened later with the TRAXX and many other manufactured loco types. So Bombardier was at the right time in the right place and has been exploiting this market opening with cheap standardized designs ever since.

The name TRAXX was first introduced after the Bombardier board meeting in 2003. Tra-beginning derives from Latin meaning moving.

The Pre TRAXX series for Bombardier include classes 145 and 146.
The Class 145 is a light freight locomotive with ester cooled GTO converters, nose suspended drives, capacity to combine the power of several locomotives and train power supply.

Class 146 is similar to 145, but with fully suspended drive and geared for 160 km/h (100 mph) instead of the normal 140 km/h (87 mph). Many of the class 146 are today used for pulling local and regional passenger trains for the operator Deutsche Bahn.



Class 146 of DB at its obviously most usual task: pulling double decked local / regional train. Picture from Bremen by Ilkka Siissalo.

Picture of the Deutsche Bahn class 146 at Weil am Rhein by Ilkka Siissalo.

These units are similar to class 145, but with additional 25 kV equipment and optional additional pantographs for operations in Switzerland. The roof is lowered in the pantograph area to accommodate the pantographs fit for 25 kV operation.


Note the still existing pointed nose of the locomotive. Also the nose door does not exist yet on these units.

Bombardier Traxx 1 Series Codes

F140 AC1: German class 185, some Swiss Class 482 (picture above) and Swiss class 485 for the BLS (picture below).
Nose suspended drive fit for 140 kph.

P160 AC1: German class 146.1. 
Fully suspended drive and gear for 160 kph

A BLS Traxx class 485 is approaching and passing Weil am Rhein in southern Germany. Behind is a formidable line of truck on flat cars and a passenger coach for the drivers.

The easiest recognition for the Traxx 1 unit is at the nose, where the area under the lamps turns backwards, creating a pointed nose for the unit.

Pictures by Ilkka Siissalo.

A DB pre Traxx unit class 146 number 116 stops at Weil am Rhein with a local double decker.

Picture by Ilkka Siissalo.

A DB Schenker Railion colored special livery Traxx 185 (a German class) locomotive number 142 seen at Erstfeld.

Picture by Peider SwissTrip.

The Green Cargo class Re TRAXX locomotives numbers 1426 and 1426 are waiting for the next assignment at the Luleå, Sweden locomotive service for the operator.

Pictures by John McKey.

An SBB is slowing fro a pass of Weil am Rhein with a heavy mixed freight.

Picture by Ilkka Siissalo.