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Bo-Bo

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Bo-Bo is the UIC indication of a wheel arrangement for railway vehicles with four axles in two individual bogies, all driven by their own traction motors. It is a common wheel arrangement for modern electric and diesel locomotives, as well as driving cars in multiple units.

Most early electric locomotives shared commonalities with the steam engines of their time. These features included side rods and frame mounted driving axles with leading and trailing axles. The long rigid wheelbase and the leading and trailing axles reduced cornering stability and increased weight.

The Bo-Bo configuration allowed for higher cornering speeds due to the smaller rigid wheelbase. Furthermore it allowed better adhesion because all the wheels were now powered. Due to the absence of frame mounted wheels no leading or trailing axles were necessary to aid cornering, reducing weight and maintenance requirements.

Due to the advent of modern motors and electronics more power can be brought to the rail with only few axles. Modern electric locomotives can deliver up to 6400 kW on only four axles. For very heavy loads, especially in transportation of bulk goods, a single unit with this wheel arrangement tends to have too little adhesive weight to accelerate the train sufficiently fast without wheelslip.

In AAR notation a Bo-Bo is regarded as a B-B because the AAR system does not take traction motors into consideration, only powered axles. An AAR like notation is used in France too, making it hard to tell the B-B and Bo-Bo engines apart, both of which are common there.

  • The Swiss Re 4/4I, built to negotiate curves at higher speeds, built in 1946 and weighing only 57 tons.
    The Swiss Re 4/4I, built to negotiate curves at higher speeds, built in 1946 and weighing only 57 tons.
  • The BLS Re 4/4, an early high performance Bo-Bo locomotive. Built from 1964 onwards, its 4980 kW is still significant for todays standards.
    The BLS Re 4/4, an early high performance Bo-Bo locomotive. Built from 1964 onwards, its 4980 kW is still significant for todays standards.
  • The Bombardier TRAXX MS2, a multiple system multi-purpose locomotive built for the European railways. Significant numbers of the TRAXX family have been built for most European railways.
    The Bombardier TRAXX MS2, a multiple system multi-purpose locomotive built for the European railways. Significant numbers of the TRAXX family have been built for most European railways.
  • The DB Class 120, the first locomotive to use electronically controlled asynchronious three-phase motors to allow both high speed and high tractive effort.
    The DB Class 120, the first locomotive to use electronically controlled asynchronious three-phase motors to allow both high speed and high tractive effort.
  • The ÖBB 1216 050, currently (August 2012) the fastest electric locomotive ever built. It is a Siemens ES64U4, a member of the EuroSprinter family.
    The ÖBB 1216 050, currently (August 2012) the fastest electric locomotive ever built. It is a Siemens ES64U4, a member of the EuroSprinter family.
  • A Swedish Rc locomotive. It was built in large numbers and exported to Austria and Norway. Also, it served as the basis for the American AEM-7 that replaced the famous GG1.
    A Swedish Rc locomotive. It was built in large numbers and exported to Austria and Norway. Also, it served as the basis for the American AEM-7 that replaced the famous GG1.

See also

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