The history of Sr1 goes back to 1960s when Finland started to change its main rail lines to overhead wire electricity. it was widely discussed if locomotives would be ordered from the west where most of them came or were licensed, east or even built in Finland. Finally it was decided that the Soviet Novocherkassk could build a type to withstand the harsh winter conditions in Finland for an acceptable price. Much of the electrical parts of the locomotive were however built in Finland. The first units, first electric locomotives for Finland, arrived in 1973. Info by 4rail.net. |