SNCF de fer", literally, 'path of iron', means railway). These were the: The French state originally took 51% ownership of SNCF and invested large amounts of public subsidies into the system. Today, SNCF is wholly owned by the French state. Following the 1940 Armistice and until August 1944, SNCF was requisitioned for the transport of German armed forces and armaments. The invading German troops were responsible for the destruction of nearly 350 French railway bridges and tunnels. According to differing estimates, SNCF surrendered between 125,000-213,000 wagons and 1,000-2,000 locomotives. France's railway infrastructure and rolling stocks were a target for the French
SNCF Class BB 10003 SNCF Class BB 10003 The locomotive SNCF BB 10003 was an experimental prototype locomotive converted from a SNCF BB 15000 unit and used to develop the use of asynchronous induction traction motors. The locomotive BB 10003 was created from an earlier experimental machine BB 7003 in 1982. It was used to test the use of aysnchronous induction motors in locomotives. From 1986-7 the locomotive was used in experiments testing the viability of a diesel electric locomotive with asynchronous traction motors; the locomotive was coupled to a remotorised SNCF CC 72000 locomotive which acted as an electrical generator. In 1990/1 the