The Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français BB 7290 electric locomotive has a number of distinctive features:
- It features engraved registration numbers on its lateral sides and numbers glued to its front faces.
- Destined for the carriage of Talgo trains in France, it is fitted with special red-coloured parts on its buffers.
- This model is remarkably detailed, with finely plugged, sometimes metal, parts and openwork running boards.
- The filigree design of the pantographs ensures an elegant and functional appearance.
- The front and rear lights are switchable using a DIP switch.
From 1976, Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français acquired 237 of these BB 7200 multi-purpose locomotives, designed for use on the French DC network. Their distinctive "broken nose" design was the brainchild of Frenchman Paul Arzens. Some of these locomotives were specially fitted with red buffers to be able to run variable gauge "Talgo III RD" trains, offering a remarkably adaptable solution for varied railway needs.
