Development history

This locomotive was the first Chinese electric main line locomotive, made by the Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Works with the assistance of the Soviet Union and following the design of the Soviet-H60 electric locomotive. The power supply was industrial-frequency single-phase AC, and the axle arrangement Co-Co.

The first prototype locomotive, 6Y1-001, which used ignitron

Ignitron

An ignitron is a type of controlled rectifier dating from the 1930s. Invented by Joseph Slepian while employed by Westinghouse, Westinghouse was the original manufacturer and owned trademark rights to the name "Ignitron"....

-controlled rectifier

Rectifier

A rectifier is an electrical device that converts alternating current , which periodically reverses direction, to direct current , which flows in only one direction. The process is known as rectification...

, was produced in 1958. Further 6 prototypes (002 to 007) were produced between 1962 and 1966. Silicon semiconductor-controlled rectifier was used from No. 004 onwards.

In reference to technology of French-made 6Y2 locomotive, Zhuzhou Plant made major modification on design of the 6Y1 locomotive, improving the reliability of rectifier, traction motor and rheostatic braking system. The eighth locomotive, No. 008, was produced in 1968. The series also renamed from 6Y1 to SS1 (SS means Shaoshan

Shaoshan

Shaoshan is a county-level city in Xiangtan, Hunan Province, noted as the birthplace of Mao Zedong, founder of the People's Republic of China. Shaoshan was an important base during the Chinese Communist Revolution....

, birth place of leader Mao Zedong

Mao Zedong

Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...

).

The locomotive is 19.4 meters long, with a maximum speed of 80 km/h, and continuous power output of 3780 kilowatts.

The model went out of production in 1988 with a total of 826 manufactured; 7 of 6Y1 and 819 of SS-1.