Designed as the universal locomotive capable of pulling a 750 ton passenger train at 200 km/h with a 2 mm/m ramp or a 2000 ton freight train with an 8 mm/m ramp under the two types of electrical power available in France (1. 5 kV direct current and 25 kV 50 Hz alternating current), the BB 26000 marks a renewal in the SNCF's electric locomotive fleet, both technically, with the adoption of synchronous motors instead of series direct current motors, and aesthetically, with a more aerodynamic body than those of the previous generation of locomotives known as "broken noses" (CC 6500 and BB 7200/15000/22200).Built in 234 units between 1988 and 1998, the 5600 kW power of the BB 26000 or SYBIC (acronym of Synchrone Bicourant) locomotives allows them to be used rapidly for the traction of passenger trains at 200 km/h on the TER200 services in Alsace (Strasbourg-Mulhouse-Bâle) and InterLoire (Orléans-Tours-Nantes), then on the Paris-Orléans-Limoges-Toulouse and Paris-Cherbourg axes. The SYBICs are also used for the traction of freight trains between the North-East and the South-East, allowing the SNCF to write off older electric locomotive series (CC 7100, BB 8100, BB 9400, BB 12000, BB 13000, CC 14000 and CC 14100). All BB 26000 were originally painted in a 2-tone gray livery with an orange stripe on the end faces and top of the body. BB 26172 in "Carmillon" livery is in the collection of the Cité du Train museum in Mulhouse.BB 26212From the BB 26188 onwards, the SYBICs received, in compliance with European regulations, a third front light to avoid confusing them with a road vehicle. The "Cap" logo, which appeared in 1995, is always positioned on the right. The BB 26212 was put into service on October 17, 1996.