The success of the Rc1 - Rc4 series is based on the ASEA thyristor technology, which has been used in Swedish locomotive construction since the 1960s. A total of 265 machines were put into service from 1967 to 1982. With 130 units, the fourth series was the largest of this series of locomotives.
When the Swedish State Railways was divided into different business areas on January 1, 2001, all the Rc4s that were still in existence came to Green Cargo and are only used in freight transport.