In 1977 BB15041 drove special demonstration rides between Épernay and Châlons-sur-Marne at 200 km/h (124 mph) for Amtrak executives in order to convince them to buy a locomotive based on this design rather than the Swedish-based AEM-7.
In 1979 BB15063 was equipped with the bogies of BB7248 which had a modified secondary suspension for operating in the Middle East.