ðə sˌiːsˈiː sˈɪks θˈaʊzənd fˈaɪvhˈʌndɹɪd wʌz, təɡˌɛðɚ wɪððə ænd dˈiːzəl sˌiːsˈiː sˈɛvənti tˈuː θˈaʊzənd, ðə fˈɜːst dʒˌɛnɚɹˈeɪʃən ʌvðə nˈɛz kæsˈeɪ fˈæmɪli ʌv lˌoʊkəmˈoʊɾɪvz ænd dɪzˈaɪnd fɔːɹ hˈɔːlɪŋ ɛkspɹˈɛs tɹˈeɪnz wɪð spˈiːdz ˌʌp tʊ bˌʌt ˈɔːlsoʊ jˈuːzd fɔːɹ hˈɛvi fɹˈeɪt tɹˈeɪnz.
The CC 6500 was, together with the  and diesel CC 72000, the first generation of the 'Nez Cassé' family of locomotives and designed for hauling express trains with speeds up to  but also used for heavy freight trains.