ST43s in the PKP service

Although initially less numerous than the famous Soviet ‘Gagarins’, ST43 suffered less from the ‘withdrawal folly’ in the 1990s, so at present they are still most numerous heavy diesels in the PKP service. Their end, however, seems not very far ahead.

ST43-221 at Piwniczna, near southern border; photo taken on September 27, 2001.

ST43-392, PKP, Zawidów station, August 22, 2002…

…and once again, over six years later: February 5, 2009.

ST43-340, PKP, photographed at the same location on April 5, 2006.

Zawidów again: ST43-115, photographed on June 8, 2006.

ST43-304, PKP, photographed at Węgliniec loco depot on October 10, 2001.

ST43s are often encountered near Zawidów station, a few kilometers from the Czech border – here ST43-198 and ST43-359 haul a heavy freight train on April 30, 2004, few hours before both Poland and Czech Republic joined the European Union…

Bad weather, but nice view: ST43-355 at Żagań loco depot. Photo taken on August 23, 2004.

Two gentlemen are obviously not impressed by the ST43-140 passing by; Dzierżoniów, May 1, 2006.

ST43-317, photographed near the Jaworzyna Śląska station on the same day...

... and ST43-71, the same day and location; ET22-928 can be seen in the background.

ST43-19, photographed at the Legnica depot on June 9, 2006...

...and ST43-117, photographed on the same occasion.

ST43-295 and slightly battered ST43-55, photographed in Sulików on July 25, 2006.

License plate on the ST43-55 (in Romanian and Polish), photographed on the same occasion.

ST43-404 with a draft of gondola cars and idle ST43-323; Nysa station, June 14, 2008.

 ST43-400, photographed at the Węgliniec station on July 16, 2008.

ST43-80, Zawidów, March 19, 2009.

Two pictures from Węgliniec, taken on March 20, 2009: ST43-304…

…and ST43-198, maneuvering at the station.

ST43-241, Jaworzyna Śląska station, July 8, 2009.

Węgliniec depot again: ST43-22, August 5, 2009…

…and yet again: March 27, 2011. ST43-248 (Electroputere 1049/1971)…

…ST43-63 (Electroputere 376/1966), both probably no longer in use…

…and ST43-144 (Electroputere 662/1968).

Double-heading ST43-227 and ST43-340 crossing a public road near Sowin on May 12, 2008. Photo by Norbert Tkaczyk (used by permission).

Five pictures by Michał Korfel (from my collection): ST43-235, Krosno Odrzańskie, February 2, 2009…

…ST43-05, the same location and date…

…ST43-406, Krosno Odrzańskie again, but four days later…

…ST43-224, Kielce depot, January 29, 2009…

…and ST43-275, Żagań, November 24, 2008.