T419P

 

 

Prototype 729.501 (ex T419.0501, ČKD 13172/1983), photographed at the ArcelorMittal Ostrava metallurgical enterprise on May 6, 2013. Photo by Petr Štefek (source: www.commons.wikimedia.org).

 

T419P_sc

 

T419 drawing by ČKD from AV vol.2

 

 T419P_2

 

The sole Polish T419P-601, photographed in Rybnik on October 5, 2006. Photo by Krzysztof Malinowski (thanks for permission!).

 

T419P_3

 

Another picture of the T419P-601, location and date unknown. Photo by Miłosz Zaborski (from my collection).

 

 

Another picture of the T419P-601 and another one by Petr Štefek: Jankowice colliery, September 19, 2003. Source: www.commons.wikimedia.org.

 

 

Two more pictures from my collection of the sole Polish T419P, taken by Mariusz Niżyniec, also at the Jankowice colliery: April 10, 2008…

 

 

… and May 31, 2008.

 

 

721 601, Železiarne Podbrezová (with ‘old-style’ T419 1501 number plates), photographed in Zvolen, Slovakia, on October 5, 2020. Photo by Sebastián Langhoffer (thanks for permission!).

Heavy diesel switchers of the T448 class (in 1995 re-designated class 740), produced by ČKD from 1973 onwards in fairly large quantities – 620 machines for Czechoslovakia, Poland and USSR – were successful, but their performance turned out to be inadequate for some rather specific applications. In particular, steel plants demanded a switcher not that powerful and slower, but more robust, heavier and with better all-round view from the cab. Prototype T436 was not successful and a new design was developed, designated T419. It was, however, based not on class T448, but on class T457.0 diesel switcher, designed for ČSD and industrial operators (121 machines built between 1978 and 1992). These machines had provisions for automatic switching, then developed in Czechoslovakia and conforming with demands of certain industrial operators.

New locomotive retained the K6S230DR diesel engine of the T457 series, rated at 815 hp. In order to obtain more tractive effort, TE015 electric engines were replaced with TE006Bs. Maximum tractive effort was increased from 20 900 kG to 25 700 kG. Overall layout was similar, but engine cowling was lower and narrower, so the silhouette changed substantially. Distance between truck center pins was slightly increased and new locomotive was by over one metre longer and 15 tonnes heavier. There were also provisions for one-man operation.

Two prototypes, T419.0501 and T419.0502, appeared in 1983 and were quickly dubbed ‘Bismarck’ and ‘Tirpitz’, after two famous German battleships – due to their very thick outer paneling. They were, however, not entirely satisfactory; in particular, visibility from the cab was still judged inadequate, so the entire design had to be modified. Ten production examples, built in 1986, had their diesel engines located lower in the frame and some items of equipment (e.g. sanders) were repositioned. T419.0511 was fitted with electrodynamic braking and served as a pattern for the modified version T419.15, of which twenty examples were produced in two batches between 1989 and 1992. In accordance with the new designation system they were later re-designated class 729.5 (T419.05) and class 729.6 (T419.15). These relatively new machines are still operated by steel plants in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Certain features of the class T419 – in particular, modified trucks, longer frame and lower engine cowling – were introduced in later production T457s, designated class T457.1 and built from 1988 onwards (in 1995 designations were changed from T457.0 to 730 and from T457.1 to 731). Between 2006 and 2008 two locomotives of this type, 729.503 (ex T419.0503) and 729.512 (ex T419.0512) were modernized by CZ LOKO and re-numbered 729.701 and 729.702, respectively. They were fitted with Caterpillar 3412 E DI-TA diesel engines, rated at 965 hp, and new AC generators.

One brand new locomotive of the T419.15 version (ČKD 14795/1989), designated T419P – suffix ‘P’ for ‘Polsko” – was purchased by ZTKiGK PW Rybnik (later PTKiGK Rybnik) industrial operator, in February 1989 and given service designation T419P-601. This locomotive supplemented a considerable fleet of ČKD-built switchers owned by this company (S200s and T448Ps). Due to political and economic changes, no more examples were procured. Following PTKiGK Rybnik takeover by DB Schenker Rail Polska in 2009, a decision was taken get rid of several untypical locomotives. Single T419 could not have escaped this fate. In January 2012 it was transferred to CZ LOKO for overhaul, renumbered 729.620 and finally sold to Slovak Železiarne Podberezová a.s. metallurgical enterprise.

 

Main technical data

 

No.

Parameter

Unit

Value

1.

Years of manufacture

-

1983 – 1992  

2.

Total built / used in Poland

-

321) / 1

3.

Axle arrangement

-

Bo’Bo

4.

Transmission type

-

electric

5.

Design maximum speed

km/h

40 / 802)

6.

Prime mover type

-

K6S230DR

7.

Engine rating

kW/hp

600 / 815

8.

Bore x stroke

mm x mm

230 x 260

9.

Number of cylinders

-

6

10.

Number of traction motors

-

4 x TE006B

11.

Rated output of traction motors

kW

510

12.

Main reduction gear ratio

-

 76 : 15

13.

Diameter of drivers

mm

 1050

14.

Total weight

kg

84 0003)

15.

Axle load

T

21.04)

16.

Axle base

mm

9 200

17.

Overall length

mm

15 180

18.

Maximum width

mm

3 094

19.

Train heating

-

-

20.

Brake type

-

 Oerlikon (?)

 

1)     Including 12 examples of T419.05 (later 729.5) and 20 examples of T419.15 (later 729.6).

2)     Maximum speed on idle run.

3)     T419.0511 – 88 000 kg; some sources give 80 000 kg, but this seems less reliable.

4)     T419.0511 – 22.0 T.

 

References and acknowledgments

 

-       MAL, AV vol.2;

-       Krzysztof Malinowski (private communication – thanks for the photo!);

-       www.spz.logout.cz;

-       www.prototypy.cz.