207E

207E-001, exhibited at theTrako 2017 fair in Gdańsk, September 27, 2017. Photo by Petr Štefek, source: www.commons.wikimedia.org.

207E-003, Rail Polska, photographed at the Puławy Azoty station on June 12, 2022.

Perhaps the biggest surprise at the Trako 2017 fair, held in Gdańsk in September, was the presentation of a modified M62 converted into… an electric locomotive. Frankly speaking, not much was left from the old ‘Gagarin’ – just frame and trucks, the latter thoroughly modified. The conversion began in 2014 at the Rail Polska works ZTK in Włosienica, basic design being developed by VIS System company of Gliwice. For this purpose, one section of the 2M62-1006, purchased from Estonian railways EVR in February 2005, was used. The body is completely new and the cab offers much higher comfort for crew, including air conditioning, refrigerator and tea-pot. Maximum speed is 100 km/h and the locomotive, designated 207E, is intended solely for freight traffic. ‘New’ locomotive has been dubbed ‘Edgar’.

First tests began in January 2018 at the Railway Institute test track center in Węglewo, Lower Silesia. Later they were continued under the supervision of the Rail Vehicles Institute of Poznań. Tests were completed in March 2019 and locomotive was certified for commercial operation. It is planned to convert thirty M62s, including twenty for own use (intended as a replacement of ex-Czechoslovakian classes 182 and 183) and ten for sale or lease. A ‘last mile’ version is also planned, with auxiliary power provided by a battery rather than a diesel generator. ZTK has already purchased about twenty ‘Gagarins’ for future conversions. Second example, 207E-002, was delivered to Rail Polska in June 2020, 207E-003 followed in October 2021, 207E-004 in March 2022, 207E-005 in August 2022 and 207E-006 in January 2023.

It has to be noted that type 207E is not the only example of M62 conversion into an electric locomotive. According to www.farrail.net, at least eleven locomotives of this type have been converted in North Korea, although very few details are available. One twin-section E2M62 is also operated in Azerbaijan by state railways ADY (information from www.railfaneurope.net).

Main technical data

No.	Parameter	Unit	Value
1.	Years of manufacture	-	2017^1)
2.	Total built / used in Poland	-	6 / 6^2)
3.	Axle arrangement	-	Co’Co’
4.	Control	-	individual
5.	Design maximum speed	km/h	100
6.	Traction motors (number x type)	-	6
7.	Voltage	V	3000 DC
8.	One-hour rating	kW/hp
9.	Continuous rating	kW/hp	2 400 / 3 265
10.	Electric current at one-hour rating	A
11.	Electric current at continuous rating	A
12.	Rotational speed at one-hour rating	rpm
13.	Rotational speed at continuous rating	rpm
14.	Engine suspension	-
15.	Reduction gear ratio	-
16.	Diameter of drivers	mm	1 050
17.	Total weight	kg	120 000
18.	Axle load	T	20.0
19.	Axle base	mm
20.	Overall length	mm	17 550
21.	Maximum width	mm
22.	Brake type	-	Wabtec

1) M62 conversions.

2) Until February 2023.

References and acknowledgments

- www.ilostan.forumkolejowe.pl;

- www.rynek-kolejowy.pl;

- www.railfaneurope.net;

- www.farrail.net.