E6ACT

My first encounter with the E6ACT prototype yielded a few photos – this is the best one… Zduńska Wola Karsznice, September 9, 2011.

Take two was more successful; TRAKO 2011 Fair in Gdańsk, October 14, 2011.

Cab interior, photographed on the same occasion.

Side drawing published in a ZNLE folder.

After main Polish locomotive manufacturers either had been taken over by foreign companies or had withdrawn from the market, their place was to a certain extent taken by railway stock repair works of Bydgoszcz (PESA), Nowy Sącz (Newag) and Gliwice. While initially output of the former two included mainly diesel railcars, built in small numbers for local operators, and later EMUs for suburban traffic, Electric Locomotives Repair Works (Zakłady Naprawcze Lokomotyw Elektrycznych – ZNLE) of Gliwice, who were the last to enter the market, finally delivered the first brand-new Polish electric locomotive in over twenty years.

Based on experience gained with earlier modernizations of electric locomotives (including ET21, ET22 and EL2) and bearing factory designation E6ACT, this locomotive has been basically designed for Polish operators, although two-system variant is also offered. It is suited mainly for heavy freight traffic, being capable of hauling a 4000-tonne draft at 105 km/h or at 30 km/h at a 6‰ gradient. E6ACT is a thoroughly modern design and employs state-of the-art control and on-board diagnostic systems. Crew compartment equipment includes refrigerator and microwave oven. Due to the Co’Co’ axle arrangement, axle load is moderate, only slightly exceeding 19 T.

First prototype, bearing the commercial name ‘Dragon’, was completed in 2009 and exhibited at the TRAKO 2009 Fair in Gdańsk, attracting much attention. During next two years it underwent service tests with STK (leased to Lotos Kolej), remaining the manufacturer’s property. During the next TRAKO Fair in October 2011, a contract was signed for four examples, ordered by STK. It seems quite possible that further orders will follow. E6ACT seems well suited to replace obsolete twin electric locomotives (classes ET40, ET41 and ET42) in the PKP Cargo fleet, offering even higher power and tractive effort.

ZNLE Gliwice have ambitious plans for future, which include E4MSU ‘Griffin’ – completely new design of an universal Bo’Bo’ multi-system locomotive for passenger (190 km/h) and freight traffic.

Main technical data

No.	Parameter	Unit	Value
1.	Years of manufacture	-	2009
2.	Total built / used in Poland	-	1 / 1^1)
3.	Axle arrangement	-	Co’Co’
4.	Control	-	individual
5.	Design maximum speed	km/h	120
6.	Traction motors (number X type)	-	6 X STX500L4
7.	Voltage	V	3000 dc
8.	One-hour rating	kW/hp	5000 / 6530
9.	Continuous rating	kW/hp
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	-	nose-suspended
15.	Reduction gear ratio	-
16.	Diameter of drivers	mm	1250
17.	Total weight	kg	116 000
18.	Axle load	T	19.35
19.	Axle base	mm
20.	Overall length	mm	20 300
21.	Maximum width	mm
22.	Brake type	-

References and acknowledgments

- ZNLE Gliwice folders;

- SK, various issues;

- www.kolejowaklatka.org (website by Marek Dąbrowski).