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Until I spot a Polish ‘Bobina’, I’d like to
present two photos of the ŽSSK 140.067: this one was
taken in Zwardoń on
...
and this one on
Another
Slovakian ‘Bobina’: 140 079-5, photographed in Žilina on April 10, 2010.
140
097-7 from the Rail Polska fleet tries to escape
my camera: Zduńska Wola Karsznice, November 26, 2010. |
In late
1940s, in view of planned electrification of main lines, Czechoslovak state
railways ČSD sought for a modern universal electric locomotive with a potential
for further development. Suitable machine was found in Switzerland. It
had been designed for Berg-Lötschberg-Simplon Bahn (BLS) and first example was accepted in
November 1944; in all, eight were built for this railway until 1955. They
were also built for state railways (SBB), which received 100 examples
between 1946 and 1951. In 1949, well-known Škoda works of Plzeň
acquired license rights to build this locomotive. Agreements were signed with
Schweizerische Lokomotiv- und Maschinenfabrik of Winterthur and Société
Anonyme des Ateliers de Sécheron of Genéve; first example was completed
in 1952 and accepted by ČSD in
1953. After trials, of which some took place in Poland, 100 machines were
supplied for Czechoslovak state railways as class E 499.0 in six batches,
differing in minor details – factory designations type 12E1 through 12E6. Two
were built for the Soviet Union (class ChS1, or ЧС1 in Russian
script – factory designation type 24E1) and ten for Northern Korea (factory
designation 22E1). I have no information on Korean locomotives (not a big
surprise, anyway); in the USSR, first two ChS1s were supplied in 1957 and
remained in use until 1971. Later a batch of 100 machines with the same
designation followed, but this was in fact a modified version (factory
designation 41E0 and 41E1); last of them, ChS1-102, was in fact a prototype
of class ChS3, with further modifications and uprated AL-4846eT traction
engines. First production locomotives – easily
distinguishable by round side windows – immediately proved very successful
and remained in use for a long time. Their designation in the ČSD service was later changed to class 140 and their common
nickname was ‘Bobina’, after the axle arrangement. Most of them were
withdrawn in the 1990s and supplanted by more modern classes 162 and 163.
Several have survived into 21st century with ČD (Czech Republic) and ŽSSK
(Slovakia); according to Marco van Uden (http://mercurio.iet.unipi.it) in the
beginning of 2003 ČD had six
machines in use and ŽSSK four. In
2006 ČD had only four, of which three were intended for preservation as
historic machines, while one Slovakian 140 was handed over to ŽSCS, a subsidiary of ŽSSK, and other three served on the Žilina –
Katowice line, linking Slovakia with Poland. Last of them, 140.067, hauled
the ‘Góral’ express train for the last time on December 9, 2006. ŽSSK 140.047-2 (ex ČSD E499.047, Škoda 3115/1957),
withdrawn from use in 1995, has been preserved as a heritage loco and is kept
in working order in Žilina. When, in early 21st century, private
railway operators emerged in Poland, purchase of second-hand foreign
locomotives was usually for them the most reasonable option. Many came from
Czech and Slovak railways, who had a number of surplus machines at hand.
140s, although rather elderly, were also included. First two appeared in Poland
in late 2005: these were 140.099 and 140.074, purchased by CTL from ŽSSK (all
Polish locomotives of this type came from Slovakia). They were redesignated
ET13-R001 and ET13-R002 (why not ET12? Surely, CTL is not superstitious!).
Then, in January 2007, 140.059-7 (Škoda 3589/1957) arrived, to be taken over by Rail Polska as their very first electric locomotive. As far as I know, 140.052-7
and 140.097-7 were readied for dispatch, also to Rail Polska, in late 2007; one
source also mentions 140.045-6. Further purchases are not very likely to
follow, as there are few ‘Bobinas’ available for sale: both in Czech Republic
and Slovakia they are considered heritage locos and some even haul special
trains. Purchase of 50-years old locomotives can be seen
either as an act of desperation or as appreciation of their qualities. It
should be kept in mind, however, that PKP class EP05, of which two
examples still remain in use, was in fact a direct development of the original ‘Bobina’ and differed mainly
in details. Main technical data
1) Including
2 for SZD (class ChS1) and 10 for 2) Until
late 2007. 3) 140.001
through 017 – 15 600 mm, 140.018 through 040 – 15 800 mm. References and acknowledgments
-
Monographic article on class 140 by Bogdan Waga (KMD
vol. 2/2005); -
AV, AL; -
SK, various issues. |
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