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ČSD T 478.1201 – ČKD 1970

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Diesel-electric locomotive formerly operated by ČSD   ¹  seen at the premises of the Railway Museum of the Slovak Republic in Bratislava in June 2009. This diesel-electric locomotive with fleet number T 478.1201 is built by ČKD Praha in 1970, construction number 7693, included in a series   ²  of 230 units placed in service by the ČSD in 1966–1971. Overall length (buffers) is 54.1 ft. This diesel-electric locomotive uses a ČKD K 6 S 310 DR "L6" diesel engine feeding four ČKD TE 005 E electric traction motors. Nominal output is 1104 kW (1500 hp) and starting tractive effort is 215 kN (21924 kgf). Weight in service is 75 t. Wheelset arrangement is Bo-Bo or Bo' Bo'  ³  and gauge is 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in. Top speed is approximately 62 mph.  This versatile locomotive, nicknamed " Bardotka " (after Brigitte Bardot, due to its prominent fronts resembling the bust of the French actress  ⁴ ), was used on both passenger and freight services. Here, in June 2009, w...

Refer VCC 105 – Plasser & Theurer MTW 10

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Specialized rail vehicle operated by Refer seen at Mangualde station, on the Beira Alta line , in June 2009. This specialized rail vehicle, specifically a catenary maintenance vehicle, with fleet number VCC 105 is built by Plasser & Theurer in 1998, designated as MTW 10  ¹ . Overall length (buffers) is 37.2 ft. This vehicle uses a 178 kW (242 hp) diesel engine. It has two axles and gauge is 5 ft 5 21⁄32 in. Top speed is approximately 50 mph. This specialized rail vehicle is used for overhead line construction, maintenance, and inspection services. Designated by the manufacturer as the MTW 10 (from M otor t urm w agen , which we can understand as a motorized or self-propelled tower vehicle; I don't know the meaning of the 10), it is modularly designed to meet the operator's needs—that's why we find MTW 10s that are different from each other. It has two driving stands, a lifting platform, a hydraulic crane, and can tow support equipment, such as the FWW 10.001 trailer...

Neopul 454 0007 – Plasser & Theurer DGS 62 N

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Specialized rail vehicle operated by Neopul seen at S. Bartolomeu da Serra station, on the Sines line , in November 2008. This specialized rail vehicle, specifically a dynamic track stabilizer, with fleet number  454 0007, is built by Plasser & Theurer  and designated as DGS 62 N  ¹ . Overall length (buffers) is 56.6 ft. This vehicle uses a 370 kW (503 hp) Deutz diesel engine.It has two bogies and gauge is 5 ft 5 21⁄32 in. Top speed is approximately 62 mph. The DGS 62 N can operate with or without side panels. This specialized rail vehicle is used in track construction and maintenance services. Designated by Plasser & Theurer as DGS 62 N, it is used to ensure the proper integration of sleepers into the ballast, reducing the number and size of empty spaces and contributing to the good durability of the track geometry, as well as to traffic safety. Essentially, the DGS 62 N propagates certain frequencies horizontally and vertically to dynamically simulate the vibra...

ČSD T 211.0823 – ČKD

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Diesel-mechanic locomotive formerly operated by ČSD ¹ seen at the premises of the Railway Museum of the Slovak Republic in Bratislava in June 2009. This diesel-mechanic locomotive with fleet number T 211.0823 is built by ČKD Praha in 1961, construction number 5429, included in a series ² of 167 units placed in service by the ČSD in 1956–1962. It was allocated to the Východoslovenské kameňolomy a štrkopiesky (which can be understood as East Slovak quarries and gravel pits), in Spišská Nová Ves. Overall length (buffers) is 23.8 ft. This diesel-mechanic locomotive uses a 118 kW (160 hp) Tatra 111 A "V12" air-cooled diesel engine. Weight in service is 22 t. Wheelset arrangement is B ³ and gauge is 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in. Top speed is approximately 25 mph. This switcher (or shunter locomotive) was used on light shunting services in stations and depots or in industrial sidings. ČKD Praha built around 800 (836?) units, from which around 200 (201?) were exported, mainly to countries wi...

ČSD 331.037 – MÁVAG

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Steam locomotive formerly operated by ČSD   ¹  seen at the premises of the Railway Museum of the Slovak Republic in Bratislava in June 2009. This  tank locomotive with fleet number 331.037 is built by  MÁVAG and has an interesting story.  From what I can understand from the sources consulted, locomotive 331.037 delivered to the ČSD in 1949 performed "conventional" service until 1968, when it began to be used as a static boiler, numbered K 347, until being withdrawn from service in 1970 and subsequently dismantled. With the end of steam traction in Slovakia in October 1980, the efforts of enthusiasts and volunteers to document, rescue and preserve as many railway vehicles as possible intensified. In this spirit, in 1988 the opportunity arose to rescue from scrapping in Hungary a relative of ČSD 331.037, locomotive 375.666, delivered to the MÁV in 1949. Restored with parts from ČSD 331.019, it acquired the identity of ČSD 331.037, the first of 22 units received...

BBÖ DT 1.07 – WLF

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Steam railcar formerly operated by BBÖ ¹ seen at the premises of the Railway Museum of the Slovak Republic in Bratislava in June 2009. This steam railcar with fleet number DT 1.07 is built by the Wiener Lokomotivfabrik Floridsdorf in 1935, construction number 3081, included in a series of 20 units placed in service by the Bundesbahnen Österreich in 1935–1937. Overall length (buffers) is 36.7 ft. It has a total heating surface of 63.9 m² (inc. superheater, 21.4 m²) and a grate area of 0,8 m². Two cylinders (⌀ 290x570 mm) transmit motion to four driving wheels (⌀ 57.1 in). Weight in service is 44,8 t. Wheelset arrangement is 2-4-2T or 1'B1' h2t ² and gauge is 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in. Top speed is approximately 62 mph. This railcar features a luggage space of approximately 4.40 m² and—I presume—normally provided service combined with passenger cars.  Sometimes, certain operational needs generate very peculiar vehicles. This BBÖ DT 1 series steam railcar ( DT , from " D ampf t ri...

Achenseebahn 3 – WLF

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Steam locomotive operated by the Achenseebahn ¹ , seen on the shore of Lake Achen  heading to Jenbach in June 2009. This steam locomotive for  rack system   ² , with fleet number 3 and named " Achenkirch " ("Georg" until 1983), is built by the Wiener Lokomotivfabrik Floridsdorf in 1889, construction number 703, included in a series of 4 units placed in service by the Achenseebahn in 1888–1889. Overall length (buffers) is 18,5 ft. It has a total heating surface of 50 m² and a grate area of 0,91 m². Two cylinders transmit motion to the gear wheel shaft of the rack system and to four driving wheels (⌀ 35.4 in). Nominal output (wheels) is 132 kW (180 hp). Weight in service is 18.26 t. Wheelset arrangement is 0-4-0T or Bzt-n2 ³ and gauge is 1000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in). Used in both mixed and passenger services. Here we see locomotive 3 "Achenkirch" with cars 6 and 2, having left the Achensee Seespitz–Schiffstation, bound for Jenbach . Open cars 1–4 were deliver...

ÖBB 1099.010 – Krauss/ÖSSW

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Electric locomotive operated by  ÖBB   ¹  seen at St. Pölten station on the  Mariazellerbahn  in June 2009. This electric locomotive with fleet number 1099.010 is built by  Krauss / ÖSSW  in 1910, construction number 16, included in a series of 16 units placed in service by the  Niederösterreichische Landesbahnen  in 1909–1914. Overall length (buffers) is 36.15 ft. Fed via one pantograph by 6,5 kV, 25 Hz, this single-phase AC electric locomotive uses two 160 kW (217,5 hp) WBM 350 traction motors. Nominal continuous output is 320 kW (435 hp). Starting tractive effort is approximately 104 kN (10605 kgf  ² ). Weight in service is 49,8 t. Wheelset arrangement is C' C' (wheels with coupling rods) and gauge is 2 ft 5+15⁄16 in  ³ . Top speed is 31 mph. Used in both mixed and passenger services. Here we see ÖBB 1099.010 at St. Pölten station in June 2009, prepared to take the " Ötscherbär-Express " to  Mariazell . Just behind the...