PKP class EU06

EU06

EU06-12 on 8 April 2008 at Trzebinia working TLK3710 1158 Przemyśl Gl - Poznań Gl
Power type Electric
Builder English Electric Vulcan Foundry[1]
Build date 1962[1]
Total production 20
UIC classification Bo'Bo'[1]
Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in)
Driver size 4 feet 1 inch (1.24 m)[1]
Wheelbase each bogie 10 feet (3.0 m) [1]
Length 48 feet (15 m) over buffer beams[2]
Width 3038 mm
Height 4343 mm
Weight on drivers 20 long tons (20 t)[1]
Total weight 79.5 long tons (80.8 t)[1]
Electric system(s) 3000 V dc[2]
Current Collection method(s) two pantographs
Prime mover electric
Engine type four traction motors,[2] type EE 541A
Transmission 79:18
Top speed 78 miles per hour (126 km/h)[2]
Power output 1,500 brake horsepower (1,100 kW)[1]
Tractive effort 280 kilonewtons (63,000 lbf)
Locomotive brakes Oerlikon
Train brakes  
Career PKP
Class EU06
Number in class 20
Nicknames Anglik ("The Englishman")
Delivered 1962—65
First run 1962
Current owner PKP
Disposition 14 still in service
WikiProject Trains
{{Infobox locomotive auto}}

EU06 is a class of electric locomotives in service with the Polish state railway PKP.

Contents

Technical details

EU06 has driving cabs at both ends. The locomotives are equipped for multiple working which allows one driver to drive two coupled engines from one cab. One locomotive can haul passenger trains of up to 650 tonnes at 125 kilometres per hour (78 mph) and freight trains of up to 2,000 tonnes at a speed of 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph). Two locomotives coupled in multiple can haul a freight train of up to 3,600 tonnes. These figures apply to driving on level gradients.

All members and panels are made of Cor-Ten steel and the underframe is a shallow, cellular structure with closely spaced light-gauge longitudinal and transverse members plated above and below to make a set of closed cells.[2]

The body sides were built up on rectangular vertical tubes forming a set of pillars and are double-skinned for additional strength and rigidity.[2] This is to maintain the shape of the locomotive because the roof of the entire machine space between the two cabs is removable to allow machinery to be lifted out and replaced.[2] The superstructure is built to withstand buffing loads up to 295 long tons (300 t).[2] English Electric made extensive use of aluminium alloys and GRP for panelling, doors and ducts.[2]

Current collection is by single-pan air operated pantographs, which feed the main power circuits by a high-speed circuit breaker.[2] The main resistances were made by Metropolitan-Vickers' parent company, Associated Electrical Industries.[2] The four traction motors are permanently connected in series pairs, with series-parallel combinations between pairs.[2] arallel and 12 field weakening positions give a total of 55 running notches.[2] The four traction motors have Alsthom quill drives.[2]

The minimum curve radius that the locomotives can negotiate is 6 chains (400 ft; 120 m): any curve tighter than this could cause severe flange wear on the wheels.[2] In order to reduce flange forces, the bogies are linked by a tubular-framed spring-loaded inter-coupling and flange lubricators are fitted to each wheel.[2]

History

In 1936–38 the Contractors' Committee, a joint venture of Metropolitan-Vickers and English Electric, had supplied six 1,200 brake horsepower (890 kW) electric locomotives and 80 three-car electric multiple units for the electrification of Warsaw suburban services.[1] British Insulated Cables supplied the overhead line equipment.[1] In 1945 British Insulated merged with a competitor to become British Insulated Callender's Cables, and in 1949 Metropolitan-Vickers, English Electric and BICC contracts to replace locomotives, EMUs and equipment damaged in the Second World War.[1]

In the early 1950s PKP urgently wanted mixed-traffic electric locomotives for the rapid electrification of Poland's railways. ET21 freight locomotives were already in production under a Soviet license but there was a lack of passenger locomotives. The plan was to buy several items of foreign-built locomotives and a license and start domestic production afterwards.

In 1956 talks with companies from Austria and Switzerland started, but were broken off soon after. In June 1959 Poland awarded a new contract to for overhead electrification and 20 locomotives to the Contractors' Committee, which now included BICC as well as Metropolitan-Vickers and English Electric.[1] The contract included a licence agreement for Poland to manufacture 2,000 tons of copper contact wire, enough to electrify 1,450 miles (2,330 kilometres) of railway.[1]

Not all electric devices were included in the licence agreement. EU06 locomotives are roughly similar to the British Rail Class 83, which were built by English Electric in the same period.

The first EU06 locomotive was delivered to Poland early in 1962 and after series of trials it was assigned to Kraków Prokocim depot. Seven locomotives had been delivered by the end of April 1962[1] and 19 by the end of the year. Delivery of the last locomotive was delayed until 1965 by a minor failure of the rotor. The locomotives were operated on all lines serviced by Kraków Prokocim depot.

Class EU06 was an innovative design that became a milestone in Polish motive power construction. Along with the EU07, a similar locomotive class built in Poland under licence, almost 500 locomotives were built. EU07 locomotives were also used to build the duplex freight locomotives of PKP class ET41. Several construction innovations from class EU06 were introduced into later classes such as EP08, ET22 and EP09. 14 units of EU06 are still in service, but withdrawal of this series is being considered.

Liveries

English Electric delivered the EU06 class in a two-tone green, with a broad dark green wastband on a pale green body.[1]

In recognition of the locomotives being built in the UK, it was hoped that one example of the class would be repainted in British Rail Electric Blue livery, complete with BR Lion and Wheel insignia. Instead, an EU07 /EP07 — EP07-1051[3] — was painted in the livery in February 2008.

Nicknames

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Modern Railways 1962, p. 56.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Modern Railways 1962, p. 57.
  3. ^ [1]

Sources

See also