HŽ series 1142

Series 1142

HŽ 1142 011 at Zagreb Rail Station
Type and origin
Power type Electric
Builder Končar Group
Build date Prototype: 1981
Production: 1984–1989
Total produced 16
Specifications
UIC classification Bo'Bo'
Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in)
Length 15,890 mm (52 ft 2 in)
Height 4,630 mm (15 ft 2 in)
Electric system(s) 25 kV 50 Hz AC Catenary
Current collection
method
Pantograph
Traction motors RK IVK 644-8 (1,100 kW or 1,500 hp, 1330 A, 870 V)
Performance figures
Maximum speed 160 km/h (99 mph) (production series)
Power output 4,400 kW (5,900 hp)
Career
Operator(s)
Number in class 15
Number(s) In range 1142 001 – 1142 016
Nicknames "Lepa Brena" (former used in Yugoslavia), "Brena" (today in Croatia)
Disposition In service

1142 series is the fastest electrical locomotive on Croatian Railways (Croatian: hrvatske željeznice, HŽ).

History

They were manufactured by the Končar factory (named after Rade Končar). Originally, they were a Yugoslav development (class 442), meant to be used in 80s as the fastest electrical powered locomotive. They remain the fastest Croatian locomotives today. At that time, as higher speeds became more and more important, former Yugoslav Railways (Croatian: Jugoslavenske Željeznice) needed a locomotive, which could cope with the 160 km/h speed reachable on some of the mainlines. Therefore, this series was produced. It was planned that some of this units would be delivered throughout the then still existing SFRY. The dissolution stopped these plans, leaving HŽ as the only company, which has this class, from all the former SFRY states.

1 142 002 unit was destroyed in a diversion with a landmine laid on the railway track at the station Donja Vrba near Slavonski Brod on 16. August 1995 at 08:41 CET (06:41 GMT).

Three units were loaned to MÁV at some time in past.

Maximal speed

This series reached the maximal speed of 183.7 km/h on the prototype test run. That is still the Croatian speed record for any locomotive, since there are no official railway routes which allow for more than 160 km/h. This prototype is still in regular use today, with speed limited to production series levels.

Purpose

Originally, this series was conceived to be used for express passenger traffic, mainly on flat mainlines. It was sometimes deployed also on freight trains, but after the liquidation of HŽ Vuča vlakova d.o.o. they are used for passenger traffic exclusively as the rolling stock was divided between HŽ Cargo d.o.o. and HŽ Putnički prijevoz d.o.o. All engines of the series 1142 thus became part of HŽ Putnički prijevoz d.o.o. rolling stock.

Nickname

Nowadays, this series has the nickname "Lepa Brena". It is interesting, how this name was given. At the time before dissolution of SFRY, there was a female singer with the artist name Lepa Brena. Translated this would mean "pretty Brena". Since this series was the pride of that time, like this popular female singer, this nickname prevailed until today, though usually shortening it to just "Brena".

Wikimedia Commons has media related to HŽ Class 1142.

External links & References