HŽ series 1061

The HŽ series 1061 is a 6-axle articulated electric locomotive series still used by Croatian Railways (Croatian: hrvatske željeznice, HŽ). It is similar to, and developed from, the Italian FS E636. It was known as JŽ series 362 in SFRJ and currently as SŽ series 362 in Slovenia. The Slovenian version has the original yellow livery and is used throughout the country.

History

A locomotive was needed which could operate on a mountain railway line with very hilly terrain. The steam and diesel locomotives at that time could not fulfill the request, as they could not generate sufficient power. Therefore, the line was electrified, at the then common voltage of 3kV DC. These locomotives were deployed on this line between 1960 and 1964 and (numbers 001 to 019) and between 1968 and 1969 (numbers 101 to 110). The locomotives are split in two series:

• JŽ 362.001-040 (First Series) : 40 locomotives built between 1960 and 1967, 35 within 1964, then only 5 in the following 2 years due to indecisions about modifications to adopt on seconds series.
• JŽ 362.101-110 (Second Series): 10 locomotives built in 1968.

Uniqueness

This locomotive, built by Ansaldo-Breda, is derived from Italian FS Class E636 and was originally donated by the Italian government. The uniqueness in contrast to other Croatian electric locomotives is that it uses the 3 kV DC system, and was only deployed on the Šapjane-Rijeka-Moravice Line. The rest of the overhead catenary in Croatia is 25 kV. The part from Zagreb to Moravice was re-electrified to the standard voltage. The last line, on which this locomotive was deployed has been converted as well.

Technique

The electrical part is similar and derived from FS Class E636, and in some parts from FS Class E646. Like E636, JŽ 362 has six motors, each providing 440 kW (1st series) and 472,5 kW (2nd series), and rheostatic regulation; the tractive effort is also higher (360 kN on start, 283 kN continuous).

On 1st series two La TA 241 Westinghouse compressors provide air for pneumatic systems; the 42 V batteries are recharged by a 2.83 kW dynamo, which provides a current of 68 A, activated by the rheostat and motors 1.1 kW fans, model "Marelli/Koncar".

On 2nd series compressors and battery recharge systems are identical, but fans are 3 kW "Aeroto" type and are activated by alternators, providing a 380 V AC three-phase voltage.

Also, rheostatic type braking is possible, on a similar way used on experimental unit E636.082.

HŽ series 1061 in full length

Withdrawal

Since December 2012, the re-electrification has ended and all of the locomotives have been withdrawn.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to HŽ Class 1061.

• 1061 RailfanEurope.net