ČSD Class E 499.1
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2014) |
| ČSD class E 499.1 ČD class 141 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 141.052 in Prague | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class E 499.1 electric locomotives were built in Škoda Works in Plzeň for use in the Czechoslovakia on the ČSD.[1] They were also used outside Czechoslovakia in Poland as the class EP05 and in the Soviet Union as ЧС3 (ChS3).
After the fall of the iron curtain and consequent upheavals in railway operations they remain in use with a number of railways. Still in the 1980s ČSD locomotives were renumbered to the class 141. After dividing Czechoslovakia in 1993 all locos of this class have remained in Czech republic.
History
The locomotive was produced in the years 1957-1960 in three types. 20E1, the prototype, different from serial production, 30E1 and 30E2. 61 engines were built in those series.
The prototype (E499.101) came into service on February 29, 1959. Most of locomotives stationed in Prague, but some of them were sent to Ústí nad Labem and Česká Třebová. Currently the whole series is being systematically withdrawn with last units used in Prague, Olomouc and Ústí nad Labem.[2]
Technical data
Class E499.1 electric locomotives are used to pull both passenger and freight trains. They have driving cabs on either end of the box. This engine was not suited for multiple steering and shunting purposes. On a straight, horizontal track it could pull 600 t. passenger trains with the speed of up to 120 km/h and 1000 t. freight trains with the speed of 80 km/h.
Service in other countries
Poland
EU05
In need of modern electric locomotives for passenger trains, and unable to get timely delivery of EU06 locomotives from England, Poland bought 30 locomotives type 44E from its southern neighbours. In 1961 it was the most modern locomotive running on Polish rail tracks. EU05 locomotives pulled fast passenger trains and were based in Warszawa Odolany and later in Warszawa Olszynka Grochowska depots. Those locomotives serviced chiefly connections from Warsaw to Poznań and Katowice.
EP05
In 1969 PKP started testing several changes to enable EU05 locomotives achieving speed up to 160 km/h. It appeared to be possible thanks to changing transmission and as a result by 1977 almost all locomotives had been rebuilt to EP05 class, except for locomotives 09, 12 and 19 which had been scrapped earlier. To distinguish new series from its predecessor the color scheme was changed from two tone green into orange.
Present day
There is one unit of EU05 left in service, which is in fact EP05-22 engine repainted in 2003. It serves as an exhibit in Kraków.
Soviet Union and Russia
ЧС3 (ChS3)
.JPG)
In 1960 and 1961 87 units of similar type 29E were built for the Soviet Union railways. They were suited to run on the broad gauge rails and received ЧС3 (ChS3) designation. Several units of this locomotive are still in use within Russian Railways pulling mostly passenger trains. In Russia ЧС3 are very often used in pairs.
Nicknames
- Czech in Polish language - from nation of origin
- Piątka (eng. The Five) in Poland - from locos number
- Bobina in Czech republic - from wheel arrangement Bo'Bo'
References
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (April 2009) |
- ^ David Švestka. "Lokomotivní řada 141 (E499.1)". Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ Rosťa Kolmačka, Martin Třískala a Josef Minařík. "Řada 141 ( E499.1 ) ČD". Archived from the original on 2008-04-29. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- Technical data and history of EU05 locomotives, URL accessed on June 7, 2007.
- History of EU05 and EP05 series, URL accessed on June 7, 2007.
