EU06 is the code-name for an electric locomotive in service by the Polish railway operator (PKP).

Technical data

EU06 has driving cabs on both ends of the box. The locomotive is equipped with multiple working which allows a single driver to drive two coupled engines from one cabin. This engine is able to pull passenger trains of up to 650 t. weight with speed of 125 km/h and freight trains of up to 2000 t. weight with speed of 70 km/h. In case of two coupled locomotives freight train weight can be up to 3600 t. These figures apply to driving on horizontal railway lines.

History

In the early 1950s PKP noticed an urgent need for universal purpose electric locomotives due to rapid electrification of Poland's railway lines . ET21 freight locomotives were already in production on Soviet license, but there was a serious lack in passenger transport locomotives. Original plan was to buy several items of foreign production locomotives together with the license and start own production afterwards.

In 1956 talks with companies from Austria and Switzerland started, but were finished soon after. The British firms Metropolitan Vickers and English Electric sent their offer. Both these companies had produced engines for Polish railways before the Second World War. The British offer included not only the delivery of locomotives but also complete documentation of them together with all the electric installations, which were necessary for starting production in Poland. It must be noted that not all electric devices were included in the license agreement. EU06 locomotives are roughly similar to the British Rail Class 83, which were built by English Electric during the same period.

First unit of EU06 locomotives was brought to Poland in 1962 and after series of trials it was assigned to Kraków Prokocim depot. By the end of the year 18 more engines had been delivered. The last one arrived in Poland only in 1965 what was caused by a minor failure of the rotor.

Those locomotives were running on all lines serviced by Kraków Prokocim depot. EU06 became a milestone in local rolling stock construction. Along with the EU07, was a similar locomotive was produced in Poland under license, the total number produced was almost 500 units. EU07 locomotives were also used to build duplex freight locomotives ET41 locomotives. Several construction innovations found in EU06 were introduced into later machines like EP08, ET22 and EP09. There are still 14 units of EU06 in operation, but withdrawal of this series is being considered.

Future developments

In recognition of the locomotives being built in the UK, it is hoped that one example of the class will be repainted in British Rail Electric Blue livery, complete with BR Lion and Wheel insignia. Is is thought that the as yet unspecified loco (EP07-1051 ) will carry the livery from February 2008.

Nicknames

• Anglik (Englishman) - from country of origin

Resources

1. Modern Locos Gallery, URL accessed on January 3, 2006
2. Rail Service, URL accessed on January 3, 2006
3. Mikoleje, URL accessed on January 3, 2006
4. Chabówka Rail Museum, URL accessed on January 3, 2006
5. Modern PKP rolling stock, URL accessed on June 6, 2007

See also

• Polish locomotives designation