ČSD Class T 478.4
| Performance figures | |
|---|---|
| Maximum speed | 100 km/h (62 mph) |
| Power output | 1,472 kW (1,974 bhp)[1] |
| Tractive effort | 180 kN (40,000 lbf) |
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Operators | ČSD » ČD & ŽSR |
| Numbers | ČSD: T 478.4001 – 4086) |
| Nicknames | “Goggles” |
T478.4 is a class of diesel locomotives designed, manufactured and used in the former Czechoslovakia and now used in the Czech republic (ČD Class 754) and Slovak republic (ŽSR Class 754). The locomotive is based on the T478.3 locomotive series. The most important difference was an electric train heating generator instead of the steam heating generator used on T478.3. To provide additional power needed for the heating generator, the prime mover power output was increased to 1470 kW, but the maximal power at the output of the traction generator remained the same as on Class T478.3. Another important new technology used on these locomotives was an electronic control system with an electrically controlled air brake valve and an automatic speed regulator, which was able to control not only the power output, but also the air brake. Their distinctive cab design has led to the nickname "Brejlovec" ("Goggles").
History
In 1974, after the evaluation of the newly built T499.0 prototypes and considering their high weight and complexity, the Federal Ministry of Transport of Czechoslovakia sent a request to the ČKD design bureau to make a project of a locomotive similar to Class T478.3, but equipped with electric train heating generator. The first two prototypes were finished in December 1975. After trials, series production of 84 locomotives started in 1978. More locomotives were ordered, but the manufacture was terminated by a deliberately-set massive fire that destroyed the ČKD diesel engine plant at Smíchov district in Prague in 1980. The Ministry cancelled the contract for another 96 locomotives before the plant was rebuilt.
Operation
The locomotives were used for heavy passenger and freight service, often double-headed. Since the main line electrification quickly progressed in the years following their manufacture, their importance somewhat decreased in the 1990s. During the rail market reorganisation in the 2000s, they were passed to the national passenger operators - Czech Railways in the Czech Republic and Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko in Slovakia. The two prototypes were withdrawn in 2011 and completely rebuilt to ČD Class 750.7. The series production locomotives remain in passenger operation until today (2020), some of them were withdrawn after accidents or fires. Since 2014, a few of the Czech locomotives have been modified for operation in Poland and leased to Polish rail operator PKP Intercity.
Gallery
-
754 007 -
Side view detail -
754 037-0 PKP Intercity/ČD
See also
References
- Bittner, Jaromír; Křenek, Jaroslav; Bohumil, Skála; Šrámek, Milan (2008). Czech & Slovak Locomotives 2009. Czech Republic: Gradis Bohemia. ISBN 978-80-86925-06-6.
- "Řada 754". Prototypy.cz (in Czech). 21 November 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to CS Class T 478.4.
- v
- t
- e
Standard gauge locomotives of České dráhy
- ČD Class 110
- ČD Class 111
- ČD Class 112
- ČD Class 114
- ČD Class 121
- ČD Class 122
- ČD Class 123
- ČD Class 124.6
- ČD Class 130
- ČD Class 131
- ČD Class 140
- ČD Class 141
- |ČD Class 150
- ČD Class 151
- ČD Class 162
- ČD Class 163
- ČD Class 169
- ČD Class 180
- ČD Class 181
- ČD Class 182
- ČD Class 183
- ČD Class 209
- ČD Class 210
- ČD Class 218
- ČD Class 230
- ČD Class 240
- ČD Class 242
- ČD Class 263
- ČD Class 280
- ČD Class 340
- ČD Class 362
- ČD Class 363
- ČD Class 371
- ČD Class 372
- ČD Class 380
- ČD Class 383
- ČD Class 388
- ČD Class 700
- ČD Class 701
- ČD Class 702
- ČD Class 703
- ČD Class 710
- ČD Class 715
- ČD Class 725
- ČD Class 726
- ČD Class 704
- ČD Class 708
- ČD Class 714
- ČD Class 720
- ČD Class 721
- ČD Class 730
- ČD Class 731
- ČD Class 735
- ČD Class 740
- ČD Class 741
- ČD Class 742
- ČD Class 743
- ČD Class 749
- ČD Class 750
- ČD Class 751
- ČD Class 752
- ČD Class 753
- ČD Class 754
- ČD Class 755
- ČD Class 759
- ČD Class 770
- ČD Class 771
- ČD Class 776
- ČD Class 781
- ČD Class 794
- ČD Class 799
