The Austrian Railway Group : Visitors from the Czech Republic
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There are four crossings :
| CD 749.252-3 and 749.255-6 going
onto the front of a passenger service
to Ceske Velenice, Gmuend
14 August 2004.
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| CD 810.573-6 about to leave
Gmuend for Ceske Velenice,
14 August 2004.
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| CSD diesel T669 1029 heads a passenger train near Gmund in the 80s.
The loco isa CMELAK bumble bee apparently from the noise it makes!.
Built by one of the main builders of Czech
railway kit - CKD, also supplied in
large numbers to the Ruskies as well as
orders to Albania, the Middle East,
India, Cuba, North Korea etc.
They were classified T669.0 and T669.1 - now known as 770 and 771 - minor differences between the classes. T = diesel loco 6 = 6 axles 6 = max speed 6 + 3 = 9 x 10 = 90 kmh 9 = weight per coupled axle 9 + 10 = 19 tonnes . 1 = class differences serial number This system is known as Kryspin's after Vojtech Kryspin who invented it in 1921. Unfortunately it couldn't cope with speeds greater than 120 kmh (8+3 = 12 x 10 = 120 kmh. Anyway the Cmelak is one of a fleet based at Ceske Budejovice (Budweis) and used for freight service in this area of Czechia regularly crossing over the borders into Austria at Gmund, Summerau and Hohenau. T669.1078 replaced the 2-10-0 556.0506 which was the regular cross border loco into Gmund, so most pictures of a Cmelak you will find are of T669.1078. This one is rare !!! Czech footplatemen often adorned (still do) their lvod with customised paint jobs and additions. 556.0506 often carried a red painted windmill on the smokebox door. The Ceske Bud Cmelaks seem to be least affected by livery mods. They were delivered in a green and cream livery with red frames. This was replaced by maroon and grey (as you see), which became red and yellow. Many are now returning to original livery. Kryspin's system might be similar to the German system of axleload and speed, which the Polish also use. |
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