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News Report - Summer 1995

Service locomotives

1020.038 (nominally now the last of the class in normal stock) was noted as a Heizlok unit in a siding at Hohenau on 13th April.

Departmental locomotives noted on 14th April were:

X0112.007 (out of use) alongside the depot at Klagenfurt

X260.010 (allocated to Gloggnitz) in the yard at Semmering.

Class 10012
The three locomotives of this class ordered by OBB are in an advanced state of construction, with the first expected to be completed in December, 1995. With a top speed of 230 km/h and a power output of 6400kw, they are intended oft high speed lines in Austria and Germany. It has been rumoured that in the new financial climate, OBB has regretted entering into the contract for their supply, as each locomotive is expensive at OS 81 million. This compares with prices of around OS3 5 to 40 million for recent DB deliveries, and makes clear the cost of keeping an Austrian loco building industry in business almost entirely to supply the Austrian market. (Alan Mackie)

Class 1020
On 1st May, two of the last three 1020s were withdrawn, effectively signalling the end of the class's service on OBB. The remaining unit, 1020.038 remained on the books until 1st July, although in use as a heating unit at Hohenau. A full report on the history of this much loved class and the final special duties during March will appear in the Autumn issue. (Mike Parsons)

Class 1163

Delivery began in April of the 20 locomotives of this class. Although they are a variant of the successful class 1063, there have been many problems including faulty frames, delivered by Skoda in Piles very poor ride, interference with the radio, and complaints from drivers about poor sightlines The latest difficulty concerns the braking, and so far none of the locomotives has been accepted by OBB. It is planned that the I 163s will replace the remaining units of classes 1062 and 1245, and that the 1040s will be reduced to about half their present strength.

Class 1245
Continuing problems with the l 163s mean that the 1245s will not be withdrawn just yet. The new timetable in May should have seen the class reduced to just three examples, but although some class 1040s have been cascaded from Amstetten to Selzthal, until the I 163s start entering traffic, the process cannot be completed. On 23rd April, a farewell line-up of the class was placed around the turntable at Selzthal with six members of the class side by side. (Mike Parsons )

Class 1822
The Austrian dual voltage "Brennerlok" seems to have finally been declared a failure. Designed in the vain hope that the Germans and Italians would purchase the type, they have been dogged by serious problems and have, as a result, never been accepted by OBB, but remain the property of the builders. By May, all five locos were stored with no booked workings for the class; 1822.005 was at Wien Sud, with the other four in the Innsbruck area. The official reason given was that no traincrews who know the class are available to work them. However, one can't help but wonder if the ORB have finally got so sick of their poor performance that their patience has finally run out! Meanwhile, the FS have placed an order for their own dual voltage "Brennerlok", class E4 12, with deliveries of the first batch due in February, 1996. (Mike Parsons/Alan Mackie)

Class 2050
As a result of the progress of the electrification of the Franz Josefs Bahn to Gmund, and the consequent decline in the demand for diesel locomotives, it is expected that many of the 2050s will be withdrawn. With immediate effect, only those which have received technical improvements in recent years will be retained (2050.002, 003, 005, 008, 011, 012, 015, 016, and 017). No anther overhauls or repairs will be authorised to the remainder of the class.

Double Deck Coaches
In March the OBB placed an order for 60 double deck coaches, whose purpose is to increase capacity on the Wiener Schnellbahri. The contract was won by Simmering Graz Pauker and Jenbacher Werke in co-operation . In accordance with EU law and the current obligation on the OBB to buy as cheaply as possible, tenders were invited internationally. According to reports, the SOP Jenbacher price was not the lowest, but enormous political pressure was put on to give the work to Austrian firms and the tendering process enabled the ORB to heat the price down.

New Signal - Dienstruhe
Previously the times during which stations were unmanned were included in the written instructions in a train's Buclifahrplan. This system lacked clarity and, as a result of a serious accident in Puchenau West in 1993, it was decided to introduce a new signal, which has undergone a successful trial on the Mariazellerbahn. It consists of a reflective board with two versions. The first is a yellow St Andrew's cross outlined in white on a yellow background, which indicates that the Einfahrsignal to which it is attached is invalid; the second is a yellow cross on a white board, which indicates that the station is unmanned.