6Dg
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6Dg-01, photographed in Gdańsk on October 11, 2007. Photo courtesy Krzysztof Malinowski.
SM42-1501, photographed in Nowy
Sącz on October 7, 2009...
…and its control panel; both photos by Maciej Górowski (thanks a lot!),
who has been responsible for the cab interior design of this locomotive.
6Dg-025, operated by PNUIK Kraków
track maintenance company, was rebuilt from SM42-2361. This picture was taken
near the Warszawa Wschodnia station on August 5,
2011.
Another (and unfortunately not much better)
picture of this locomotive, taken in Skarżysko Kamienna on July 8, 2012.
SM42-1246 (rebuilt SM42-1065), photographed
near the Poznań Franowo
station on October 22, 2012.
6Dg-103,
Pol-Miedź Trans; Skarzysko Kamienna station, May 29, 2013.
SM42-1228 (rebuilt SM42-934, Fablok 9823/1977), photographed at the Kraków Prokocim station on June
20, 2013.
Two pictures by Robert Wójcik
(from my collection), taken in Gdynia in 2013: SM42-1287 (rebuilt SM42-924, Fablok
9803/1977)…
…and SM42-1297 (rebuilt SM42-875, Fablok
9557/1976).
SM42-1268 (rebuilt from SM42-863); Turoszów station, March 27, 2014.
SM42-1203 (rebuilt SM42-1080), photographed
in Nysa on the same day.
Factory-fresh 6Dg-148, ready for dispatch to Lotos Kolej. Newag factory
photo (from www.kurierkolejowy.eu).
Two pictures taken in Korsze
on July 2, 2015: SM42-1249 (rebuilt SM42-1007)…
…and SM42-1301 (rebuilt SM42-872), both
operated by PKP Cargo.
6Dg-025 again, this time photographed at the Pilawa station on July 30, 2017.
SM42-1234, PKP Cargo (rebuilt SM42-855, Fablok 9524/1976), photographed
near Warszawa Żerań station on August 24, 2023.
SM42-1294
(rebuilt SM42-1057, Fablok 10343/1980), PKP Cargo, Sokołów Podlaski, October 13, 2023.
6Dg-168 (rebuilt SM42-2376, Fablok
9582/1976), operated by Trakcja PRKiL, at work in Warszawa Anin
on November 16, 2023.
SM42-1314, PKP Cargo (rebuilt SM42-862, Fablok 9541/1976), photographed
at the CHP Żerań
siding in Warsaw on April 18, 2024.
SM42-1269, PKP Cargo (rebuilt SM422-940, Fablok 9829/1977), photographed
near Warszawa Praga station on May 23, 2024.
Another picture from Warszawa Praga station: SM42-1217 (rebuilt SM42-987, Fablok
10004/1978), PKP Cargo; June 27,
2024.
SM42-1284, PKP Cargo (rebuilt SM42-958, Fablok 9975/1978), photographed
in Tuchola on August 15, 2024. |
In 1964, Fablok
delivered first SM42 switchers (factory designation type 6D), which were
eventually built in large numbers, both for PKP and industrial
operators. SM42 is perhaps the most popular Polish locomotive, known to every
railway fan. Production continued until 1992 and total output – including
later variant SP42, or type 101D, for light passenger trains, which differed
only in car heating equipment – exceeded 2000 examples. Most of them still
remain in use. Obsolescence of the basic design, in particular diesel engine,
forced a number of modernization programs, of which some saw fruition. These
have included PKP’s SM42-2000 (MTU 12V396TC12 diesel engine,
rated at 950 hp) of 1996 and type 6Dd, or Ls1000,
delivered to PTKiGK Rybnik (with
1000hp MTU 8V396TC14); until now,
however, only one and two examples, respectively, have been rebuilt to these
standards.
More extensive redesign was submitted by Newag in 2007; this company, which had evolved from ZNTK (Railway Stock Repair Works) of Nowy Sącz, founded in 1876, recently also produced an extensively redesigned ST44 (M62) version, known as type 311D. SM42 modification, with factory designation type 6Dg, in fact retained only frame and wheelsets of the original variant. Power is provided by Caterpillar C27 V-12 diesel engine, rated at 875 hp and compatible with latest European emission standards. This engine is coupled with Siemens 1FC2 454-4B099Z main generator. LSa-430 traction engines have been retained, although thoroughly revised and up-rated. Other modifications include state-of-the-art control and diagnostic systems and remote control installation. Crew comfort has been substantially improved, due to air conditioning system, improved visibility, reduced vibration and heated windscreen; the cab is also fitted with a refrigerator, microwave oven and washbasin. External appearance has been completely changed and 6Dg bears almost no resemblance to the familiar SM42. First reports from railway fans even suggested its Czech origin! This
‘new’ locomotive is intended mainly for switching, but can also be used with
light freight trains. It was shown for the first time at the TRAKO International
Fair in Gdańsk in October 2007. First example – a rebuilt
SM42, designated 6Dg-01 – was delivered to the Częstochowa
steelworks. Two more (6Dg-02 and 6Dg-03), for the same operator, followed in
November 2008. In June 2011, Kraków-based PNUIK
track maintenance company took delivery of 6Dg-025 (ex SM42-2361) and 6Dg-026
(ex SM42-2137). Two more, 6Dg-033 (ex SM42-2128) and 6Dg-046 (ex SM42-7585)
for another private operator, PTK Koltar,
followed in August and November 2011, respectively. Pol-Miedź Trans has been the largest customer, with
fifteen examples delivered between September 2011 and 2016 (starting with
6Dg-039, ex SM42-2037). Some of them were fitted with remote control
equipment. Another major recipient was Lotos Kolej, which has teen locomotives
obtained in 2015 and 2016; some of them previously saw service with other
operators. Currently (late 2019) fleets of eleven private operators include
49 locomotives of this type, most of them converted from SM42s, but several
from SU42s. This number includes two owned by Newag: 6Dg-139 (ex SM42-560) and 6Dg-140 (ex SU42-515). As the
conversion is considered successful, further deliveries are likely to follow. Two
years after the first official presentation of the type 6Dg, also at the TRAKO
fair in Gdańsk, Newag
showed its variant for PKP Cargo, numbered SM42-1501 and differing in
details (including modified body). This locomotive was later re-numbered
SM42-1201 and underwent service evaluation in early 2010. Until mid-2013 PKP
Cargo took delivery of 121 rebuilt locomotives, those from SM42-1204
onwards being fitted with the same prime mover, but boosted up to 960 hp.
SM42-1201 through 1221 are referred to as type 6Dg, SM42-1222 is missing,
SM42-1223 through 1240 are designated 6Dg/A and the rest 6Dg/B; these
sub-types differ in minor details only. Main
technical data
1)
SM42 and SU42 conversions. 2)
Until late 2019. 3)
From SM42-1204 onwards. References and acknowledgments
-
www.newag.pl; -
Krzysztof Malinowski and Maciej
Górowski (private communications – thanks for the
photos!); -
www.kolejowaklatka.org (website
by Marek Dąbrowski); -
www.ilostan.forumkolejowe.pl; -
SK, various issues. |
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