794
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Prototype 794 001-8, photographed during
tests at the Bratislava-Lamač station on April 21, 2016. Photo by Petr Štefek (source: www.commons.wikimedia.org).
794 014-1, already sporting the Metro Warszawskie
livery, photographed during tests in Jihlava, Czech
Republic, in April 2019. Photo by Daniel Brabenec
(used by permission – many thanks!). |
CZ Loko company
of Česká Třebová, Czech
Republic, was founded in 1995 and is involved mainly in reconstruction and
modernization of locomotives. Several original designs have, however, also
been developed. In September 2014 the company presented a new light switcher,
classed 794. Presentation took place at the factory premises; a few days
later prototype locomotive 794 001-8 was transported to Berlin and
exhibited at the InnoTrans fair. It
is intended as a replacement for older light switchers (e.g. classes 700 –
703), as well as an economical alternative for larger four-axle switchers, of
which many are still used for auxiliary duties. Power is provided by a Caterpillar C 13 diesel engine with
electric (AC/DC) transmission. Total weight was initially specified as 28 to
32 tonnes, depending on equipment and detailed
requirements. Prototype locomotive weighted 30 tonnes. Service tests with Czech state
railways ČD began in Brno in March
2015. In June 2017 ČD ordered
twelve examples, with a commercial name ‘EffiShunter
300’, to be delivered until February 2019. Production locomotives differ from
the prototype in several details and their total weight has increased to 36 tonnes. In November 2017 Metro Warszawskie (Warsaw Underground) invited tenders for a single light diesel
switcher, intended to supplement four locomotives already in use (which
include Czech 797.819 from CZ Loko). Next February the CZ Loko offer for a version of class
794 was chosen. Compared to the production variant for ČD, several modifications have been introduced, in order to match
the company’s vehicle gauge and other specific requirements (including
couplings). Total weight is 30 tonnes. Numbered
794.014-1, the locomotive began manufacturer’s tests in March 2019. It was
finally delivered to the Metro Warszawskie depot in August 2019 and the certificate
for use in Poland was issued in November. Until now (May 2020) no more orders
have followed. Main
technical data
1) Until mid-2019. 2) Depending on version. References and acknowledgments
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