T419P
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Prototype 729.501 (ex T419.0501, ČKD 13172/1983), photographed at the ArcelorMittal Ostrava metallurgical enterprise on May 6, 2013. Photo by Petr Štefek (source: www.commons.wikimedia.org).
T419 drawing by ČKD from AV vol.2 The sole Polish T419P-601, photographed in Rybnik on October 5, 2006. Photo by Krzysztof Malinowski (thanks for permission!).
Another picture of the T419P-601, location and date unknown. Photo by Miłosz Zaborski (from my collection).
Another picture of the T419P-601 and
another one by Petr Štefek: Jankowice colliery, September
19, 2003. Source: www.commons.wikimedia.org.
Two more pictures from my collection of the sole Polish T419P, taken by Mariusz Niżyniec, also at the Jankowice colliery: April 10, 2008…
… and May 31, 2008.
721 601, Železiarne Podbrezová (with ‘old-style’ T419 1501 number plates), photographed in Zvolen, Slovakia, on October 5, 2020. Photo by Sebastián Langhoffer (thanks for permission!). |
Heavy
diesel switchers of the T448 class (in 1995 re-designated class 740),
produced by ČKD from 1973 onwards in fairly large quantities – 620
machines for Czechoslovakia, Poland and USSR – were successful, but their
performance turned out to be inadequate for some rather specific
applications. In particular, steel plants demanded a switcher not that
powerful and slower, but more robust, heavier and with better all-round view
from the cab. Prototype T436 was not successful and a new design was
developed, designated T419. It was, however, based not on class T448, but on
class T457.0 diesel switcher, designed for ČSD and industrial
operators (121 machines built between 1978 and 1992). These machines had
provisions for automatic switching, then developed in Czechoslovakia and
conforming with demands of certain industrial operators. New
locomotive retained the K6S230DR diesel engine of the T457 series, rated at
815 hp. In order to obtain more tractive effort, TE015 electric engines were
replaced with TE006Bs. Maximum tractive effort was increased from 20 900 kG to 25 700 kG. Overall layout
was similar, but engine cowling was lower and narrower, so the silhouette
changed substantially. Distance between truck center pins was slightly
increased and new locomotive was by over one metre
longer and 15 tonnes heavier. There were also
provisions for one-man operation. Two
prototypes, T419.0501 and T419.0502, appeared in 1983 and were quickly dubbed
‘Bismarck’ and ‘Tirpitz’, after two famous German battleships – due to their
very thick outer paneling. They were, however, not entirely satisfactory; in
particular, visibility from the cab was still judged inadequate, so the
entire design had to be modified. Ten production examples, built in 1986, had
their diesel engines located lower in the frame and some items of equipment
(e.g. sanders) were repositioned. T419.0511 was fitted with electrodynamic
braking and served as a pattern for the modified version T419.15, of which
twenty examples were produced in two batches between 1989 and 1992. In
accordance with the new designation system they were later re-designated
class 729.5 (T419.05) and class 729.6 (T419.15). These relatively new
machines are still operated by steel plants in the Czech Republic and
Slovakia. Certain features of the class T419 – in particular, modified
trucks, longer frame and lower engine cowling – were introduced in later
production T457s, designated class T457.1 and built from 1988 onwards (in
1995 designations were changed from T457.0 to 730 and from T457.1 to 731).
Between 2006 and 2008 two locomotives of this type, 729.503 (ex T419.0503)
and 729.512 (ex T419.0512) were modernized by CZ LOKO and re-numbered 729.701 and 729.702, respectively. They
were fitted with Caterpillar
3412 E DI-TA diesel engines, rated at 965 hp,
and new AC generators. One
brand new locomotive of the T419.15 version (ČKD 14795/1989),
designated T419P – suffix ‘P’ for ‘Polsko” – was
purchased by ZTKiGK PW Rybnik (later PTKiGK Rybnik) industrial
operator, in February 1989 and given service designation T419P-601.
This locomotive supplemented a considerable fleet of ČKD-built
switchers owned by this company (S200s and T448Ps). Due to political and
economic changes, no more examples were procured. Following PTKiGK Rybnik takeover by DB Schenker Rail
Polska
in 2009, a decision was taken get rid of several untypical
locomotives. Single T419 could not have escaped this fate. In January 2012 it
was transferred to CZ LOKO for
overhaul, renumbered 729.620 and finally sold to Slovak Železiarne Podberezová a.s.
metallurgical enterprise. Main
technical data
1)
Including 12 examples of T419.05 (later 729.5) and
20 examples of T419.15 (later 729.6). 2)
Maximum speed on idle run. 3)
T419.0511 – 88 000 kg; some sources give 80 000 kg,
but this seems less reliable. 4)
T419.0511 – 22.0 T. References
and acknowledgments
- MAL, AV
vol.2; -
Krzysztof Malinowski (private communication – thanks
for the photo!); |
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