2E53
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Photos of the 2E53s are rare. These two, taken by Tadeusz Suchorolski at the Jęzor depot
on July 28, 1977, show an unknown 2E53 in its original version…
…and
2E53-06 with later modifications (including removed side current collectors).
These photos have been published in the monograph listed in References (vol.
2).
The
body of the 2E53-08, photographed at the Sosnowiec Jęzor
depot on March 4, 2009. Photo by Dawid Frątczak (www.dawidfratczak.pl
– used by permission, many thanks!). |
In 1953 Pafawag factory of Wrocław
(pre-war Linke-Hofmann) delivered first passenger
electric locomotive for PKP,
classed E110 (finally re-classed EP02 in 1958, factory type 1E). Its design
was based on that of pre-war EL.100 (developed by Metropolitan Vickers), with electric equipment and traction
motors supplied by the British contractor. In early 1950s extent of main
lines electrification in Poland was still modest, but in late 1940s PMP-PW (Filling Materials Enterprise of the Coal Industry) in Upper
Silesia decided to electrify several lines with 3 kV DC, the same as chosen
by PKP in the 1930s, technical
assistance and electric equipment being provided again by Metropolitan Vickers. First electric
freight locomotive built in Poland was thus intended for this industrial
operator. Pafawag factory type 2E was based on a design
developed by Metropolitan Vickers
for South African Railways, technical documentation being purchased by PKP electrification board. Detailed
design was submitted in 1953 and, just like its predecessor, was based on
electric equipment and traction motors supplied by the British contractor.
Trucks were to be produced by Fablok of Chrzanów, with
manufacture of bodies and final assembly taking place in Wrocław. Between 1954 and 1956 a modest batch of nine
examples was built and supplied to PMP-PW.
Their service designation was 2E53, after the year of design approval, but
they were commonly nicknamed ‘Vickers’. All were based at the Sosnowiec Jęzor depot. Initially they were fitted with additional
side-mounted current collectors, which were later removed. Similarly, knuckle
couplers initially fitted were later replaced by standard ones. There were
minor differences between individual examples, as during overhauls some were
fitted with modified cooling fan louvers (necessitated by new air filters of
indigenous design) and redesigned cabs. These locomotives were seldom
encountered outside the PMP-PW network
and it was not intended to develop their variant for PKP, as new and more modern type 3E (ET21) appeared in 1957. In
fact sand railways later acquired a number of 3Es. Design of Pafawag factory
type 5E, a modification of type 3E intended specifically for sand railways,
was not completed. Last 2E53s were withdrawn from use in early 1980s and not
a single locomotive has been preserved. The body of the 2E53-08 was still at
the Sosnowiec Jęzor depot in late 2000s, serving as
an auxiliary store, but most probably has already been scrapped. The site is
currently owned by DB Cargo Polska. Main
technical data
References and
acknowledgments
-
Koleje Piaskowe (Sand Railways) by Krzysztof Soida, Mariusz Furtek and Tomasz Roszak (vol. 1 – Betezda, Rybnik
2007, vol. 2 – Apland,
Katowice, 2002). |
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