Class 43 | TrainsDepot.org

Source: P. Cvikevic

Source: S. Passera - facebook.com

Source: Endre Barta - facebook.com

Source: facebook.com

Source: Emilio Crignola - fotos-von-der-eisenbahn.ch

Class 43

Also known as: 040-EC

Vehicle type: Electric locomotive

Registration country: Romania

Railway companies: CFR - Caile Ferate Române SNTFC - Societatea Naţională de Transport Feroviar de Călători (CFR Călători)

Hide technical details

In service:

from 1973

Era:

IV - V

Built by:

Rade Končar

Gauge:

Standard gauge (1'435 mm)

Wheel arrangement:

Bo'Bo'

Electric systems:

25 kV AC / 50 Hz

Current collectors:

Pantograph - Asymmetrical

Length over buffers (mm):

15'470 mm

Tare weight (t):

76 t

Power output (x'xxx kW / x'xxx hp):

3'400 kW

Tractive effort (kN / lbf | starting / continuous):

275 kN

Maximum speed (km/h):

120 km/h

Display registration numbers

Vehicle's history

Add content

Report an error?

1960s

Origins in the ASEA locomotive family

The history of the Romanian 040-EC electric locomotives is closely connected with the development of electric traction in both Romania and Yugoslavia during the 1960s.

Both countries adopted the 25 kV 50 Hz AC system for the large-scale electrification of their main railway networks and turned to Swedish manufacturer ASEA for modern electric locomotive technology. Romania’s cooperation with ASEA ultimately produced the six-axle 060-EA family, while Yugoslavia selected a four-axle design derived from ASEA technology that became the JŽ Class 441.

The Yugoslav locomotive was itself closely related to the experimental Swedish Rb family. The first JŽ 441 locomotives entered service in the late 1960s, initially with substantial involvement from the international manufacturers behind the design. Production was subsequently transferred to Yugoslav industry, principally Rade Končar in Zagreb, with several other Yugoslav companies participating in the programme.

This common technological origin would soon provide the basis for industrial cooperation between Romania and Yugoslavia. Romanian railway literature specifically notes that equipment used on the locomotives produced in the two countries was identical or similar because both families were based on ASEA technology.

1972

Romanian-Yugoslav cooperation

As Romania continued the production of its powerful six-axle 060-EA electric locomotives at Electroputere Craiova, Yugoslavia required similar heavy locomotives for its increasingly demanding electrified network, particularly the mountainous Belgrade - Bar railway.

At the same time, CFR could make use of a lighter four-axle locomotive to complement its 060-EA fleet.

Beginning in 1972, Romania and Yugoslavia concluded an industrial agreement covering the reciprocal supply of locomotives and components. Romanian industry, particularly Electroputere and UCM Reșița, became involved on the Romanian side.

Under the programme, Romania supplied Yugoslavia with 103 six-axle Co’Co’ electric locomotives, which became JŽ Class 461, together with components required for locomotive production. In the opposite direction, Yugoslavia supplied CFR with 130 four-axle Bo’Bo’ locomotives, initially registered in Romania as 040-EC.

1972

The 040-EC arrives in Romania

The locomotives supplied to CFR were members of the same technological family as the JŽ 441 and were produced under ASEA-derived technology, principally by Rade Končar in Zagreb.

The Romanian-Yugoslav programme began in 1972, with the first series locomotives entering the CFR fleet at the beginning of the following years. A total of 130 locomotives were supplied to CFR.

Although visually and technically closely related to the Yugoslav Class 441, the Romanian locomotives formed a distinct CFR fleet. They retained the characteristic Bo’Bo’ wheel arrangement, with four powered axles distributed between two two-axle bogies. With a length of approximately 15,5 metres and a mass of around 76 tonnes, they were considerably smaller and lighter than CFR’s six-axle 060-EA locomotives. Their continuous power was approximately 3'400 kW.

This gave CFR two complementary ASEA-derived electric locomotive families: the heavy six-axle 060-EA for demanding main-line duties and the lighter four-axle 040-EC.

An important distinction must be made within the Romanian fleet. The locomotives were constructed in two principal versions, designated 040-EC (later Class 43) and 040-EC1 (later Class 44). The standard 040-EC was designed for a maximum speed of 120 km/h, while the 040-EC1 version was capable of 160 km/h. The 120 km/h locomotives developed a maximum tractive effort of approximately 275 kN, whereas the higher gearing required for the 160 km/h version resulted in a lower maximum tractive effort, generally quoted at approximately 206 kN.

The lighter axle load and four-axle configuration made the locomotives useful on services where the considerably larger six-axle Romanian electrics were unnecessary. They could work both passenger and freight traffic and became particularly characteristic of secondary electrified routes.

1990

A fragmented fleet

The political and economic changes following 1989 had a major impact on the fleet. Declining railway traffic and the restructuring of CFR gradually reduced the requirement for the 040-EC family. As the locomotives aged, increasing numbers were withdrawn, stored or scrapped. The subsequent division of the former unified CFR organisation also dispersed surviving locomotives among different operators. Some remained with the state railway companies, while others eventually entered the fleets of Romanian private operators. The story became still more complicated because additional locomotives belonging to the wider JŽ 441 family subsequently arrived in Romania second-hand from former Yugoslavia. Consequently, not every ASEA-family Bo’Bo’ locomotive subsequently carrying a Romanian Class 43-style identity necessarily belonged to CFR’s original 130-unit 040-EC fleet.

2014

Particular historical importance belongs to 040-EC-001, the first locomotive of the Romanian series. After a long period of storage, it was restored in 2014 and returned to operational condition. It subsequently appeared at railway commemorations and exhibitions, including events in Brașov and Bucharest.

2020s

A new generation: Class 48.3

Despite the age of the original locomotives, the history of the 040-EC family has not yet come to an end. As part of Romania’s railway rolling-stock modernization programme financed through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), a number of former Class 43 locomotives are undergoing an extensive reconstruction at SCRL Brașov.

The programme goes considerably further than a conventional overhaul. The original traction equipment is replaced by a modern drive system using asynchronous traction motors, together with new electronic control and diagnostic systems. The locomotives also receive extensively redesigned and better insulated driving cabs, modern auxiliary equipment and other improvements intended to meet contemporary operational requirements.

The rebuilt locomotives are designated Class 48.3.

Do you have additional informations regarding this vehicle?

Help us writing the history of Class 43! Your knowledge is precious for us and the entire community, do not hesitate to share your facts, photos or videos:

Add new timeline entry

Add photos

Add videos