| This is a nicely-restored Class T669 diesel road switcher, although I dont know if its operable. Im assuming it is, since it wouldnt make sense to go to this much trouble without restoring it completely. Maybe Im wrong. In any case, these locomotives were introduced in 1963, being built both by CKD and SMZ Dubica, and stayed in production until 1979, according to Wikipedia. Total production was 109, although not all of these survive today. The original power rating for them was 993kW (1332 horsepower), and the maximum speed was 90Km/h, adequate for freight service but not really ideal for passenger service. These locomotives were particularly liked as very heavy switchers. Note the C trucks, which arent as common on Czech diesels as on American diesels. Some were rebuilt in 1967-1969, and some still run in regular service today, although most of them work for companies other than CD, as CSD and later CD lost interest in them as electrification was extended. Some were also built for export to the Soviet Union, Iraq, Syria, Albania, Poland, and India. |