OSE A-551 class

A-554 at Aghios Ioannis depot, June 24th, 1997. Rolf Stumpf photo

Brandnew A-554 at Athens Larissa station, during the first test runs, in middle summer 1981. I would not actually be surprised if this were THE first run... Joseph Simantov photo

The A-551 class was built in 1982 by Electroputere in Craiova, Romania. They develop 4000 HP with a Resita-built 16-251R prime mover and saw service until July 1998 on the mainline between Athens and Thessaloniki with freights and heavy passenger trains. Though they have two control stands, only one was actually used - see the rear of #552 covered with diesel exhaust. The awesome units were turned after each service...

A-557 was outshopped in fall 1997, sounding a bit different with a new "big block" inside. The experiment eventually failed and the unit was stored again after some months. Lacking any kind of train heating, the class needed boiler cars in winter. These were much enjoyable, some boiler cars were puffing flames and black plumes into the air, an awesome sight at night...

However, since March 1st, 1998, the Craiovas weren't scheduled anymore for passenger duties (at least that was the plan...). Only occasional they appeared with the Larissa stoppers or as relief for failed units, like A-459 on the 504 ex Athens on April 13th 1998. A-556 substituted as far as Larissa, where it was swapped for A-457 (that day's "Larissa Thunderbird").
During late April and May only A-554 and 555 were working, the others were stored at Athens. In July 1998 these last two units joined their mates - to never move again on OSE rails!?

March 99: A German buyer is now interested in the "Craiova" Locos, though highly unlikely in the current mechanical form! [Didn't know the German regionals are so desperate for hand-me-down locos... R.S.]

Freshly outshopped 4000 HP-unit A-552 leads a scheduled freight to Athens through Plati, June 22th, 1995 Rolf Stumpf photo

A-557 received a new engine in summer 1997. Here it is seen under load test (deafening!!!) in the Pireas Lefkas works. October 6th, 1997. Phil Wormald photo

Builder's typecode: LDE4000

Introduced: 1982

Builder: Electroputere, Romania

Construction nos.:

Number built: 10

Weight, tare: 117 t

Weight, total: 123 t

Fuel: 3500 l

Wheel arrangement: Co'Co'

Wheel diameter: 1100 mm

Length over buffers: 20200 mm

Bogie wheelbase: 4100 mm

Height overall: 4186 mm

Maximum speed: 145 km/h

Diesel engine/zylinders: ALCo 251R/V16, built under license at Resita, Romania

Turbocharger: ALCo 165

Rating: 4000 HP at 1100 rpm (after UIC)

Continuous traction effort: 212, 2 kN

Transmission: electric

Brake system: Knorr KE I CSL

Fuel injector cover of the Resita-built 16-251R of A-556, Lefkas works, June 24th, 1997 Rolf Stumpf photo

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Last update 27.09.00