Rail transport was introduced in Croatia in 1860. For the next one hundred years, trains were pulled exclusively by steam locomotives. However, over time they became uneconomical in comparison with electric and diesel engines, which were constructed during the first half of the 20th century. Therefore, in the mid-1950s, the Community of Yugoslav Railways also started modernising its vehicle fleet, which led to the introduction of the first diesel-electric locomotives in Croatia, namely the JŽ 661 locomotive series, later marked as the HŽ 2061 series and the JŽ 642 locomotive series, later marked as the HŽ 2041 series.
JŽ 661/HŽ 2061 diesel-electric locomotives
The first diesel locomotives in the vehicle fleet of Yugoslav Railways (JŽ) needed to be adapted for traction of all types of trains, axle load of 18 tonnes and a maximum speed of 120 km/h. EMD G16 locomotives, made by the American manufacturer Electro-Motive Division of General Motors Corporation, were chosen as the most cost-effective ones. Between 1958 and 1973, said company manufactured a total of 430 locomotives of said series. A total of 218 locomotives in five different sub-series were provided to Yugoslav Railways. Željezničko transportno društvo (ŽTP) Zagreb (“Railway Transport Company Zagreb”) received 41 JŽ 661 series locomotives manufactured between 1960 and 1966. The remaining 177 locomotives were provided to individual subsidiaries of Yugoslav Railways by 1973.
The first 20 locomotives for Railway Transport Company Zagreb arrived by ship to the Port of Split on 3 April 1960. The first official train ride was organised on 12 April on the Knin – Split line using the locomotive 661-003. In early 1961, another 13 locomotives were delivered, seven of which were received at the Railway Traction Division Knin and six at the Railway Traction Division Zagreb. Croatian Railways took over 39 JŽ 661 series locomotives from Railway Transport Company Zagreb, marking them as HŽ 2061 series. Afterwards, it took over another five locomotives of the same series from other organisations of Yugoslav Railways. The locomotives were nicknamed “Kennedy”.
They were used for traction of passenger and freight trains along main railway lines. At the end of the 20th century, these locomotives were mostly used on railway lines in Dalmatia and for freight transport in the wider Zagreb area. In the early 21st century, two locomotives were upgraded to HŽ 2043 series by Rolling Stock Factory Gredelj, while the others were gradually retired. In 2003, there were 15 operable locomotives and two years later, 13 locomotives were sold to the American company NRCE. The last two locomotives were used until 2007, but they were also sold in 2011. There are two locomotives belonging to said series that have been preserved as part of the collection kept by the Croatian Railway Museum.
Locomotives have six axles and single-axle drive, they are equipped with 16 cylinders generating power of 1,454 kW and use electric power transmission. HŽ 2061.0 sub-series locomotives were made to reach a maximum speed of 114 km/h, their weight in service amounted to 105 tonnes and fuel tank capacity was 3,028 litres. Maximum speed of 2061.1 sub-series locomotives was 124 km/h, locomotive weight in service was 109 tonnes, fuel tank capacity was 3,400 litres and their length over headstocks was 18,941 mm.
JŽ 642/HŽ 2041 diesel-electric locomotives
After introducing diesel engines, there was a need for procuring engines for pulling lighter freight and passenger trains as well as for heavy shunting. During test rides, locomotives made by the French manufacturer Brissonneau et Lotz proved to be the most cost-effective. Under the licence granted by said company, the company Đuro Đaković from Slavonski Brod started manufacturing four-axle diesel-electric JŽ 642 series locomotives in 1961. By 1972, it manufactured 104 locomotives of said series.
The first locomotive was delivered to Railway Transport Company Skopje in June of 1961. Railway Transport Company Zagreb received 33 locomotives manufactured between 1962 and 1965, while the remaining locomotives were distributed to other subsidiaries of Yugoslav Railways by 1972. Croatian Railways took over all 33 locomotives from Railway Transport Company Zagreb, to which it assigned the numerical code HŽ 2041. Over the years of their use, there were problems regarding their regular maintenance, so in 2009, five inoperable locomotives were sent to be reconstructed and modernised at Rolling Stock Factory Gredelj. Modernisation was completed in 2014 and new sub-series and a numerical code – HŽ 2041.1 – were assigned to the locomotives in 2010. Rehabilitation of the locomotives has extended their useful life by 30 years, increased the level of their reliability and reduced operating and maintenance expenses. Today, the HŽ 2041 series locomotives are used for heavy shunting at larger freight stations and for freight train traction. A total of 17 such locomotives have been preserved, of which 11 are operable and six are retired. All of them are kept as part of the traction vehicle fleet of HŽ Cargo d.o.o.
Locomotives have four axles with single-axle drive. Axle load is 16 tonnes per axle, they are equipped with a four-stroke diesel engine and they use electric power transmission. Locomotive traction power is 425 kW, maximum speed is 80 km/h, weight in service is 63 tonnes and length over headstocks is 14,740 mm.
Helena Bunijevac, Professor
