Uploaded September 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Some single car trains, operated by Smartron locomotive of BDZ-PP in the southwest part of Bulgaria. These are the regional trains from General Todorov to Kulata. Since most of the passenger flow is towards Petrich, for Kulata and the other villages in the area, a single car is pretty enough for now. So strangely, but due to another reason, the Smartron continues with the tiny train to Kulata, while a class 46 locomotive takes 3-4 carriages towards the town of Petrich.
Sounds ridiculous, but it is not unusual case for Bulgarian State Railways! I have seen many times class 61 locomotive (which is a small and not very powerful loco) on a 4-car train, while a Skoda class 44 or even a 6-axle class 46 are leading only 1 or 2 carriages somewhere else. Recently after the delivery of the brand new Siemens Smartron locomotives they were assigned to serve mostly the long-distance fast trains from Sofia to the Seaside and rarely - regional and short distance trains. However, from time to time, the Smartrons are serving also the passenger trains on the 5th main line to Kulata which originally are operated by class 44/45 Skoda locomotives. However, due to the specifics of the branch line to Petrich, there is a restriction for traveling of railway rolling stock on the line with axle loading over 21 t. So what does it mean? Very strangely, class 46 locomotive, despite the total weight of 126 t, they can serve the trains to Petrich because the single axle load is within the limit of 21 t per axle. Skoda locomotives class 44/45 with their total weight of 87 t have an axle load of 21,75 t per axle. So that's why the Skoda's cannot go on the trains to Petrich and currently in General Todorov station the original train to Petrich always is switching the locomotive with class 46. In the past the trains to Petrich were served by the smaller class 61 locomotives, but as most of them went out of service, currently are replaced with class 46 locos.
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Малко едновагонни влакчета, обслужвани с локомотиви Смартрон на БДЖ-ПП. Това са влаковете между Генерал Тодоров и Кулата.
Some single car trains, operated by Smartron locomotive of BDZ-PP in the southwest part of Bulgaria. These are the regional trains from General Todorov to Kulata. Since most of the passenger flow is towards Petrich, for Kulata and the other villages in the area, a single car is pretty enough for now. So strangely, but due to another reason, the Smartron continues with the tiny train to Kulata, while a class 46 locomotive takes 3-4 carriages towards the town of Petrich.
Sounds ridiculous, but it is not unusual case for Bulgarian State Railways! I have seen many times class 61 locomotive (which is a small and not very powerful loco) on a 4-car train, while a Skoda class 44 or even a 6-axle class 46 are leading only 1 or 2 carriages somewhere else. Recently after the delivery of the brand new Siemens Smartron locomotives they were assigned to serve mostly the long-distance fast trains from Sofia to the Seaside and rarely - regional and short distance trains. However, from time to time, the Smartrons are serving also the passenger trains on the 5th main line to Kulata which originally are operated by class 44/45 Skoda locomotives. However, due to the specifics of the branch line to Petrich, there is a restriction for traveling of railway rolling stock on the line with axle loading over 21 t. So what does it mean? Very strangely, class 46 locomotive, despite the total weight of 126 t, they can serve the trains to Petrich because the single axle load is within the limit of 21 t per axle. Skoda locomotives class 44/45 with their total weight of 87 t have an axle load of 21,75 t per axle. So that's why the Skoda's cannot go on the trains to Petrich and currently in General Todorov station the original train to Petrich always is switching the locomotive with class 46. In the past the trains to Petrich were served by the smaller class 61 locomotives, but as most of them went out of service, currently are replaced with class 46 locos.
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Малко едновагонни влакчета, обслужвани с локомотиви Смартрон на БДЖ-ПП. Това са влаковете между Генерал Тодоров и Кулата.
