The Czech locomotive and railway repair and modernization company CZ Loko has modernized a 705.9 series locomotive for Czech Railways (České dráhy). The locomotive, which operates on a narrow-gauge railway in Silesia, received a new engine.
As the CFTS portal reported, citing information from CZ Loko, in addition to replacing the engine with a more environmentally friendly one that meets EU standards, the company also upgraded the locomotive's hydraulic cooling system. The electrical equipment was also replaced, and modern control systems were installed. The original bogies with traction motors were kept but overhauled.
According to the company, work on this project was interrupted several times because of a lack of personnel and the existence of higher-priority projects. In addition, several administrative obstacles related to current legislation had to be overcome, which resulted in partial modifications at various stages of the project.
Locomotives of the 705 series were built in the ČKD plant in Prague from 1954 to 1958. Some of them were exported to the Soviet Union. A total of 66 locomotives were built, including 21 for the former Czechoslovakia. These are currently the oldest locomotives in regular service in the Czech Republic.
České dráhy uses one of these locomotives as a museum exhibit and operates two (including a repaired one) on the 20-kilometer-long, 760-mm-gauge "Osoblaha Narrow Gauge" (Třemešná ve Slezsku - Osoblaha Railway). It operates regular services with diesel locomotives and historical trains with steam locomotives.
A locomotive of the 705.913 series was modernized in 2009-2010, and a locomotive of the 705.914 series is currently undergoing modernization. The modernized locomotive is currently undergoing test runs on a narrow-gauge railway.
As the CFTS portal reported earlier, the only surviving Slovenská strela train has been restored in the Czech Republic.
