Glasses from Czeck Republic
with the collaboration of Petr Kadeřávek
In 1968 the CKD firm in Praga built the first prototype of a loco with a much-discussed external appearance which had then a long success, with last unit built in 1977 and with engines and equipments variations generating not less than 7 undergroups for a total amount of 408 units built. First 2 locos were classified in the new class T 478.3 with 3001 and 3002 numbers. They are Bo'Bo' units, with max.vel. 100 km/h, max power of 1325 kW, having K12 V V230 DR engines (also built by CKD) and with a weight of 73t. Originally equipped with 2500 lt fuel tanks, actually many of them have improved tanks. Among the seven series, major diversities are due to the presence or not of the train heating system and more, by the type of this system, if based on steam or on electricity. In 1988 CSD left apart their old labeling system and class numbers on locos all changed. T 478 became 753. Other 86 units built in 1975 (2 prototypes) and in 1978-80 were instead classified as 754 (before they were T478.4). These are the younger units built and still they are all in service on czech rails. For example, 754 locos have the electric heating system, while 753 own the steam one. Conversion of these apparatus on 753s generated the new group 750, born in 1991 and consisting of 163 pieces until 1995. In these amount there are also those two 1975 prototypes of 754 serie mentioned before. Situation has evolved rapidly with the separation of two states before forming old Czechoslovakia : czech railways found immediately themselves with too many locos fronting less freight trains. Many locos of class 753 and even freshly renewed 750 went so in store. From these units come now the locos arrived in Italy. Instead, locos of the group 752 in Italy thanks to Leon D'Oro which leased some of them to new operators, are 753 units trasformed with new Caterpillar engines. This operation was first tried in 1996 in Czech, when a 753 loco received the motor of a six axles 770 unit, plus other improvements. The experiment went well and another unit was destined to this future, but due to some project mistakes and on documentation the operation was stopped, leaving this second unit for many years stored in shop completely empty, without the engine. This loco is now the DE.520.01 of FNM. 752s arrived in Italy have received this modification directly from the import firm, which reclassified them under a new class 752.5 . However nothing to match with other 752s now still in service on SZ railways, also different in the body design. First locos are arrived in Italy in February 2002, stored in Leon D'Oro sheds - which is the importer in partner with CMKS. CMKS repairs these locos and export them, final handwork are made by Leon D'Oro. In Marmirolo plants eleven locos of the group 752.5 (former 753 with new motor) and 753.7 have been worked. First four locos - from 501 to 504 - have been taken by FAS Sangritana who planned to use thme on now building intermodal plant in Offida, on the Teramo line. By now they are used only on freight line from FIAT plant in Saletti to Torino di Sangro FS station. More four locos are in order, among them 507 and 508 still standing in Leon D'Oro plant. Other two - 505 and 506 - arrived in August 2002 on FNM metals, while final points of a new contract for 12 new machines were under solution. The 2 locos have been used in test runs, RFI certification tests and finally in turn on Saronno-Seregno freight. Actually one is used daily on this duty, while the other shunts in Novara Boschetto FS freight yard. Leasing contract will be ended around October/November 2003, when these 2 locos will be sended back to Leon D'Oro, for future operators. The third leaser has been Hupac in Busto, with 2 units classified as 701 and 702. These locos are arrived in Busto container plant in September 2002, used on some test runs and for RFI certifications and then stopped for some months. Only in June 2003 a real freight service has begun, operated Tue and Fri to send back in Switzerland empty or broken wagons. This train leaves Busto at 12.31, pass Milano and arrive in Chiasso, travelling back early in the evening. The fourth company to take in leasing these "bespectacled" locos has been SFM, which owns the 509. This unit - after some trial and certification runs - is now standing in Alessandria depot waiting future events, not having SFM still started any regular service. All these locos are painted in red and light grey, a scheme approved and applied by CMKS itself. FNM units arrived after these have been painted in a new fresh green and white livery. FNM, after nice results on 752 taken in lease, have signed an order for 12 locos, classified as 753 even if they will have the same engine of 752 (it would have been more logical label them again 752, but...). The mass arrival of new locos began in May 2003, when first D.753.710 and 711 reached Novate Milanese through the Seregno junction temporary colored in a heavy dark grey. Outshopped after some days in new colors - applied with vinyl colored slides - they went to Iseo depot to be used as technical school for future maintenance. In June is started a new freight - while other 753s have yet to arrive - to haul clay from Domo 2 to Reggio Emilia with a MU of these now classified DE.520 locos (dep. Domo 2 at 13.20). At the end FNM will have 12 loco for general purpose, with possible use on freights now pulled by E.630. The use of a diesel loco instead of an electric one is surely a great gain in border station, with all electrification problems existing there and with timeless shunt moves then now. 753s for FNM arrive in Italy by another firm - Inekon Group - which is working even on other 18 locos for an operator still unknown. Last 2 locos are arrived some weeks ago in Piove di Sacco depot of Adria-Mestre ST line (former FAM/FV). In August there will be test runs and from September they surely will substitute actual leased D.345 on freigth from Mestre to Adria, Rovigo and Chioggia. A final interesting note: during the selling of the locos between CD and CMKS, czech railways applied fake numbers to many locos to show them as older than reality, to send them in group with better price. Numbers have then again modified by czech shops and again by italian Leon D'Oro. For example: the 753.246 original loco has been sold as 750.134; CMKS renumbered it 753.714, kept then even by Leon D'Oro. The two locos for ST instead come from a part of the original FNM batch, so for example the loco 753.321 - sold as 753.084 - has been renumbered 753.718 by CMKS and again changed in 753.728 by Leon D'Oro. This unit - together with the sister - will carry on ST the final classification of DE.451 and 452. While waiting future evolutions, let's see some pics of the loco in Italy which finally are contributing to liven up a xmpr-colors boring sea. If you will be in the right location and you will hear a strange sound similar to a boat horn you'll know you are about to see one of these new trains, so out of ordinary to even become interesting.