Škoda Type 22E2

Škoda Type 22E₂

Škoda 12E as ČD class 140 - even the livery is very similar to the North Korean examples.

Type and origin Power type Electric Builder Škoda Works  Czechoslovakia Build date mid 1950s

Specifications UIC class Bo-Bo Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in) Electric system(s) 3,000 V DC Current collection Pantographs Couplers AAR knuckle

Performance figures Maximum speed 120 km/h (75 mph) Power output 2.03 MW (2,720 hp)

Career Operators Korean State Railway Number in class 10

The Škoda Type 22E₂ type locomotive is a multipurpose electric locomotive built for the North Korean State Railway by the Škoda Works of Czechoslovakia.^[1]

Description

Although some lines had been electrified already in the colonial era, the large-scale electrification of North Korea's railways began in 1956 after the end of the Korean War and the subsequent reconstruction of North Korea's railway infrastructure.^[2] To work the newly electrified lines, an order was placed with the Škoda Works in Czechoslovakia for electric locomotives of works Type 22E₂, based on the Type 12E locomotives built by Škoda for the Czechoslovak State Railways (ČSD class E 499.0).^[3]

The Type 12E was developed by Škoda Works based on the technology of the BLS Class Ae 4/4 built by SLM Winterthur.^[4] The first prototype was completed in 1953, and production of types 12E₁—12E₆ continued until 1958^[3] for the ČSD and the Polish State Railways (as class ET13), along with the very similar derivative types - the Type 22E₂ for North Korea, and Types 24E₀, 41E₀—41E₂ and 29E₀ for the Soviet Railways (as class ЧС1). All variants of the type were built to operate on the 3,000 V DC system.

These are dual-cab locomotives with welded-steel bodies and two two-axle bogies. Each bogie has two six-pole DC traction motors, one for each axle. Current collection is via pantograph from overhead lines; the on-board electrical system is 48 V.^[3]

The total number of Type 22E2 locomotives ordered by the Korean State Railways is not known, but at least three are still in service today.^[5] These have been rebuilt in various ways, such as the addition of 'bumpers' on the ends and other features unique to individual units.^[6] They are painted in the standard light blue over dark green or light green over dark green scheme used on most other electric locomotives; this scheme is very similar to the livery used on Czechoslovak and Soviet examples of this type.

References

1. Kokubu, Hayato. 将軍様の鉄道. Shōgun-sama no Tetsudō. ISBN 978-4-10-303731-6.
2. "デロイを探せ！（その49）　1948年の「北」におけるデロイ" [Find the DeRoI! DeRoI in the "north" (Part 49) 1948]. ゴンブロ！（ゴンの徒然日記） (in Japanese). December 8, 2013.
3. "140 | E 499.0". Atlas Lokomotiv.
4. "Řada 140 (ex E499.0)". Prototypy.cz.
5. "Škoda 12E Lokomotiva 140 (E 499.0)". Skoda-Club.
6. "(untitled)".