To reduce tyre wear BDZ ordered class 43 R (reostatic breaking) from Skoda between 1975 and 1984. The engines with a gearing for 110 km/h become class 44 with 89 members. The passenger version for 130 km/h is now class 45 with 60 locos built. Class 44 and 45 can be distinguished from class 43 by bogies, pantographes and the hoods on the roof for the reostatic breaking. Loco 44.110-5 enters Sofia main station with a local passenger train on 25th of april 1997. Photo and scan by Theo Stolz