HZ_3KV.jpg (145662 bytes)

A glance at the rail in Rijeka, a dozen of meters eastbound from the exit of the railway station. Note the 3 kV = console with non-compensated (i.e. non-tensioned) catenary (supporting) wire, and the compensated double contact wire facilitating a greater cross section, required by the high DC voltage. The white signal with three black stripes, observed at the bottom of the photo, introduces the speed limit, which had been announced previously. In Croatia, all the relevant signals are placed at the right side of the tracks, unless otherwise indicated. The picture was taken on 2000/07/31, 1:25 p.m. Photo and scan: Tin Sipos <tsipos@usa.net>

HZ_3KV_Interrupt.jpg (98728 bytes)

A typical 3 kV = console with high-voltage separator (interrupter) at an isolated rail-block, found between the stations Vrata and Fuzine on Zagreb-Rijeka mainline, 2000/07/31, 11:50 a.m. Photo and scan: Tin Sipos <tsipos@usa.net>

HZ_Dual_Catenary.jpg (101051 bytes)

An interesting and uncommon sight: the consoles of this type are regularly used for 25 kV ~ 50 Hz power system. However, they are situated on 90 km long Moravice - Rijeka line, virtually the last Croatian line still powered at 3 kV =. Since the re-electrification to 25 kV ~ 50 Hz is currently in progress (about 25 % of the work has been done at the moment), the whole line is still operating at 3 kV =. For that reason, the double contact wire had to be used, facilitating a greater cross section, required by the high DC voltage. The existing 3 kV = are as old as 45 years and demand an immediate replacement. Moreover, some major reparations of the tracks were undertaken, and consequently the old catenary was no longer appropriately adjusted to the new height of the tracks and to the central axle of the rail. In addition, the old catenary was only semi-compensated, while the new one is fully tensioned (that is, not only the double contact wire, but also the supporting wire is now tensioned), thus allowing higher speed. Once the replacement of the catenary is completed and the power stations are remade, AC current will be used throughout the whole Moravice - Rijeka line. Also, all the units of class 1061 will be sold to Slovenia, as well as the remaining EMU-s of the class 6011. The first experimentally re-electrified section was one catenary tension block between the stations Moravice and Brod Moravice. After that, from 2000/03/03 until 2000/05/19, the re-electrification was made on 25 km long rail section between the stations Skrljevo (12 km away from Rijeka) - Meja - Melnice - Plase - Zlobin - Drivenik (from Rijeka towards Moravice). This picture was taken at Zlobin station (note the "S" signal marking the stopping point for the trains heading for Rijeka) on 2000/07/31 at 2:15 p.m. Photo and scan: Tin Sipos <tsipos@usa.net>

HZ_Vrbovec.jpg (122946 bytes)

The catenary of Vrbovec, a small town situated at the 37th km of Zagreb - Koprivnica mainline. The point of interest at this picture is the unusual catenary supporting equipment installed around the console (I tried to point out the wires with the photo-editor). Y-shaped hanging is also present, but very faded and hardly seen in the picture. This is used to enable higher speed. Photo (April 2000): Toma Bacic <toma.bacic@zg.tel.hr> Scan: Tin Sipos <tsipos@usa.net>

elektro_300.jpg (90698 bytes)

Tipical electrification column in the stations on HZ network. Power supply - 25 kV 50 Hz. February 2000. Photo and scan: Toma Bacic toma.bacic@zg.tel.hr

elektro_302.jpg (70804 bytes)

Tipical electro column for the one track lines and stations. Power suply 25 kV 50 Hz. Photo and scan: Toma Bacic toma.bacic@zg.tel.hr

elektro_303.jpg (90456 bytes)

Electrification column in the Zagreb suburban station Zapresic on the main line Zagreb - Dobova (slovenian border) - Ljubljana. Photo and scan: Toma Bacic toma.bacic@zg.tel.hr