ÖBB Class 1044
The ÖBB Class 1044/1144 is a series of four-axle electric locomotives designed and manufactored by Simmering-Graz-Pauker AG in Graz.
Developed initially for the ÖBB, Austria's state-owned railway company, the model is considered to be a significant milestone in locomotive construction. Upon its introduction in 1976, the 1044s were among the most powerful four-axle electric locomotives in the world. They would serve until as ÖBB's flagship model until their replacement by the Siemens 1016/1116 series between 2001 and 2006.
History
In the late 1960s, the Swedish industrial conglomerate ASEA pioneered advancements in electric locomotive design through their development of thyristor gate switches, also known as silicon-controlled rectifiers or SCRs, for use in railway systems engineering. Their integration would allow operators to exercise greater control over voltage consumption and power switching in traction motors, improving efficiency, reliability, and safety.By the mid-1970s, the successful introduction of ten thyristor-controlled 1043 Class locomotives in Austria convinced the ÖBB to mandate the use of thyristor bridges as a standard requirement for future orders. The ÖBB commissioned two Swiss manufacturers to each build a prototype based on the 1043 series. The first prototype, designated 1044.01, was a diode-powered Re 4/4 locomotive from Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon-Bahn, retrofitted with thyristor control using an eight-bridge circuit. The second prototype, designated 1044.02, was a newly delivered Ge 4/4 II locomotive featuring thyristor technology from Rhaetian Railway using a four bridge circuit.
The 1044.01 was introduced into service in 1974, while the 1044.02 would be introduced the following year in 1975. As the later prototype ultimately proved more successful, the production version would be based on the 1044.02 with a simplified traction motor winding design. Series production began with unit 1044.03 in 1978.
In 1978, wheel tire fractures occurred on locomotives 1044.03 through 1044.20. While it was originally assumed that this was the result of a manufacturing defect, an investigation revealed that the cracks had originated from the serial numbers stamped into the wheels, as was also found to be the case with locomotives of the earlier 1110 series. The tiny indentations left behind by the stamping process undermined the structural integrity of the wheels, creating fissures under high stress. As a stopgap solution, the numbers were instead etched into the wheel tires by hand. Locomotives from 1044.27 onward were fitted with non-stamped wheels.
In the winters of late 1979 and late 1980, the 1044 Class locomotives experienced serious problems due to moisture from melted snow entering through their air intake systems. In response, higher-volume air intake grilles of various designs were installed from 1044.71 onward to prevent the intake of snow. Cyclonic separators were also installed to avoid having to change the design of air intake grilles on the earlier models from 1044.01 to 1044.70.
By 1987, a total of 126 locomotives had been built. While 1044.02 was taken out of service and used for spare parts for 1044.43, the original prototype locomotive 1044.01 was converted into a high-speed test locomotive in 1987.
For high-speed testing, the 1044.501 was fitted with new flush end-plates made of armored glass and a pantograph to provide it with high levels of direct power while in motion. The quill drives were also replaced by new components manufactured by AEG. These modifications allowed the 1044.501 reach as high as between 220 km/h and 241.25 km/h. In 1996, it was taken out of service due to drive damage and later rebuilt on standard bogies. The 1044.501 was decommissioned in 2002 and is currently on display at the in Strasshof an der Nordbahn, Austria.
A further 90 more locomotives were built, between 1989 and 1995. These featured improvements on such as a modified bogie design, improved sound insulation, and a modified transmission ratio.
Between 2002 and 2005, all locomotives in the 1044.2 series were converted into to the new 1144.2 series. In 2009, the 1044.0 Class locomotive was also converted to the 1144 series. The 1044.40 largely retained its original livery of blood orange featuring the old ÖBB logo and was coined a "modern nostalgia locomotive", and remained in scheduled service. Before the procurement of the 1016 and 1116 series, all express trains to Munich were hauled by the 1044 series.
A total of ten locomotives were severely damaged in accidents. Of these, four locomotives were removed of service as a result. Locomotives 023, 043, 051, 061, 092, 096, and.241 were partly rebuilt with new bodies. Locomotive 1044.117 was the only one to be completely replaced.
Locomotives 023, 051, 092, and 096 were rebuilt with new or refurbished bodies:
- Locomotive 023 had high air-intakes installed.
- Locomotive 051 was rebuilt with parts of 1044.02 and put back into service as 1044.256. When the last 1044.02 was completed by SGP, it was put into service as 1044.256 and the previous 1044.256 was renumbered 1044.200.
- The body of prototype 1044.02 was used for the reconstruction of 1044.043.
- The original body of 1044.043 was used when rebuilding 1044.241.
Line control
Livery variants
Original paint schemes
The 1044 001 to 126 classes had been painted with a blood orange body. The locomotives up to 1044.110 had a black frame. From 1044.111 onwards, the locomotives were given an umbra gray frame and the computer number with self-check digit ex works. The prototypes 1044.01 and 1044.02 still had panels with metal digits. From the 1044.03 onwards, the serial number was written on the panels with 80 centimetre high adhesive digits instead of metal digits. From locomotive 1044.27 onwards, these plates were omitted and the numbers were written with 130 mm high digits. In 1987, locomotive 1044 001 was converted into express locomotive 1044 501. It also received a new design during the conversion.Valousek design
Wolfgang Valousek continued to experiment with a new design. In 1989, five newly built locomotives were therefore given a further deviating design, the so-called “chessboard design”. In addition to the first locomotives in the new series, these were the 1044 092, which was fitted with a new body, and the brand-new understudy 1044 117. 1144 092 and 1144 117 are still running in this design today. From 1044 204 onward, the locomotives were painted in a modified form of the chessboard design. The contrasting surface was omitted and the belly band was continued in the same way as other old locomotives repainted at this time. The traffic red locomotive body has an agate gray belly band and an umbra gray border around the front windows. As part of accident repairs or otherwise due repainting, all locomotives still painted blood orange as well as the 1044 201–203 were also repainted. Only the 1044 040 was excluded from this, it was chosen as the blood orange nostalgia locomotive and was even given a black frame again, and later the already removed factory sign in the form of a sticker. In this look, it was used in front of scheduled trains and is still in regular service today as 1144.40.Conversion to 1144
Between 2002 and 2005, the 1044 numbered 200 to 290 were equipped with compatible multiple and reversible train control. Where the 1044 216–290 were already equipped with multiple control by default. However, only the locomotives 1044 216–290 were compatible with each other. On locomotives 1044 200 to 1044 254, the Indusi I-60 was converted to the PZB 90 point train control system. In the course of these adaptations, the locomotives were renamed the 1144 series while retaining their serial numbers. As of August 2006, 119 locomotives of the 1044.0 series and 91 locomotives of the 1144 series were in the ÖBB fleet.In 2009, numbers 003 to 126 were also converted to the 1144 series. In addition to the installation of remote control, the converted locomotives were fitted with a GSM-R radio system, PZB 90, and new LED headlights. The conversion was completed in 2013. However, even after the conversion to the 1144, some locomotives were still running with incandescent bulbs in the headlights until they were finally replaced with LED lamps.
1144 061, which was converted to 1144 in the course of an accident repair, was no longer used as such.
1144.40 has been retained to this day as a heritage service largely in its original condition in blood orange and with the old ÖBB logo. It was converted to 1144.40 and re-designated in February 2010.