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in short |
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1st batch |
In January 1996, Organismós Sidirodrómon Elládos (OSE), or the Greek organization of railways, decided to order six high-performance electrics by Siemens-KraussMaffei. Within 17 months the German manufacturer was able to design, engineer, built and deliver these machines, thanks to a modular design, directly derived from the EuroSprinter experimental locomotive, and helped by the experience gained with constructing similar machines for the Spanish and Portuguese railways.
A remarkable achievement of German the manufacturer because the OSE had a very long list of demands, some of them being very challenging... Remarkable for example is the maximum weight, not to exceed 80 metric tons, making it the lightest design in its performance class (around 86-88 metric tons is considered normal).
Finally, the first six units were delivered by the end of 1997, designated H 561-H 566. They got nicknamed 'HellasSprinters' were first used between Thessaloniki and the Yugoslavian border in both freight and passenger operation.
By the end of 1997 a second batch of 24 units was ordered. Siemens-KraussMaffei agreed with OSE that these machines would be built in cooperation with Hellenic Shipyards (HSY) in Athens. However, financial and organizational difficulties made Siemens-KraussMafei decide to built the locomotives completely at its own facilities in Munchen-Allach, Germany. By that time, delivery was already delayed for some years. It took until 2004 before the first units of the second batch were outshopped in Munich. In November 2005 the production ended with the delivery of 120 030, a designation according to a new number scheme of the OSE, introduced before the second batch was built.
Curious is that up till today, OSE does not have enough employment for its 30 modern electrics. Electrification of its network progresses at slow pace. This means that many machines are put aside or even stored. Those which get damaged, are not repaired on short notice.
Sources used: "EuroSprinter, Die erfolgreiche Lokomotivfamilie von Siemens" von Karl Gerhard Baur. Our thanks goes out to Bill Choriatis, Andreas Kapaklis and Panos Nakoudis.
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6 locomotives |
delivery period 11.1997 - 12.1997 |
homologated for Greece only |
> designation H 561 - H 566, now renumbered as 120 001-006 |
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2nd batch |
24 locomotives |
delivery period 09.2004 - 11.2005 |
homologated for Greece only |
> designation 120 007-030 |
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operator official website: |
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Siemens official website: |
http://www.mobility.siemens.com |
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Railcolor.net News items on the OSE 120 series:
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2015-04-02
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[GR] OSE 120 028 derails with freight train
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update 2015|04|02
[GR] OSE 120 028 derails with freight train
On 29.03.2015, a freight train derailed in Greece, on the line Idomeni - Thessaloniki. Train staff was taken to the hospital for a check-up, no casualties reported.
Images show many carriages and containers being piled up next to the rails. According to OSE the derailment was caused by heavy rain, which damaged to track body.
(NF)
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2013-09-23
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[GR] OSE H564: out of service since 2000...
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update 2013|09|23
[GR] OSE H564: out of service since 2000...
The Greek EuroSprinter OSE H 564 had a crash in 2000 (13 years ago!) in Paionia. Since then, it is out of service. The title image was made last week in Thessaloniki depot. It shows a bleached H 564 on temporary bogies. As far as we know, it is the only locomotive of its serie, still sporting the old OSE logos and the old style service numbers. - AG
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2012-12-14
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[GR] OSE 120 series: the current situation
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update 2012|12|14
[GR] OSE 120 series: the current situation
We thought it was time to have a look at the current situation in Greece. They have thirty Siemens EuroSprinter-locomotives, but are they in service? We found out that all units are available for revenue service, except the crashed H564 and 120 008, 012 and 025, all put aside with small defects. Of 120 002 we could not find information.
The 120 series suffers from wheel problems. Their maximum speed is therefore reduced from 200 kph to 160 kph. A solution for this is expected for 2013.
There are locomotives stand by at Eidomeni, Thessaloniki, Larissa and Domokos station. The main line from Eidomeni-Thessaloniki-Domokos (central Greece) is electrified. The part south of Domokos to Athens will be ready in 2015. - BC
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update 2009|12|08
[GR] 120 008!
Since the summer of 2007 we lost trakc of the very last HellasSprinter to be delivered to the Hellenic Railways; 120 008. Up till then we knew it was still with Siemens in Munich... Now the machine re-appeared in Greece, live and kicking! Appearantly, with some delay, it has been delivered to Greece. Does anyone know what has happened with the 008 between 07.2007 and 11.2009? By the way, on google maps the unit is still in Munich.... - BC/NP
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2009-08-23
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[GR] OSE section updated
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update 2009|08|23
[GR] OSE section updated
Today, the extended OSE 120 section was released. Nice images (especially those of the first six units) are always welcome! There are also still some questions. Has OSE renumbered the complete first batch by now? How is H 564 doing after its crash? And 120 026? Has 120 008 arrived in Greece in the mean time? Some answers woudl be great!
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2009-08-18
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[GR] OSE 120 006 repainted
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update 2009|08|18
[GR] OSE 120 006 repainted
We got some nice images from Greece, images of OSE 120 006, originally numbered as H566. The machine is recently repainted. Note the OSE logo on the side, its orange and silver, not blue and silver, as used on most other machines.
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2009-03-26
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[GR] first HellasSprinter picture!
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update 2009|03|26
[GR] first HellasSprinter picture!
Today we got the first picture of a HellasSprinter from Greece. These machines also have a profile at Railcolor.net. Do not forget them! At this moment, we are working on the ES 64 P-sections, so hopefully, there will be more information about these machines on this website pretty soon!
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OSE 120: facts and figures |
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120 007 during its transport from Munich, via Linz, to Greece
general technical specs:
Product name |
EuroSprinter |
Product description |
asynchrone mono-tension multi purpose electric locomotive |
Power system |
25kV 50Hz AC |
Total length |
19.580 mm |
Wheel base |
9.900 mm |
no. axles / Axle arrangement: |
4 / Bo' Bo' |
Track gauge |
1435 mm |
Total weight |
80 metric tonnes |
Top speed |
200 kph |
Duration power rating |
5.000 kW |
Starting traction effort |
300 kN |
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For the HellasSprinters, body design of the classc EuroSprinter was directly adopted, with only small adjustments. The 120 series does not have rear mirrors, the cab side windows have a different shape, the machines have two top head lights and only six grids on top of the machine remained. The machines are painted in a assymetrical livery, resulting in a different look for each cab. The machines were delivered with white service numbers and old style OSE logos.
The 24 machines of the second serie, were built in Muncih next to ES 64 F4 series for Siemens Dispolok, the 189 series for Railion, and EuroRunner diesel electrics. This illustrates the fact that the Siemens product portfolio had eveolved since the production of the first batch for OSE. Electrics with the 'classic' EuroSprinter body design were no longer a part of the program. Still, the OSE demanded that the second batch had to be identical with the first one. At that moment the ES 64 U2 platform would be the most obvious platform to use for a 25 kV AC locomotive. Operating 30 similar locomotives was considered being more important than gaining profit from the technical progress made in previous the years. The similarity demand was applied very strictly, illustrated by the fact that the newest machines still carry little product shields on their carriages saying „Siemens Krauss Maffei Lokomotiven GmbH“, the company name of the manufacturer that was valid in 1997, but disappeared in 2001! Siemens had to restart the production of the older technical equipment again, including 'Verschleißpufferbohlen' and analogue instruments for the driver tables.
Finally, the only differences to the previous serie were found in the livery of 120 007-030, resulting from the introduction of a new corporate identity for OSE including a new numbering system. 120 007-030 were delivered with new blue-silver painted OSE logos.
The first machine, 120 007, was outshopped and transported to Greece in August 2004. Along the way, the machine was weighed in the workshops of Linz before continuing its journey. This procedure was repeated for the complete serie. In November 2005 the production of the serie was completed with the completion of 120 030. |
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Renumbering of the old batch
The first batch was delivered with old style OSE numbers, starting with the letter 'H' (stands for 'Hlektramaxa' = 'electric locomotive') and a three digit service number. However, a few years ago, OSE introduced a new numbering system (digits only), resulting in the new '120 series' designation for these machines. The second batch got the new '120 series' designation right form delivery, but the first six had to be renumbered...
In 2005, the H 561 was the first one actually carrying a new number, but curiously it got this new number only at cab end 2 (compare both pictures!). We have no sign of any other machine being renumbered until a round of main overhauls started in 2008-2009.
Main overhaul
In 2009 first pictures emerged of OSE 120 006, repainted and renumbered. As far as we know also H 561 and H 562 got this treatment (09.2009), now running as 120 001 and 002. For H 563 and H565 we can say the same, only leaving the damaged H 564 in its old livery. Note that the OSE logos are not blue and silver, but orange and grey.
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The status of unit number H 564. In 2000, the machine derailed at Paionia station. Since then the unit is parked outside the work shops of Thessaloniki. Let's hope H 564 will return soon. If anyone sees it back in service, please let us know. |
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Also unit 120 008 represents a very curious case. Like planned, the engine left the Siemens factories in Munich in 2004, but it never arrived in Greece. There are two different explanations for the fact that 008 had to return to Munich again. One is that it got damaged along the way and had to go back for repairs. The other explanation is that Siemens wnated to hold back the machine to use it for test runs in hibernal weather conditions. But it is unclear if this ever happened.
At least until August 2007, 120 008 was parked outside the Siemens factories in Munich-Allach (in fact the machine was easy to recognize on Google maps for years). Since then no sign of 008, until...
In the mean time, based on searching trough various pictures, we can tell that 120 008 was already in Greece in June 2008. So now we still have to find out the whereabouts of the machine between 08.2007 and 06.2008. |
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standard livery batch 1 |
H561-H566 are all delivered in an with livery with assymmetrically placed blue and red striping. All engines were docorated with the old OSE logo and small white service numbers. |
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standard livry batch 2 |
Same livery as batch 1, only with the new OSE logos (in dark blue and light grey) and numbers. |
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batch 1 after revision |
120 001-003 and 005-006 was overhauled in 2009-2010 and got new numbers and OSE logos, now in yellow and light grey. |
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OSE 120: Select your locomotive |
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