Railway Herald
Classic RVR four car EMU sets were supplied to most Eastern European communist countries from the RVR Riga Wagon Works in Latvia for many years, Bulgaria being No. exception. The latter received two separate batches of the venerable type in the form of Class 32 and Class 33 EMUs. They covered millions of miles on journeys all over the country until ageing electrical wiring led to several on board fires. As a result BDZ (Bulgarian State run Railway) was forced to withdraw the units from front line service. However a shortage of stock meant that not all of the sets could actually be withdrawn but never the less numbers have been greatly reduced. At Brusartzi a number of both Class 32 and 33 units are present languishing amongst the weeds in long term storage. An interesting comparison can be made between the two classes, in particular the door arrangement. Seen here are Class 32 Nos. 32 084-32 083 coupled to 32 157-32 158 while on the right is a member of the later Class 33 No. 33 008-33 007.
Stephen Ginn
