Railway Herald
At Pirdop on the Sub-Balkan line is UK export Class 92 No. 92025 'Oscar Wilde' Brush Traction Co-Co electric now working for DB Schenker Rail Bulgaria, but still retaining it's UK markings including that of EWS (English Welsh and Scottish Railways). It is recorded here on 22nd June 2016 while preparing to depart eastbound with a rake of empty box wagons to the Port of Burgas. Iron ore is imported through the port and taken to the copper refinery at Pirdop for copper extraction, a process which in turn produces the by-product of Sulphuric Acid which in turn is shipped back to Razdelna for additional processing. At the time this image was taken the inbound workings of the iron ore and the subsequent return of the empties were worked by one or sometimes two of the imported Class 92 locomotives from the UK. One of four Class 92 electrics now in Bulgaria 'Oscar Wilde' is still active in 2022 but has now been re-classified as Class 88 and carries the number 88-025.
Stephen Ginn
