Railway Herald
Recently overhauled and out-shopped BDZ-PP Romanian built Electroputere 46-211 is caught at the rather uninspiring terminus of Petrich on 16th May 2023. The town of Petrich is located close to the Bulgarian/Macedonian border, the most southwesterly point on the Bulgarian rail network. This sizable town is served by rail by way of the Petrich branch which connects to the main line from Sofia to Greece at General Tudorov station/junction. BDZ-PP Skoda class of electric locomotives are prohibited from working on this branch due to a weight restriction brought about by a weak bridge just outside General Tudorov. Six-axle Class 46 electrics have a lower axle weight to that of the four axle arrangement of the Skoda Class 43, 44 and 45. Previously, BDZ Class 61 electric shunters had been used but in early 2023 the Class 46 had become the preferred option for the branch.
Stephen Ginn
