Railway Herald
Early evening in Sofia at Iliyantsi Yard on 5th May 2023. BDZ TP (The cargo arm of the Bulgarian State run Railway) Skoda 64E and 68E electrics 43-547 and 44-068 are prepared for departure on northbound freight workings via LINE 2 towards Mezdra. Meanwhile, resident Ganz Mavag Class 51 No. 51-150 continues to go about its business conducting shunting moves with a rake of cement tanks. The TTL Class 51 is one of a small number of the ageing Hungarian-built shunters still in active service in Bulgaria, BDZ orignally accepting delivery from the Budapest manufacturer between 1962 and 1967. When this image was recorded plans were afoot for TTL to introduce a more modern replacement whose debut on the Iliyantsi scene was imminent.
Stephen Ginn
