011 - Electric Locomotives Nos. 11 – 14
Electric Locomotive No. 11 – “Rosiníko” (Red Nicholas) Built: 1975 Class/serial no.: Komiizaar/KV538223E Length: 20m Weight: 100 tonnes Power: 1500kW Max speed: 165 kph Mythology is ever-present in our culture. It’s no surprise, then, to find among the locomotives one named for a mythical figure. In the case of No. 11 Locomotive, it is the universal patriarch, Rosiníko (‘Nicholas the Red’). Yule Goats and trolls, giants and dwarfs... so great is our liking for myth some have
010 - Electric Locomotive No. 10 – “Rezistanzskvaar” (The Square of the Resistance)
Built: 1974 Class/serial no.: Komiizaar/KV538207E Length: 20m Weight: 100 tonnes Power: 1500kW Max speed: 165 kph Nmr. 10 Lokomotiv, “The Square of the Resistance” is rolling past you. Have your pen at the ready. Make sure to enter the serial number in your notebook before you slip it back into the pocket of your all-weather nylon coat. KV538207E, Komiizaar Class. What of these locomotives, then? Huge, heavy and immensely powerful, thundering along the track toward you,
009 - Electric Locomotive No. 9 – “Naroznikkpostaa” (National Post Office)
Built: 1972 Class/serial no.: Komiizaar/KV538196E Length: 20m Weight: 100 tonnes Power: 1500kW Max speed: 165 kph As we have seen, it’s common practice also to name locomotives after landmarks of national significance, “Liit-Uuniivrsitat”, “Juutszamokk”, “Tuurziilt”… Nmr. 9 Lokomotiv recalls the main post office building in our capital, once central to the life of the city (the mail vans themselves are to be found toward the middle of the train, for logistical purposes). An
008 - Electric Locomotive No. 8 – “Zittznatobakkfabrikk” (The Citizen Cigarette Works)
Built: 1961 Class/serial no.: Voltaa/VZ687324E Length: 19m Weight: 95 tonnes Power: 900kW Max speed: 135 kph Passengers are reminded that for their safety and comfort, this is a no-smoking train. Smoking is not permitted anywhere onboard this train... During the time of the People’s Semi-autonomous Republic, only one brand of cigarette was available, “Kommaradtobakk”, and one brand of vodka, “Kommaradvotkka”. Everyone smoked. Everybody drank. The products were so named be
007 - Electric Locomotive No. 7 – “Toomas Topp”
Built: 1966 Class/serial no.: Valtikk/VZ447313E Length: 19m Weight: 85 tonnes Power: 1250kW Max speed: 145 kph Our locomotives often carry names of historical figures. In this case, it’s the nineteenth century nationalist, Toomas Topp. Previous examples include “Kunikk Jaan-Friidrikk”, “Edvardis Kedrusavnas” and “Kaarel Berkmanis”, all of which ended their days in the scrap yard. Others required a change of name – “Uulfrikk Kvestjaana”, for obvious reasons, “Tsaralekksandrtva
006 - Electric Locomotive No. 6 – “Elektrikkraavtstanito Nmr. 3” (Electric Power Station No. 3)
Built: 1958 Class/serial no.: Voltaa/VZ672803E Length: 19m Weight: 95 tonnes Power: 900kW Max speed: 135 kph As the 1970s turned to the 1980s, our rolling stock became a laughing stock to our neighbours in the West. The state lacked funds to replace older units and so some of our locomotives were forty or more years old. Electric Locomotive No. 6, “Electric Power Station No. 3” is a case in point, an item of railway archaeology. Can you imagine such a state of affairs being t
005 - Electric Locomotive No. 5 – “Paaluskatedraal” (The St Paalus Cathedral)
Built: 1974 Class/serial no.: Komiizaar/KV538203E Length: 20m Weight: 100 tonnes Power: 1500kW Max speed: 165 kph Observe. Faded red or faded blue, svettkrevn or svettbluu, these are the two colours in which the locomotives are painted. Contrary to appearance, it isn’t the result of neglect. Their coachwork is designed to be unobtrusive. The St Paalus Cathedral (blue) is the sister locomotive to the St Peetrus (red), exactly as the twin cathedrals in the capital once were to
