BDZ Class 61
This small fleet is to me at least one of the most interesting in Bulgaria. The distinctive single-cab design of Czech origins gives around 1300hp and the locos are designed for shunting and light workings, even for Bulgaria the 50mph top speed does restrict them! They were built at Skoda Plzen in 1990, however due to some BDZ financial issues (no surprise there) around the time of the collapse of communism, they were actually delivered in 1994.
Mainly used for yard shunt, trip and light duties they are also quite popular with the local cranks. We’ve managed to get one in the book for haulage on every trip although the unpredictability of passenger workings means that could be put down to luck rather than judgement!
Today, the fleet is split between the BDZ Passenger and Cargo sectors and a number of locos are dumped out of use on Sofia. Some of these were advertised as for sale, however there has been no sign of movement on this as far as I know. The level of passenger work seems to vary considerably year on year, although 2016-2017 has seen a definite upturn perhaps related to the general BDZ loco shortage and concentration of the passenger engines on Sofia depot now. Passenger appear to use a “Cargo” 61 on a regular, if not daily basis as well with 61003/010/019 on long term loan to passenger until 2021 when Vectrons have released them back to Cargo where they have regular work on a Kulata-Ilyansti freightliner. Some more detail on this is given below.
Class 61 Fleet Status (as best known, June 2021)
Haulage hotspots:
- Sofia to Kulata line (table 500) especially local trains south of Blagoevgrad and the Kulata/Petrich portion loco
- Sofia to Dragoman line locals (table 100)
- Sofia to Karlovo line locals (table 300)
- Sofia to Mezdra line locals (table 200)
As mentioned, the passenger work is rather unpredictable with these definitely the best places to park the deckchair for one! The table 500 work is certainly the most, but by no means totally, solid although as they don’t come up to Sofia on all trains is rarely reported and does require some faith to cover. There is “often” one loco out on the Karlovo line, my hunch is this is a kick-out when short of bigger electrics (mainly 46s) and they can work any local service as these are Sofia out and back turns. The trains works varies by year, but then the same trains have tended to drop for a few days. For table 500, what I believe to be likely turns is given below – totally, totally unofficial mind!
Plovdiv’s 61013 gets very occasional run outs in stoppers towards Karlovo or Stara Zagora when they are on the floor, there have been basically no reports of work around Burgas or Stara Zagora in the last few years although I don’t think it can be ruled out with the ongoing loco shortage at BDZ-PP. Previous years have seen work on Burgas locals and between Sliven and Karlovo across table 300/301. 61006 worked a Sofia-Plovdiv return during our May 2016 although we believe that to be pretty exceptional, given the excitement from local cranks. As much of the work down table 500 is a long way from anywhere and the locos do not reach Sofia reports are few and far between to add to the difficulty of making this page reliable…
Freight work is largely confined to yard shunting, although the Dupnica engines may work trip coal traffic along the Bobov Dol branch however much of this has now been lost to private outfit ‘TBA’ which could also explain why 61019 has been regularly out on passenger trains. No idea what the Burgas locos work, again there is potential for trip working, perhaps involving the various petrochemical terminals in the Dolno Ezerovo area.
- Note 1: **ALL OF THESE ARE TOTALLY UNOFFICIAL AND MAY OR MAY NOT BE WORKED BY CLASS 44/45/46/61 OR DESIRO!!**
- These are/were either timed for a Class 61 in official BDZ documents or are through observation and reports
- Note 2: Portions/through trains to Petric and Kulata may well be reversed from the timetable, which will mean the branch loco goes down the other branch
- Note 3: 2020 has a long term block between Pirdop and Karlovo, so locos may work the remaining Sofia – Pirdop / Anton stoppers more frequently
- 61013 works between Plovdiv and Karlovo vice EMU or 44 infrequently
| Day A1 |
Class 61 (Probably) |
Sofia |
| 50132 | 06.45 Petrich – Dupnica | |
| Branch closed to passenger | ||
| 50245 | 17.10 Dupnica – Petrich | |
| Day A2 |
Class 61 | Sofia |
| Petrich Branch Loco |
Petrich/General Todorov/Petrich | Various Trains TBC |
| Day A3 | Class 61 | Sofia |
| 50111 | 05.40 Sofia – Blagoevgrad | |
| 50110 | 09.35 Blagoevgrad – Sofia | |
| 50231 | 14.00 Sofia – Dupnica | |
| 50234 | 16.52 Dupnica – Sofia | |
| 10212 | 20.15 Sofia – Dragoman | |
| 10213 | 21.30 Dragoman – Sofia | |
| Day B1 | Class 46 61 | Sofia |
| 50240 | 06.40 Pernik – Sofia | |
| 490/7790 | 09.40 Sofia – Dimitrovgrad ZS | Whatever section of the Belgrade is running |
| 491/7793 | 15.30 Dimitrovgrad ZS – Sofia |
Whatever section of the Belgrade is running |
| 50217 | 22.40 Sofia – Pernik | |
| Day B2 |
Class 46/61/Desiro (ex RVR) | Sofia |
| 20211 | 11.20 Sofia – Lakatnik | Probably something earlier – 1st Dragoman? |
| 20214 | 13.25 Lakatnik – Sofia | |
| 20215 | 16.20 Sofia – Lakatnik | |
| 20216 | 18.00 Lakatnik – Sofia | |
| 20275 | 19.20 Sofia – Svoge | Runs days 1-5 |
| 20278 |
20.50 Svoge – Sofia | Runs days 1-5 |
| Day B4 |
Class 61 | Sofia |
| 30171 | 11.30 Sofia – Koprivshtica | Runs day 7 |
| 30172 | 16.26 Koprivshtica – Sofia | Runs day 7 |
| Day B5 |
Class 46/61 | Sofia |
| 5611 | 17.05 Sofia – Petrich | September 2017 – EMU |
| 5610 | 05.05 Petrich – Sofia | September 2017 – EMU |
As above, I’d deem table 500 by far the most likely place although parking yourself at Sofia may also pay dividends if you are pushed for time.
All gen posted in good faith & updates always appreciated – last update March 2020. Additional thanks to Gruntle in particular for this page.
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