An interesting and uncommon sight: the consoles of this type are regularly used for 25 kV ~ 50 Hz power system. However, they are situated on 90 km long Moravice - Rijeka line, virtually the last Croatian line still powered at 3 kV =. Since the re-electrification to 25 kV ~ 50 Hz is currently in progress (about 25 % of the work has been done at the moment), the whole line is still operating at 3 kV =. For that reason, the double contact wire had to be used, facilitating a greater cross section, required by the high DC voltage.
<br>The existing 3 kV = are as old as 45 years and demand an immediate replacement. Moreover, some major reparations of the tracks were undertaken, and consequently the old catenary was no longer appropriately adjusted to the new height of the tracks and to the central axle of the rail. In addition, the old catenary was only semi-compensated, while the new one is fully tensioned (that is, not only the double contact wire, but also the supporting wire is now tensioned), thus allowing higher speed. Once the replacement of the catenary is completed and the power stations are remade, AC current will be used throughout the whole Moravice - Rijeka line. Also, all the units of class 1061 will be sold to Slovenia, as well as the remaining EMU-s of the class 6011.
<br>The first experimentally re-electrified section was one catenary tension block between the stations Moravice and Brod Moravice. After that, from 2000/03/03 until 2000/05/19, the re-electrification was made on 25 km long rail section between the stations Skrljevo (12 km away from Rijeka) - Meja - Melnice - Plase - Zlobin - Drivenik (from Rijeka towards Moravice).
<br>This picture was taken at Zlobin station (note the "S" signal marking the stopping point for the trains heading for Rijeka) on 2000/07/31 at 2:15 p.m.

Photo and scan: Tin Sipos <tsipos@usa.net>