Numbering scheme

Background picture: Zoran Crnko

Three numbers can be distinguished on HŽ-locomotives (see picture):

1 - The full international UIC number, on the side of locomotive (11 digits + check number)

2 - The HŽ class & unit number, on the front and the rear side of locomotive (7 digits)

3 - The unit number, on the side of locomotive, in the middle (3 digits) - for electric locomotives only

Taking into consideration unit no. 1141213, we deal with the following data:

1) 98 78 1 141 213-7

The first two digits, in according to UIC numeration, denote unit type and international utilisation modus. Number 98 indicates traction unit or a trailer of EMU/DMU destined for domestic transport only.

The next two digits (78) indicate the railway company owning the unit. In this case, it is Hrvatske željeznice (Croatian railways).

These first four digits are the same on every HŽ traction unit.

The following seven digits are always underlined, and will be explained in the next section.

The last digit, which is separated by a hyphen, is so called "redundancy check number". It is calculated out of the preceding eleven digits to check whether they are written correctly. This is how to get it:

a) The digits are multiplicated alternatively by two and one:

9*2 = 18

8*1 = 8

7*2 = 14

8*1 = 8

1*2 = 2

1*1 = 1

4*2 = 8

1*1 = 1

2*2 = 4

1*1 = 1

3*2 = 6

b) The digits of the results are added together:

(1+8)+8+(1+4)+8+2+1+8+1+4+1+6 = 53

c) The last digit of the result is taken and is subtracted from 10:

10 - 3 = 7, and this gives the check number.

If the result of the last step should be 10 - 0 = 10, zero is taken as the check number.

2) The HZ class & unit number is the underlined part of the full UIC-number.

It appears on the front and the rear side of locomotive and on both ends of EMU's and DMU's, but it does not have its own check digit (unlike the German railways).

1st digit - unit type

0 = steam locomotive (currently none in use)

1 = electric locomotive

2 = diesel locomotive

4, 5 = trailers of EMU/DMU

6 = EMU

7 = DMU

2nd digit - voltage / transmission type

If the 1st digit is 1 or 6:

0 = 3 kV DC

1 = 25 kV ~ 50 Hz

If the 1st digit is 2 or 7:

0 = diesel-electric transmission

1 = diesel-hydraulic transmission

2 = diesel-mechanical transmission

3rd digit - number of driven axles

This number represents the overall number of driven axles, but not their arrangement.

1 = for EMU's

2 = for DMU's

3 = C' (classes 2131, 2132, 2133)

4 = Bo'Bo' (classes 1141, 1142, 2041, 2042) and B'B' (class 2141) and A1A'A1A' (classes 2043, 2044)

6 = Bo'Bo'Bo' (classes 1061, 1161) and Co'Co' (classes 2061, 2062, 2063)

4th digit - number of series

Digits 5 to 7

These three digits represent the number of the unit within the class. The first of them therefore denotes the subclasses: 001-099, 101-199, 201-299 etc.

Example of EMU class 6111, unit no. 10:

1st trailer: 98 78 4 111 010-7

2nd trailer: 98 78 5 111 010-4

3rd trailer: 98 78 6 111 010-2 // pantograph and motors

On both ends of the EMU the sole number 6 111 010 is seen, whilst the numbers quoted above appear on the sides of the trailers.

Renumeration of the ex-Yugoslav rolling stock

When Croatia declared her independence in 1990 and HŽ was established, it was the only railway company originating from ex-Yugoslavia railways which undertook renumeration, to increase the old Yugoslav 6-digits numeration to UIC standard 7-digits numeration.