On display at the museum’s external tracks was this rickety old locomotive that was manufactured in 1967. This rocket went at a top speed of 110 kilometres per hour and was diesel powered, designed to operate on non-electrified lines.
It’s not possible to see inside, but the passenger compartment had leatherette seats, so no expense was spared here. They also put in a large luggage compartment area and there were driver cabs at both ends of the train. These locomotives were made between 1962 and 1968 by Vagónka Studénka (Skoda) and were nicknamed Krokodýl (crocodile). On that point, apparently they have an “elongated, segmented body and high central cab, which gave them a reptilian, crocodile-like profile” although I’m not entirely sure that I’m getting that from looking at it.
The museum has plans to restore the train and put it back into operational use, but I like it as it is. It’s authentic like this, although it’s a shame that there aren’t steps so that visitors can peer inside. At the moment, you can see the old paint work of the train and if they make it operational then the seats, windows and the like will all be replaced. It’s just Trigger’s Broom so hopefully they change their mind or run out of money or something….