PKP class MBxd1
The 1Mw is a type of bidirectional, four-axle narrow-gauge diesel railcar produced by Konstal between 1960 and 1966. A total of four units were built, designed for operation on tracks with a gauge of 750 mm (29.5 in). On the Polish State Railways, these railcars were initially designated Mx-201 to 204 under the narrow-gauge rolling stock classification, later renumbered to MBxd1-201 to 204. HistoryIn the 1950s, the Central Administration of Commuter Railways initiated efforts to replace steam-hauled passenger trains with diesel railcars in personal transport services.[1] In 1958, production of such vehicles was commissioned from Konstal, accompanied by technical documentation developed by the Central Design Office of the Rolling Stock Industry in Poznań.[1] DesignThe 1Mw is a bidirectional, four-axle diesel railcar originally powered by a Wola DTK 150 diesel engine with an output of 150 hp (112 kW). It was equipped with a five-speed mechanical transmission manufactured by Jelcz, pneumatically controlled.[1] Power from the gearbox was transmitted via a universal joint to a reversing gear, then to both axles of one of the bogies, resulting in a wheel arrangement of B'2'. The vehicle features a Westinghouse railway air brake system, type XR1.[1] During major overhauls in the 1980s, the original Wola DTK 150 engines were replaced with more modern and powerful Wola-Henschel 14H6 engines. The gearboxes were swapped for units sourced from Kamaz trucks, and the axle gearboxes were replaced with those from Lxd2-series locomotives.[2] The railcar's body is constructed from steel. The interior is divided into four compartments: a passenger area (with 32 fixed seats and 4 foldable seats), an engine compartment (located centrally, splitting the passenger area into two sections), and two driver's cabs, one at each end of the vehicle.[1] Originally, the cabs were relatively small, with vestibules and inter-car passage doors adjacent to them. Over time, the inter-car passages and vestibules were eliminated, allowing the cabs to be enlarged and a space to be created for the train conductor.[1] OperationsThe first 1Mw railcar produced (Mx201, later renumbered MBxd1-201) was delivered in 1960 for trial operation on the Krotoszyn Narrow-Gauge Railway (Pleszew Locomotive Depot).[1] Although it performed well initially, numerous faults soon emerged, particularly with the gearbox and axle gearboxes. To address these issues, the railcar was returned to the manufacturer for repairs.[1] All four 1Mw railcars were initially operated on the Krotoszyn Narrow-Gauge Railway. Over time, they were transferred to other lines, including the Śmigiel Narrow-Gauge Railway and the Kuyavian Narrow-Gauge Railways. By the mid-1980s, all four units had been relocated to the Wrocław Narrow-Gauge Railway, where they remained in service until its closure in 1991.[2] Following the shutdown of the Wrocław line, the railcars were sent to the Krośniewice Locomotive Depot. Today, two of the four original units survive: one remains stationed at Krośniewice, while the other is at Rogów Towarowy Wąskotorowy railway station on the Rogów–Rawa–Biała Narrow-Gauge Railway.[1] In November 2012, the Gniezno County authorities sold the derelict MBxd1-201 (the prototype), which had been out of service for a decade, for scrap. This decision sparked significant attention in the specialist press.[3] The Foundation of Polish Narrow-Gauge Railways managed to repurchase some components for use in the planned restoration of railcar 203.[4]
Designations The railcars were originally assigned the series designation Mx[b] with inventory numbers ranging from 201 to 204. Although new narrow-gauge rolling stock marking regulations (Instruction WM-11) took effect on 1 January 1961, these railcars retained their original designations until their factory livery (cream and blue) was changed to a celadon green with an orange stripe. Under the new regulations, they were then redesignated as series MBxd1[c][d], retaining their original inventory numbers.[1] In 1975, the railcars received additional standardized twelve-digit CETAR numbers while maintaining their series and inventory designations.[7] Notes
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