BDZ1 (Heeresfeldbahn) 0-8-0T No. 479.60 (HF1130)
Sofia, Bulgaria 		Location: Station
Status: Display
Abbreviation Expansion English
1 BDZ Balgarski darzhavni zheleznitsi Bulgarian State Railways
Posted: Dec 6, 2022 @ 12:12:21 by Dale W Fickés
Originally supplied to the Heeresfeldbahn at their Reserve in Berlin, prior to being despatched to Bulgaria in 1918, until 1964, the locomotive numbered B 479.60 was in use on the 67 km long Kaspican railway, which was used to develop rural areas and to transport wheat and wood. Originally there was a 110 km long standard gauge line planned from Kaspican to Silistra on the Danube, which was under Bulgarian control from 1916 to 1919. Instead, the 600 mm narrow-gauge railway was built, which in 1946 included twelve brigade locomotives. In the 1960s, the railways lost increasing importance due to the increasing traffic, so that it was discontinued in 1964. BDŽ 479.60, together with some sister locomotives, then got to the 9.8 km long General Todorov - Petric narrow-gauge railway, on which nine brigade locomotives were in use. On the route with many inclines, the trains sometimes had to be transported with a pilot locomotive in front, so that four locomotives were always under steam at the same time. In 1969, operations were also discontinued here and the line dismantled, but BDŽ 479.60 remained as a monument in Radomir until 2002 when it went on to be plinthed in Sofia.
Posted: Oct 3, 2014 @ 16:10:28 by Janet Cottrell
As of September 2014 this loco and coach had been re-located just inside the gate at Sofia depot as the main station was being rebuilt.