Craiova Page

Ten powerful DEL4000 Diesels were built in 1982 by Electroputere in Romania, fitted with a "Resita" built 16 "R" 251 ALCO engine of 4000hp. Their use was mainly on the 500km Athina - Thessaloniki main line though they did make occasional outings to Kozani, Idomeni and Strimon. The class was plagued with Electronic problems. All ten on the Locomotives are now out of use, and are still found in Athina.

	A-551 is seen leaving Rapsani station on train 507, the 11:35 from Thessaloniki - Athina on Monday 22^ndApril 1996. The characteristic plume of black ALCO smoke can be seen as the Loco gets under way.
	A-552 is shown at the Agios Ioannis depot in Rentis, a suburb of Athens. Pictured on 10^thJanuary 1994. With the Loco parked in this position fairly heavy maintenance would be carried out.
	A-553 is seen in the platform at Athina with a northbound overnight express to Thessaloniki. The train heating boiler van can be seen behind the Loco, one of five supplied with the ten Locos.
	A-554 at Acharne having just failed whilst working train 500, MLW A-454 was sent the distance north of Athina to work the train forward. The southern end of the loco being covered in black oil. Photo taken on 21^st February 1989.
	A-555 at Thessaloniki, having just arrived with train 500 from Pireas Port. In very good form, the Loco was going up and down main line for a few days in mid October. Pictured on 16^th October 1995.
	A-556 at Athina on train 501 from Thessaloniki - Pireas Port, on 6th October 1997. Having just pulled into Athina a few minutes early after the 500km journey from the north.
	A-557 at Athinai on train 602, the afternoon express to Thessaloniki on 12^th December 1997. Despite being affected by a strike on that day, train 602 still ran. At this time Romanian fitters from Electroputere (Craiova) were riding with the loco monitoring it's performance. Late the same evening A-557 returned south on sleeper train 505 back to Athinai.
	A-558 has just arrived at Athina with train 1511, the morning stopper from Larissa, pictured on 21st October 1996. This small train was normally two or three carriages, not often a large Loco on this train.
	A-559 is seen at Lianokladi on a southbound express (probably the "Akropolis") at Lianokladi in the early 1980's. A-559 was taken out of use quite early in its life to act as a source of spare parts
	A-560 is at Athina with the 11.00 from Thessaloniki. Front vehicle is a Romanian built boiler van intended to work in conjunction with these powerful ALCO powered Locomotives. Photo taken on 21^st February 1989, by Clive Nye.