This is the colloquial name for what was once the most popular electric multiple unit operating on Polish railways, known as the EN-57. This three-car commuter train was manufactured at the Pafawag plant in Wrocław from 1962 to 1993. A total of 1,429 of these vehicles rolled off the production line.It is the longest-running electric traction unit in the world. The train consists of three cars: two end control cars and a middle motor car. The maximum speed was 110 km/h at a supply voltage of 3,000 V (which is the voltage used in Poland).
A photo taken in 2014 (in Konin?) shows what appears to be the oldest unit still in service at that time. Manufactured in 1962, the unit was decommissioned in 2016 and scrapped that same year.
In the next photo, which I took in 2016 on Railroad Line No. 2, somewhere between Siedlce and Łuków, you can see a unit manufactured in 1980. This vehicle is still in service today, but it has already undergone repairs and has a new paint job.
And here’s another one—as you can see, with a modified front. The modifications varied, and the front looked different too. Some units retained the original shape with three windows, while others were fitted with two Polish-style windows and a completely flat front. The upgrades varied; maybe I’ll write about that someday: AKM ( Units featuring a new asynchronous drive system (AC motors), a modernized interior, new driver's cabs, and optional air conditioning in the passenger compartment), AL ( Extensive modernization (often colloquially referred to as “Alina”) featuring a new asynchronous drive system, an aerodynamic laminate front end, air conditioning, full accessibility for people with disabilities, and a modern passenger information system). I took this photo in 2015, probably in Racibórz (I’m uploading the photos from my phone; I have detailed descriptions of all the photos on my home computer). Currently, the train operates with a different paint scheme, and its designation has been changed to EN57AKŚ.
This vehicle was manufactured in 1983 and is still in use today
Another unit manufactured in 1979, photographed at Bydgoszcz Główna Station. It was upgraded to the EN57AL standard in 2012. Still in service
Another one, manufactured in 1988 and modernized in 2017 by H. Cegielski – FPS in Poznań, featuring a new, streamlined front end and a redesigned interior. I took this photo on September 28, 2018, at the Łódź Fabryczna station.
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