Idrija Municipal Museum, Prelovčeva 9, SI-5280 Idrija
Ownership
Public
Owner
Municipality of Idrija, Mestni trg 1, SI-5280 Idrija
Local / Original ID Number
510:IDR;RS-23
Type of Object
Mine, Transport - other transport, Smelting
Description
Short description
The biaxial locomotive has the following characteristics: main DC engine with 11.2 KW (15 HP) power, 400 V voltage, 41 A current, 570RPM and with 10 km/h speed. The locomotive has a 6-speed transmission and a handbrake. Controlling the locomotive is enabled by a rheostat (controller), very efficiently mounted in a horizontal position. The locomotive has a combined coupler for coupling the wagonettes of both track widths (0.475 m and 1 m). During its operations it develops a speed from 5 km/h to 10 km/h.
Measures
Length 361 cm, width 155.5 cm, height 310 cm; weight 4,800 kg.
Materials
Cast iron, steel.
Dating
1902
Author / Producer
Siemens & Halske Wien.
Picture attachments
Original use
In addition to two electric locomotives for track width 475 mm, the Mine administration bought two electric locomotive for track width 1 m for the transporting of the ore from the ore sorting and crushing plant Bašerija to the smelting plant (850 m). The electric current was supplied from the HE Pečnik mine power plant from Spodnja Idrija. The power line had a voltage of 2500 V, however the Bašerija had the installation for converting the alternating current to direct current. The rheostat enabled the engineer to simultaneously manage the electromotor from both positions, the “back” and “front”. Ore transport was held in two working shifts, namely from 4 am to 12 pm and from 12 pm to 8 pm. The driver performed 20 to 25 transports during his shift. Each composition had 8 horse wagons or 18 small wagons for track width 475 mm. After cancelling ore transport by locomotive in 1957, the Mine built the cableway for that purpose.
Present use
The large electric locomotive is being preserved, secured and presented as an important monument of Idrija technical mining heritage with exceptional universal values. It is a part of the Idrija Municipal Museum collection “Mining machines and devices”. The exhibition of restored mine locomotives has been open since 20 June 2000 on. Within the exhibition, the described locomotive is on display. The latter is unique, since it is the only locomotive for track width 1,000 mm. Very little of such locomotives are preserved around the world. Normally they were designed for narrower tracks. Only one similar locomotive is known from the Eisenerza mining collection in Austria.
During the restoration process in the year 2000, all parts of the locomotive were disassembled. The surfaces were cleaned with a sandblasting process and protected with foundation and top paint. Therefore, no additional interventions are necessary. Security of the premises is ensured.
Present state
good
Necessary activities:
Regular seasonal maintenance.
DOCUMENTATION
Addresses / collections / links etc. where further in-depth information is accessible:
- Inventory Book of the Idrija Municipal Museum;
- Zelenc, Anton. In vendar se giblje: katalog rudniških strojev in naprav. Idrija, Idrija Municipal Museum, 2001;
- Zelenc, Anton. Idrija Municipal Museum: restored mine machines and devices of the Idrija Mercury Mine. Patrimoine de l´industrie, 2004, p. 17–19.