The ÖBB Class 1042 was a class of electric locomotives operated by ÖBB in Austria. From its entry into service in the 1960s, it was an important element of the ÖBB's electrically powered operations. In the 1990s, younger members of the class were converted into Class 1142 locomotives for push–pull operation. The remaining Class 1042 units have since been withdrawn from service.[1]
The four-axle locomotives were assembled from 1963 onwards by Simmering-Graz-Pauker at Lokomotivfabrik Floridsdorf.[1] After the progressive electrification of the Austrian railway network in the 1950s, ÖBB required powerful new engines for operation on the mountain railway lines such as the Semmering pass route. The Class 1042 achieved a maximum speed of 130 km/h (81 mph), later increased to 150 km/h (93 mph). A total of 257 were built until production discontinued in 1977.
Hector Rail purchased twelve Class 1142 locomotives from ÖBB in 2005–2006. The Hector Rail locomotives were reclassified as "Class 142" and its performance is comparable with that of the SJ Rc locomotives.[2]
Inderst, Markus; Gemeinböck, Franz (2011). Die Reihe 1042: Entwicklung, Technik und Einsatz der ersten Hochleistungs-Universallokomotive der ÖBB [The ÖBB Class 1043: Development, Technology and Deployment of the First High-Performance Universal Locomotive of the ÖBB]. KIRUBA classic 2/2011 (in German). Mittelstetten, Germany: KIRUBA Verlag. ISBN9783981297744.
