Electric Locomotives - Croatia:
With the introduction of the
25 kV, 50 Hz AC electrification system in the late 1960s, electric traction
vehicles designed for this voltage were introduced on Croatian railway lines.
At the same time, self-propelled trainsets without locomotives were also placed
in service.
Electric multiple units were introduced as well, with the JŽ 411
series undoubtedly leaving the greatest mark.
Following Croatian independence,
these trains were redesignated as the HŽ 6111 series.
They remain in service
today, and the first units were manufactured in 1976 by the Ganz-MÁVAG factory
in Budapest.
These electric multiple units were used, and some are still in
service today, on the Dobova–Tovarnik line, electrified at 15 kV, 50 Hz in
1970; the Zagreb–Sisak–(Dobrljin)–Novska line, electrified with the same system
in 1972; the Zagreb–Koprivnica line from 1981; and the Zagreb–Karlovac–Moravice
line from 1986.
From 2013 onward, they were also used as far as Rijeka, after
the Moravice–Rijeka section was converted from 3 kV DC electrification to 15
kV, 50 Hz AC.
More recently, following the
modernisation, reconstruction and electrification of the Zaprešić–Zabok railway
line, these trains have also been used on that section.
In addition to Croatia,
these trains were also used in Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the electrified
railway lines between Dobrljin and Doboj, as well as between Strizivojna and
Vrpolje in Croatia, Bosanski Šamac in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Sarajevo.
During the 1984 Winter Olympic Games, they were fitted out as business-class
trains.
Each trainset consists of a
powered car in the middle, designated "C", and two driving trailer cars,
designated "A" and "B", one at each end, forming a train 72.41 m long.
A train most
commonly consisted of one or two coupled trainsets, and only very rarely three.
The train has four traction motors with a total output of 1,300 kW, enabling it
to reach a maximum speed of 120 km/h.
These electric multiple
units were originally built with interiors providing 236 seats and room for an
additional 230 standing passengers.
Some were later adapted to accommodate
bicycles, while in others the number of seats was reduced to provide more standing
room for urban and suburban services.
With these characteristics, the trains
have played a major role over the past half-century in urban and suburban rail
transportation in Zagreb and the surrounding area, as well as in intercity
passenger service on electrified railway lines in continental Croatia.
Following Croatian independence, a total of 22 trainsets came under the
management of Croatian Railways in 1991 and were gradually modernised over
time.
This electric multiple unit has left an indelible mark on passenger rail
transportation in Croatia over the past half-century on lines electrified at 25
kV, 50 Hz, while also being the oldest train of its type.
JŽ 361 series electric
locomotives:
The oldest electrified
railway line in Croatia opened to traffic in 1936, exactly 90 years ago,
between Šapjane and Rijeka.
Until the end of 2012, it operated on a 3 kV DC
electrification system, which was then replaced by a 25 kV, 50 Hz AC system.
The original electrification was introduced by the Italian State Railways,
Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS), which administered the area at the time.
Since the Italian railways electrified the first railway line in Croatia, the
first electric locomotives also arrived from Italy.
These were FS Class E 626
locomotives, which after World War II, under the administration of Yugoslav
Railways, were redesignated as the JŽ 361 series.
These electric locomotives
were manufactured at several factories in Italy, with most of those intended
for use in Yugoslavia and Croatia being produced by CEMSA (Costruzioni Elettro
Meccaniche di Saronno) in Saronno, in the Italian region of Lombardy, between
1927 and 1940. After production of this series was discontinued, subsequent
series of electric locomotives built after World War II were manufactured at
the Ansaldo factory in Genoa.
The main characteristic of
the JŽ 361 series, the oldest electric locomotive used on Croatian railway
lines, was its Boʾ Boʾ Boʾ
wheel arrangement.
With a weight of 93 metric tons and a length of 14.95 m, it
was equipped with six traction motors with a total output of 1,890 kW (2,570
hp), allowing it to reach a maximum speed of 95 km/h.
A total of 448
locomotives of this type were built, 17 of which came under the administration
of Yugoslav Railways.
On 4 May 1962, 16 of them were taken over by Železniško
gospodarstvo (ŽG) Ljubljana, while only one was assigned to Željezničko
transportno poduzeće (ŽTP) Zagreb.
In Croatia, the locomotive was withdrawn
from service in 1967 following the arrival of the new JŽ 362 series
locomotives, later designated HŽ 1061.
Locomotives of the same series remained
in service in Slovenia until 1976, while modernized examples continued to
operate in Italy into the 1980s.
This locomotive is remembered as the first
electric locomotive in Croatia.
The Stamps:
A First Day Cover (FDC) affixed with the two Cancelled Stamp variants.
A Souvenir Sheet of the two Stamp Variants issued in the Set.
Technical details:
Issue Date: 05.10.2026
Designer: Miroslav Zubović,
designer and illustrator from Zagreb
Printer: AKD d.o.o., Zagreb
Process: Offset Printing
Colours: Multicolour
Size:48.28 mm x 29.82 mm
Values: letter code B x 2
Posts on Indian Railways:
1) Celebrating 150 Years of serving the Indian Nation by the Railways in 2002-03
2) Railways Pack: A set of four stamps issued in 1987 commemorating the Centenary of the South Eastern Railways and a set of stamps issued in 1993 commemorating Mountain Railways
3) "Fairy Queen": "MyStamps" (issued by India Post): Rajeev
4) a) MMRDA Mumbai Monorail b) Matheran Toy Train, Bharat/India: Bhartiya Dak/India Post has issued a Presentation Pack containing Special Covers (SCs) on both the iconic Railway Services which were carried by a Special Carier from one Post Office to the other on the two trains: Date/Year of Presentation Pack issue: 14.01.2025
5) 100 Years of Electrification in Indian Railways, Bharat/India: Bhartiya Dak/India Post has issued a Miniature Sheet of two Postage Stamps of 1000 Paise (or Rs.10/-) each depicting the milestone: Date/Year of Miniature sheet issue: 31.12.2025
Posts on Belgian Railways:
1) "100 Years of the Belgian Railways", Belgium: Bpost (Belgian Post) has issued a set of five Postage Stamps featuring Railway Engines over the evolution of Railways from steam Engines to Electric Engines: Date?Year of Stamp set issue: 26.01.2026
Posts on United Kingdom Railways:
1) Commemorating 150 Years of the London Underground : Two pound Coins minted by the Royal Mint UK, showing the "Roundel" logo and a train emerging from a tunnel
Japanese Railways:
1) 150th Anniversary of Railways in Japan (1872-2022): The Japan Mint has issued a 1,000 Yen Silver Coin to commemorate the milestone: Date/Year of Coin issue: 04.10.2022
Steam Power - Australian Rail Heritage Coin Series:
Posts on Romanian Locomotives/Trains:
6) Steam Locomotives", Romania: Romfilatelia (Romanian Post) has issued a set of fout postage stamps featuriung steam locomotives: Date/Year of Stamp Set issus: 24.09.2025
Posts on Czechoslovakia Trains:
11) Skoda 498 "Albatros" Steam Locomotive, Czechoslovakia: A Gold Medal issued by the Czech Mint commemorating the iconic "workhorse" of the 1940s upto 1970s: Date/Year of Medal issue: 2021
Posts on Trains Stamps from Spain:
1) The New Silk Road: A Joint issue of a two Stamp Set of 1.50 Euros each by Spain (Correos Post) and China: Stamps issue date: 01.07.2019
2) Historic Trains - Euskotren Steam Train, Spain: A postage stamp issued by Correios (Spanish Post): Date/Year of Stamp issue: 27.09.2025
Links to Posts on Trains to Curacao on this Blog:
1) Trains of South America, Curacao: Cpost International (Curacao Post) has issued a set of stamps featuring Trains of South America: Date of Stamp set issue: 21.06.2021
Links to Posts on Trains in Canada:
1) "Steam Locomotive - A Whimsical Tale": Embark on a journey to a retro-future with this steampunk scene, which captures the grit and granduer of the industrial age imagined through the eyes of a bygone era: A -3 oz Fine Silver Coin minted by the Royal Canadian Mint (RCM): Date/Year of Coin issue: 16.10.2025
Links to Posts on Trains from Serbia:
1) About Museum Exhibits - 75 Years of the Museum of applied Art, 75 Year
Links to posts from the Federal Republic of Germany (FROG):
Crypto Stamps with NFT:
:1) Croatian Crypto Stamp - 2, Croatia: A 50 HRK stamp (a combination of the analog and the digital) issued by "Hrvatska Posta" (Croatian Post) in coordination with the Croatian Blockchain community gathered around the Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Association: Date of Stamp issue: 16.12.2020
2) Did You Know Series (49): Dogecoin (DOGE), Blockchain Mint, Singapore: Blockchain Mint has issued Silver DOGE Medals in three variants - i) Silver Dogecoin Cryptocurrency Medal Gem BU, ii) Silver Dogecoin Cryptocurrency Medal Proof-Like in Blister Pak, iii) Dogecoin Cryptocurrency Commemorative Medal Antiqued in Blister Pak: Date of Medal release/shipping: 05/2021
3) Did You Know Series (50): A Guest Post by Avery Wright: "Is Making the Crypto Space Legally Complaint Paving the Road to Mass (Blockchain) Adoption?" - A perspective:
4) Gibraltar Cryptocurrency Stamp: Stamp value 4 Pounds: Date of Stamp issue: 15.05.2021: (Pre-orderd accepted from 19.04.2021):
5) Bit-Coin Backed Banknotes are being envisaged by "Noteworthy" which are aimed at generating user confidence in the Cryptocurrency
6) "Blockchain Technology", Principality of Liechtenstein: A Crypto Stamp of CHF 5.20 titled "Perspective" issued by Liechtensteinische Post: Date of Stamp issue: 06.09.2021
7) "Bitcoin Logo", Niue Island: A $2 (Two Dollars) Silver Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) Coin features this iconic Logo of the well known Cryptocurrency: Year of Coin issue: 2022
8) Crypto-stamp - Rimec Nevera, Croatia: Hrvatska posta (Croatian Post) has issued a Crypto-stamp Souvenir Sheet (a combination of the analog and the digital) of One Stamp of HRK50.00 on a PVC background: Date of Crypto-stamp issue: 09.09.2021
9) "UN Crypto Stamps", United Nations: "New Technologies for the United Nations Stamp Series": United Nations Postal Administration brought out its first time ever UN Crypto Stamps, which run on Etherium Blockchain: Date of Stamps issue: 24.11.2020
10) "Equality", Liechtenstein: A "BlockChain Stamp Series: A Stamp 4.1 "Equality issued by Liechtensteinische Post (Philately Liechtenstein) with a face value of CHF 9.00): Date of Stamp issue: 09.09.2022
11) Croatian Crypto Stamp, Croatia: A 50 HRK Stamp (a combination of the analog and the digital) issued by "Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post) in coordination with the Croatian Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Association: Date of Crypto Stamp issue: 09.09.2020
12) Crypto Stamp 4.0 - Grab the Bull by the Horns - set, Austria: Osterreichische Post AG (Austrian Post) has released a Joint-issue between two countries - Austria and Netherlands, featuring the new technology "Augmented Reality", with a new motif of the Bull: Date of Crypto Stamp issue: 28.10.2022
13) "UN Crypto Stamps", United Nations: "New Technologies for the United Nations Stamp Series": Series II of United Nations Crypto Stamps issued by the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) which run on Blockchain Technolgy: Date of Stamps issue:18.11.2022
14) 2022 NL Crypto Stamp - Duo Set Crypto The Netherlands (NL) + Oostenrijk (Austria) - Collectibles: Date of Joint Crypto Stamp issue: 22.09.2022
15) Nikola Tesla's inventions as motifs feature on Croatia's Fourth Crypto Stamp of 50 HRK issued by Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post): Date of Crypto Stamp issue: 20.12.2022
16) "The Four Seasons" Crypto Stamps, Faroe Islands: The Faroe Islands Post (Posta Faroe Islands) has issued a set of four Crypto Stamps of 100 DKK (Danish Kroners) each featuring the "Four Seasons": Date of Stamp set issue: 23.06.2023
17) Professor Balthazar motifs feature on Croatia's Fifth Crypto Stamp of 7.80 Euro issued by Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post): Date of Crypto Stamp issue: 07.09.2023
18) "Business Fox" or "Crypto Fox" with NFT. LiechtensteiLiechtsteinsche Post AG (Liechtenstein POst) has issued this Crypto Stamp in its continuimg series of Crypto Stamp issues: Date/Year of Crypto STamp issue: 02.09.2024
19) The World's first Multi-lateral Crypto Stamp, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg and Netherlands (Austria & BENELUX): Date/Year of Crypto Stamp issue: 21.10.2024
20) "Gibraltar Crypto Miniature Sheet Series" - A 5 Pounds Crypto Stamp celebrates the spirit of European Football issued by Gibraltar Post: Date/Year of Crypto Stamp issued: 04.07.2024
21) Crypto Stamp Island, Austria: Austrian Post has introduced a unique project - The world's first Crypto Stamp comic featuring their popular heroes: Date of Crypto Stamp issue: 21.10.2024
22) Empress Sisi and Emperor Franz Josef immortalised in physical form and on the blockchain, Austria: Oserreichische Post AG (Austrian Post) has issued this Crypto Stamp Art: Date/Year of Stamp issue: 12.12.2024
23) Swiss Crypto Stamp 5.0, Switzerland: Three main versions - Basic Edition, Silver Edition and Bronze Esition: Date/Year of Crypto Stamp issue: 09.12.2024
24) "The Creator - Techno Totem" : 1000 Satoshi, 2 oz Pure Silver Antique Finish Coin - Minted By: Mint XXI, Poland - United Crypto States (UCS): Date/Year of Coin issue: 2025
25) The Wings of Freedom 1000 Satoshi 1 oz Pure Silver Proof Gilded Coin - Minted By: Mint xxx, Poland - United Crypto States: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2025
26) A 25 Euro Silver Niobium Coin Set including Digitalised Crypto stamp: Date/Year of Digitised Crypto Stamp set issue: 12.03.2025
27) 0,001 Ether Ethereum (ETH) - United Crypto States: 1 oz Ag 999: Date of ETH issue: 10.10.2025
28) Athena, Goddess of Strategy, inspires bpost's new Crypto Stamp, Belgium: Date/Year of Crypto Stamp issue: 18.09.2025
29) Posiedon, Portugal: Heroes of Mythology Crypto Stamp series:m Correios de Portugal S.A. (CTT Portugal) has issued a Crypto stamp: Date/Year of Crypto Stamp issue: 18.09.2025
30) Zeus & Hera, Republic of Austria: Heroes of Mythology Stamp Series: Austrian Post has issued a Crypto Stamp: Date/Year of Crypto Stamp issue: 19.09.2025
31) Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, Luxembourg: Heroes of Mythology Crypto Stamp Series: Post Luxembourg has issued a Crypto Stamp: Date/Year of Crypto Stamp issue: 18.09.2025
32) Hermes, Messenger of the Gods and God of Commerce, Netherlands: Heroes of Mythology Crypto Stamp Series: PostNL (Netherlands Post) has issued a Crypto Stamp: Date/Year of Crypto Stamp issue: 18.09.2025
33) Royal Golden Guernsey Goat kids, Guernsey (A British Crown Dependency (BCD): Guernsey Post has ussued a set of Cyber stamps titled "Royal Guernsey Goat Kids" featuring "Billy the Kid" and "Nanny the Kid": Date/Year of Cyberstamp issue: 16.07.2026"
34) "Perseus" (Son of Zeus) and :Eos" (The Goddess of Dawan): Heroes of Mythology Crypto Stamp Series: Austrian Mint (Osterreich Munz) has issued a set of two Crypto stamps: Date/Year of Crypto stamp issue: 24.09.2026:
35) "Demeter (The goddess of agriculture, fertility and nature: "Heroes of Mythology Crypto Stamp Series": PostNL (Netherlands Post) has issued a Crypto stamp: Date/Year of Crypto Stamp issue: 24.09.2026
36) "Heracles (or Hercules)", Divine Hero in Greek Mythology, the son of Zeus and Lacmene, and the foster son of Amphitryon: Heroes of Mythology Crypto Stamp Series: Bpost (Belgian Post) has issued a Crypto Stamp: Date/Year of Crypto stamp issue: 24.09.2026
37) "Hades", (The Ruler of the Greek Underworld): "Heroes of Mythology Crypto Stamp Series": CTT (Portuguese Post) has issued a Crypto Stamp featuring him: Date/Year of Crypto stamp issue: 24.09.2026
38) "Crypto Stamp, Vienna - City of Music". Republic of Austria (Osterreich Republik): Austrian Post (Oserrecheische Post AG) has issued a Crypto Stamp": Date/Year of Crypto stamp issue: 16.04.2026
Links to Posts on Special Covers issued by the West Bengal Postal Circle:
Links to Posts on Croatia on this Blog:
15) Crypto-stamp - Rimec Nevera, Croatia: Htvatska posta (Croatian Post) has issued a Crypto-stamp Souvenir Sheet (a combination of the analog and the digital) of One Stamp of HRK 50.00 on a PVC background: Date of Crypto-stamp issue: 09.09.2021
17) Croatian Crypto Stamp, Croatia: A 50 HRK Stamp (a combination of the analog and the digital) issued by "Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post) in coordination with the Croatian Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Association: Date of Cryptoo Stamp issue: 09.09.2020
18) "Peljesac Bridge", Republic of Croatia: The Croatian National Bank (CNB) has issued a 25 Kuna Commemorative Circulation Coin to mark the opening of this bridge: Date/Year of Coin issue: 26.07.2022
19) Shunting Locomotives, Croatia: Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post) has issued a set of two stamps of HRK 10 each featuring shunting locomotives: Date of Stamp set issue: 06.10.2022
20) Minerals and Rocks, Croatia: Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post) has issued two Postage Stamps of HRK 5.00 each on this fascinating Geological subject: Date of Stamp Set issue: 20.10.2022
21) i) The World's smallest Gold Coin minted by the Croatian National Bank (CNB) marks farewell to Kuna currency as Croatia adopts the Euro: ii) The last 1000-Kuna commemorative coin of Croatia for 2022 is dedicated to the Visnjan Observatory: Date/Year of Coin issue: 12/2022
22) Croatian Postage Stamps (or Hrvatske Postanske Marke"), Croatia: A Stamp Album of 29 Postage Stamps issued by Croatian Post in 2016
23) Introduction of the Euro as the Official Currency of the Republic of Croatia: Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post) has issued a postage stamp of 1.14 Euro celebrating the inclusion of the country in the Euro Area (EU): Date of Stamp issue: 25.01.2023
24) Plastic Waste in the Seas, Croatia: "Climate Change Stamp Series": Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post) has issued a postage stamp of 1.14 Euro depicting the harmful effects of Plastic pollution in the World Oceans on Marine life and the ecological balance: Date of Stamp issue: 20.04.2023
25) The Croats Military Units - Contour Necktie, Croatia: First Coins issued in Euros after Croatia joined the European Union (EU): 6 Euro Silver and 100 Euro Gold Coins minted by the Mint of Croatia at their facilities in Sveta Nedelja, on behalf of the National Bank of Croatia: Date/Year of Coins issue: 02.05.2023
26) International Day of Families (15th May), Croatia: Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post) has issued a postage stamp of 0.47 Euro highlighting the importance of the International Day of Families: Date of Stamp issue: 15.05.2023
27) Castles in Croatia: Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post) has issued a set of four postage stamps depicting i) Batthyany, Ludbreg: ii Old Town, Varazdin: iii) Zrinski, Cakovec and iv) Festitic, Pribislavec - Castles, Fortresses, Palaces etc: Date of Stamp set issue: 18.05.2023
28) Professor Balthazar motifs feature on Croatia's Fifth Crypto Stamp of 7.80 Euro issued by Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post): Date of Crypto Stamp issue: 07.09.2023
29) Trsat Dragon, Croatia: 100 Euro (Gold) and 4 Euro (Silver) Bullion Collector Coins minted by the Croatian Mint at their facilities in Sveta Nedelja on behalf of the Croatian National Bank: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2024
30) Croatia: Elusive Brusnik Black Lizard features on ne Gold (10 Euro) and Silver (4 Euro) Commemorative Coins: "Autochthonous Croatia Coin Series": Coins issued by the Croatian National Bank (CNB): Date/Year of Coins issue: 18.03.2024
31) Croatia: "Croatian Heritage Coin Series": Distinctive Traditional Costume features on new (100 nEuro) Gold and 4 & 6 Euro Silver Proof & Colour Coins: Coins issued by Croatian National Bank (CNB): Date of Coins issue: 19.08.2024:
32) Plastic Waste in the Seas, Croatia: "Climate Change Stamp Series": Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post) has issued a postage stamp of 1.14 Euro depicting the harmful effects of Plastic pollution in the World Oceans on Marine life and the ecological balance: Date of Stamp issue: 20.04.2023
33) "Puratic Wheel", Croatia: "Croatian Innovators Coin Series": Croatian National Bank, in cooperation with the Croatian Mint has brought out Gold and Silver editions of this innovation: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2024
Castles of Croatia Stamp Series:
34) i) Castles of Croatia: Four Castles in Croatia depicted on postage stamps of the values of 3.30 HRK each issued by Hrvatska posta (Croatian Post) - i) Brezovica Manor, ii) Erdody Castle, iii) Laduc Manor and Nori Dvori: Date of Stamp Set issue: 20.05.2021
34) ii) Castles in Croatia: Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post) has issued a set of four postage stamps depicting i) Batthyany, Ludbreg: ii Old Town, Varazdin: iii) Zrinski, Cakovec and iv) Festitic, Pribislavec - Castles, Fortresses, Palaces etc: Date of Stamp set issue: 18.05.2023
34) iii) Castles of Croatia: Four Postage stamps of 0.65 Euro each issued by Hrvatka Posta (Croation Post) presenting Klenovnik Castle, Msarusevec Castle, Miljana Castle and Nori Marof Castle: Date/Year of Stamps issue: 10.02.2025
35) "Murals, Pop Culture - Street Art, Croatia: Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post) has issued a Cuuvenir Sheet of four postage stamps of 1.70 Euro each depicting Street Art of Croatia: Date/Year of Stamp Set issue: 20.02.2025
36) National Archeological Discoveries, Croatia: Hrvatska posta ("Croatian Post") has issued two EUROPA Stamps featuring two discoverires from SALONA - the Vucedol Dove and the amphitheatre: Date/Year of Stamps issue: 09.05.2025
37) Slavoljub Penkala, Visionary Inventor, Croatia: "Croatian Innovators Coin Series": Third Coin in the Series: 4 Euro Silver and 100 Euro Gold Proof Coins issued in commemoration of the famous innovator: Date/Year of Coins issue: 11.07.2025
38) "Gajeta Falkusa" - Gold and Silver Coins highlight the legendary ship from Komiza: Date/Year of Coins issue: 09.09.2025
39) "Croatian Coldblood - an indigenous breed of horse that has been bred for centuries in this Balkan Country", Croatia: "Indigenous Croatia Coin Series": 10 & 100 Euro (Gold) and 4- and 10-Euro Silver Proof Coins feature the Native Equine Breed: Date/Year of Coins issue: 23.10.2025:
40) Minerals and Rocks, Croatia: Metamorphic Rocks, Igneous Procks, Sulphur - Radoboj, Hrvatsko zagorje, Serprntite - Roknic strana, Bovic, Banovina: Date/Year of Stamps issue: 21.01.2026
41) "Bettina gajeta" (A traditional wooden boat that has been an indispensable part of the life of the inhabitants of Betina and the island of Murter for centuries) and "Llaut mallorquin Balear" (a traditional boat of the Balearic Islands): Croatia-Spain Joint issue: Stamps issued by Hrvatska posta (Croatian Post) Date/Year of Stamps issue: 11.08.2026
Links to Posts on Special Covers issued by the West Bengal Postal Circle:
