Jesenice, Tuesday, 22 October 2024 – At a ceremonial opening, SIJ Acroni presented the restored OE-VI locomotive, one of the last narrow-gauge electric locomotives that operated within the company and, earlier, at the former Jesenice Ironworks (Železarna Jesenice and Carniolan Industrial Company (Kranjska industrijska družba). The locomotive is an important part of the technical heritage and history of the steel industry in Jesenice, and now stands in its restored form in front of the former rolling mill at Javornik. From one side, it greets visitors to the company, and from the other, it welcomes passengers traveling by train.
The OE-VI locomotive was a product of the expertise of in-house specialists who built it in the Jesenice Ironworks locomotive workshops back in 1950, based on the model of its sister locomotive, OE-II. From 1950 to 1974, it operated on the factory’s narrow-gauge track between Jesenice and Javornik, transporting billets from the Siemens-Martin steel plant to be rolled in the heavy rolling mill. On 2 April 1974, the narrow-gauge railway connection to Javornik was discontinued. As a result, several locomotives operating there were taken out of service at Jesneice Ironworks, while the OE-II and OE-VI locomotives had their pantographs (current collectors) removed and were converted to battery power. This allowed them to continue operating on the route from Plavž to the Siemens-Martin steel plant, transporting ladles with hot material until the narrow-gauge line at ŽJ was closed on 19 April 1988. As part of the restoration, a portion of the narrow-gauge railway track was incorporated into the informational board casing for the restored OE-VI locomotive, which stands in front of SIJ Acroni’s quarto plate processing plant, formerly the Javornik rolling mill.
SIJ Acroni chose to restore the OE-VI locomotive because of its special significance, as a testament to the valuable expertise and capabilities of their in-house specialists. Following the restoration of the small Pelton wheel in 2018, this locomotive represents their next major restoration project. Luka Novak, a mechanical engineer in operational maintenance, led this project. As an enthusiast for preserving technical heritage, he recounted the rich history of the locomotive: "This locomotive is not just a few tons of iron. It represents a time when we in Jesenice had the skills to independently produce the most demanding components, including locomotives. We should remember that rail transport once played a vital role in our industry, connecting all our facilities and enabling the efficient transport of raw materials and final products. Railways were the lifeblood of our plants, and the OE-VI locomotive is living proof of this rich legacy,” he said.
Dr. Marko Mugerli from the Jesenice Upper Sava Museum (Gornjesavski muzej Jesenice) highlighted the historical importance of narrow-gauge locomotives and their role in the steelmaking process. “Preserving such technical monuments is essential for understanding our industrial heritage and identity. The OE-VI locomotive allows us to remember the innovation, resourcefulness, and hard work of past generations who laid the foundations for our industrial success,” he emphasized.
After the speeches, SIJ Acroni’s Managing Director mag. Branko Žerdoner, Director of the Jesenice Upper Sava Museum Aljaž Pogačnik, and restoration lead Luka Novak cut the ceremonial ribbon, symbolically making the locomotive a part of Jesenice technical heritage.
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SIJ Group is one of Europe's leading producers of stainless steel and special steels. We are committed to global and European climate goals and operate in line with circular economy principles. With our steel and steel products, we are the right partner for facilitating the green transition in Europe. We confirmed our sustainability credentials by achieving certification to the stringent ResponsibleSteel standard in April 2024. This positions us as one of the world's most responsible and sustainable steel producers. Our two largest companies are modern recycling steelworks, and our steel is recycled because it is made from steel scrap. With 3,600 employees, we are one of the largest employers in Slovenia and a pillar of the Slovenian steel sector. We are one of Slovenia's leading exporters. About 85% of our revenue is generated in foreign markets.
Find out more at:
SIJ – Slovenska industrija jekla, d.d.
Katja Mramor Krumpak, Head of Internal Communications
Phone: +386 1 242 98 59
Mobile: +386 41 814 041, E-mail: katja.krumpak@sij.si
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