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One of the Siemens Smartron additions to Bulmarket's fleet from 2024 is seen on the back of a diesel-loaded train from Druzhba to Kurilo.
Together with the leading unit 1080 030 they are working hard to get this 2400-tonne load past the steepest gradient along their route - the 16‰ climb towards Klisura and Stryama.
BMDM (Bulmarket) 80 026 leads a freight train with tank cars towards Sofia.
In the cab of the second unit of this Bulmarket train stopped in Levski - see flic.kr/p/2q1gq7C -, a 2-men crew waits for the departure.
There is no MU (Multiple Unit) command between these ex-Danish and ex-British locomotives. The engines are too different and would have been either impossible or too costly to equip with MU. Thus each engine has its own crew.
Photo © JM Frybourg 221018-0124
On arriving in Levski in the evening of October 17, 2022, we had a surprising welcome. Right when we were about to reach the station, we could have a quick glimpse at a unit tank train leaving the yard, led by Danish and English electric locomotives. So, the next day, we went to the yard at about the same hour, hoping to see a similar train. Without information, we were not sure what these trains schedules were. Fortunately, we saw it and had enough time to take pictures. So, here is this train that intrigued us the day before.
The train is operated by Bulmarket DM OOD (Bulgarian: Булмаркет ДМ ЕООД) a private rail freight company, registered in 1996, based in the Bulgarian city of Ruse.
The lead engine is an ex-Danish locomotive, a DSB Class EA built in 1985. It was formerly the EA 3006, renumbered in Bulgaria as 86-004. The next engine is an ex British Rail Class 87, number 87 017 “Iron Duke” (built in 1974). It still carries its name plates and original British number although with a Bulgarian registration number (91 52 00 87 017 – 7). The third engine, running light, is an ex British Rail Class 86, ex-86-234 (built in 1966), now 85-006 (91 52 00 85 006 – 2).
Photo © JM Frybourg 221018-0094
With a gas tank freight from Plovdiv to Iliyantsi
Locomotives 80 029 and 86 010 of the private operator run through Yambol with an extra train of full tanks from the port of Burgas to Belozem
The now regular early morning fuel service from Burgas to Belozem is seen near Yambol hauled by the Siemens Smartron 80 026 and the ex-British Rail electric 85 002 'Cassiopeia'
To complete the strong freight presence around Burgas in the late afternoon, Bulmarket also makes an appearance with a full set of fuel tanks bound for Belozem. Locomotives 80 029 and 86 005 up front
Shunting locomotive 55 182 at Kurilo railway station
Freight train 50691 of Bulmarket DM with locomotives 80 028 and 87 025 near Brigadir stop on 6th main railway line. The train is carrying coal dust for Bobov dol power plant (07.05.2022).
A trainspotting video of the train is available here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkRWweCPrC0
Freight train 50691 of Bulmarket DM with locomotives 86 004 and 80 028 near Chekanchevo stop on the Sub-Balkan railway line. The train is carrying coal dust for Bobov dol power plant (07.05.2022).
A trainspotting video of the train is available here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkRWweCPrC0
It's not a common view to see three locomotives in front of a train in Bulgaria. Actually is forbidden more than two locomotives to pull a single train. If there is a third one, it has to be switched off and do not assist to the other two leading locomotives. But almost all railway operators in Bulgaria often are using their trains to transfer locomotives from one place to another in order to avoid additional charges from the infrastructure company. Probably that was the case with these three EA3000 locomotives on this train of the private operator Bulmarket. There is actually a fourth locomotive at the end of the train - the British lady 87 009. Probably you are wondering why on the leading locomotive the logo of DB can be seen? Yes, 86 020 is owned by DB Cargo Bulgaria, but in this case was leased to Bulmarket for several months. The photo was taken at Ihtiman station on 12 July 2020.
This train and many more can be seen in this trainspotting compilation:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqRp1Q_LxSM&t
Bulmarket becomes the third operator in Bulgaria with Smartron locomotives. In the autumn of 2020 they bought two brand new Smartrons - 80 028 & 80 029. The second one - 029 was immediately branded with this simple, but nice livery, created by Konstantin Planinski (BackOnTrack Studios) specially for Bulmarket.
On the photo 80 029 is leading an eastbound freight train towards Plovdiv.
Diesel locomotive 55 182 of Bulmarket on a shunting action at Iliyantsi station in Sofia (BG).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih27WD6h3pY&t - trainspotting video from Iliyantsi station
The Bulgarian private operator Bulmarket is continuing to present a nice surprises for the spotters. That train was totally unexpected by me and I'm quite happy that I manage to catch it. 86 006 & 86 001 are leading a long and heavy fuel train through the autumn colored Iskar gorge, of course with some help from 87 025 at the back.
87 017 & 87 009 of Bulmarket RC are leading a freight train with scrap between the stations of Gorni Dabnik and Telish. Another ex-British loco - 85 005 is a helper locomotive at the rear of the train /28.06.2020/.
A heavy 1900 t freight train of Bulmarket with three locomotives EA 3000 (ex-DSB). 86 001 and 86 004 of Bulmarket are leading and 86 020 of DB Cargo is banking the train. Photo taken near Verinsko station.
Also, a video of the train from the air is available here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbqTEFTYzcw
Morning rush hour sees 4 tracks occupied in the station just outside Sofia.
To the left, DB Cargo 86 017 loaned to BDZ PP leaves eastwards with train 1611 to Svilengrad. In the centre locomotive 86 006 of Bulmarket is a banker on freight train 80596 to Kurilo. Rightmost is BDZ Cargo 43 511 which is the helper machine in the section Elin Pelin - Vakarel - Septemvri and waits for freight train 80623 to arrive.
BDZ Passengers is also present on the track between 86 017 and 86 006 with fast train 1622 waiting for a crossing with train 1611 before continuing on to Sofia.
An extra tank freight from Iliyantsi to Plovdiv with locomotive 86 001
