Short historical overview of automation on Czech railway vehicles

1965 beginning of the year
First testing of automatic speed control device (ASCD) on dieselhydraulic coach M 286.001 (new class 850)

1966 and 1967
Tests on dieselhydraulic locomotive T 444.0204 (new class 725) with bigger loads and with electropneumatic locomotive brake

1968
Diesel coaches M 286.011 and 016 (new class 850) were equipped with ASCD. M 286.016 had electrically controlled brake controller DAKO BSE. Multiply traction tests with radio transmission.

1969
Dieselhydraulic coach M 296.2022 (new class 852) with prototype of ASCD.

1971
Coaches M 296.1008 and 009 (new class 853) with next prototypes of ASCD.

1972
The whole series of ASCDs (1st generation) for coaches M 296.1 (853). About 25 pieces made (ZPA Decin works). Still in operation.

1974
Prototypes of ASCD of 2nd generation. Tests on dual system electric locos ES 499.0001 and 002 (350).

1976
Test series of ASCD (2nd generation). Used on diesel locomotives T 499.0001 and 002 (759), T 478.4 (754), elctric suburban unit EM 475.1053/54 (451).

1978
Series of ASCD used on DC locos E 499.2 (150) and dieselelectric coach M 475.0 (860).

1979
2nd series of 2nd generation ASCD. Used on dieselelectric locos T 478.4 (754). Next usage on elctric shunting loco E 457.0001 (114) and diesel shunting locos T 457.0001 and 002 (730). Made by ZPA Prague Vinohrady works. Also used in:
1980 - AC shunting locomotive S 458.0001 (210)
1981 - AC universal locomotive S 499.0256 (242).
In the same year, the first testing devices for 3rd generation were made. Used on dual system chopper control locos ES 499.1001 and 002 (363).

1983
Prototypes of 3rd generation ASCD used on AC universal locos S 499.2001 and 002 (263).

1984 - 1985
Series of 3rd generation ASCDs. For locos 162, 163, 263, 362, 363 (universal (x63) and express (x62) DC (16x), AC (263) and DC/AC (36x)). More then 300 devices made. Made by Skoda Plzen - Doudlevce works.

1992 - 1993
ASCD of 4th generation (digital). Used on suburban units class 470. ASC is a part of software in Central vehicle regulator - CRV (processor I 8088 @ 4.77 MHz).

1995
Digital ASC for diesel coaches class 843 as a part of software in CRV. Processor Siemens 80C166 @ 20 MHz.

1996 February
Tests of multiply traction with 843 (instead of the second coach, only its CRV and a modell of driver's desk was used).

1996 May
Digital ASC for electric suburban unit class 471. Processor Motorola 68360 @ 25 MHz.

1997
Tests of driving trailer 943 with old diesel coach 842 (factory testing line near Bartosovice), automatic speed control of 842.

1998 April
Testing use of driving trailer 943.001 and trailer 043.017 with old diesel coaches class 842 in depot Breclav (South Moravia).

2000
In Nymburk (Central Bohemia), DC shunting locos 111.024, 111.025 a 111.034 with microprocessor control system and radio distant speed-control came in everyday operation.

Short history of automatic target braking on Czech railways

1968 May
First tests on diesel coach M 286.0011 on Ceske Velenice - Ceske Budejovice line (South Bohemia). Manual start of distance measuring. Analogue signal of real speed.

1968 August
Tests with impulse revolution sensor on Testing circle Velim. Automatic start of distance measuring by permanent magnets and magnetic sensors.

1970
Diesel coach M 296.2022 with Automatic target braking (ATB) in regular use on Ceske Budejovice - Ceske Velenice line.

1972
M 296.2022 equipped with Energy saving device (ESD). Used on C.B. - C.V. line on passanger trains. Excellent results - precision of arrivals +- 7 seconds, very reduced fuel consumption. Data medium - perfored film, read by electromechanical reader.

1975
ATB + ESD tests on electric suburban unit EM 475.1053/54. Data medium - paper tape read by photoelectric reader.

1977
ATB for Prague underground (ATB/U). Many extending functions (door control, tape recorder control etc.)

1979
First devices ATB/U in regular use (Ecs cars with head coaches numbers 1009 and 1014).

1981
ATB and ESD tests on classical AC loco S 499.0256 (242) on Plzen - Horazdovice line (West Bohemia). Electronic memory.

1982
Series of ATB/U in regular use. All 36 head coaches of "Ecs" class equipped.

1984
S 499.0256 with ATB/ESD in regular use on Cheb - Marianske Lazne line (West Bohemia). Magnetic track transmitters (balises), on-board data medium: EPROM.

1985
First tests ATB/U - 2nd generation, dedicated for new coaches class 81.

1989
Test usage ATB/U 2 on train with head coaches class 81 Nrs. 2157 and 2159.

1991 summer
DC track loco 163.034 (old class E 499.3) equipped with computer based ATB (MESIT MS80 industrial computer kit, "home made" processor board with Zilog Z80 @ 4 MHz)

1991 November
Beginning of regular use of 163.034 on trains 5000 and 5011 between Prague and Kolin (2 x 62 km).

1992 April
The device on 163.034 extended with ESD. Professional CPU board with Intel I 8088 @ 4.77 MHz, totally 2 x 32 kB RAM, 16 kB EPROM.

1993 March
Suburban electric unit 470.001 + 002 equipped with microcomputer control system based on Czech industrial kit MESIT (CPU Intel 8088 @ 4.77 MHz, 2 x 32 kB RAM, 16 kB EPROM). System includes:
- central control block
- automatic speed control block
- target braking block
- energy saving block

1994 May
Suburban ubit 470.003 + 004 equipped with the same system. Colour displays.

1996 - 1998
New magnetic track balises (MIB 6) with safe coding.

1997
Target braking block included into control system of new suburban units class 471. Touch screen plasma display (monochromatic).

1999, May 6
Test of target braking on suburban unit class 471 between Kolin and Praha.