These late 1960s built Class 240 Skoda 'Laminatka' machines are supposed to have been long since retired from hauling main line passenger train in Slovakia for national operator ZSSK. Nevertheless, they still cling on to life and in the last few weeks have been brought back out in a significant way - some days has seen 7 of them out working trains - to bolster the passenger locomotive fleet.
240092 seen here approaching Bratislava-Vinohrady with REx 1874 Šaľa - Bratislava hl.st and 240119 on the rear ready for the return working.
Of note, the train is passing through a neutral section and in various countries in Eastern Europe, drivers tend to drop the pantograph giving the unusual sight of a train with no means of powering itself. The practice, however, doesn't seem totally universal as other trains passing here didn't drop the pantograph.
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