History

Author: Milan Janković

Early railway lines, primarily serving industry, eventually began to transport passengers, initially using freight cars for passengers. Soon, special passenger cars appeared as the railway network rapidly expanded, leaving some lines with less traffic. It became economically impractical to use locomotives for a few wagons on these lines. To fulfill various concession agreements, passenger transport had to continue. Therefore, in the early 1850s, the idea of a self-propelled train with a steam engine and passenger cars on a common frame, known as an “autotrain,” emerged. Then came vehicles resembling passenger cars but containing steam engines inside to accommodate dozens of passengers. Such self-propelled vehicles are called railcars or rail buses. However, the steam engines propelling these vehicles were limited in power, mostly capable only of driving the car itself and perhaps an additional car on a straight railway track. Despite the advantages of these devices for local and suburban railways, they had drawbacks compared to steam traction.

The Goša factory in Smederevska Palanka was responsible for conquering the production of this diesel train. The factory had experience with road vehicles and steel structures (such as buses and trucks). The first diesel-hauled train produced in Smederevska Palanka was put into operation in 1959. Its designation was JŽ 812 (10-38). These diesel trains from Smederevska Palanka did not differ much from the original. The first twenty Goša rail buses were red. Goša rail buses were very similar to the German Uerdingen railway cars. The main visible difference was the absence of the Uerdingen logo, a different window style, and the absence of air vents above the second and sixth windows. After the initial run, Goša began releasing them in silver color, as we know them today. From JŽ 812-039 onwards, up to four sets can operate synchronously. Production lasted until 1969, with the last one labeled JŽ 812-275. A total of 266 sets were produced at Goša (from 000 to 009 originating from West Germany). This made them the most widespread diesel train in Yugoslavia, used on all railway lines. The large number also meant strong support for servicing and maintenance, prompting some railway companies to procure these vehicles even after production ceased. It was a revolutionary vehicle as it was the first to mass-replace steam traction in Yugoslavia.

In its time, the diesel train was a very modern vehicle with solid performance (reaching speeds of 90 km/h, accelerating passenger traffic on many lines, especially local ones). However, it remained in use for too long, as more modern versions of diesel trains emerged, gradually overshadowing its once significant advantages. Due to its prolonged use, instead of being remembered as a modern means of transportation that revolutionized passenger traffic on Yugoslav railways, the rail bus was often referred to by passengers towards the end of its career as a “tin can” or “tin box.”