Diesel locomotive Z 68

Light shunters, which are small-power locomotives, came into being in the second half of the 1920s. They were intended to replace both steam locomotives and horses in light shunting work. A total of 114 were built for SJ, private railways and industries, and there are many still around today. The Swedish Railway Museum owns three of these, numbers 9, 32 and 68. Number 9 has been refurbished to near original condition, 32 is in reserve, and 68 is used for shunting at the Uppsala–Gävle Järnväg (UGJ) stable.

The advantage of small, light shunter of this type is that it is easy to handle, and can fit on a turntable together with other locomotives being handled.

Z 68 originally had a Fordson engine and a manual gearbox, but the drivetrain was modernised in the 1970s. It has been restored to its brown colour and the name “Lille Scud” has been added by the Swedish Railway Museum staff, following the tradition of such locomotives being both painted and marked locally, as well as being carefully looked after by the staff in the locomotive stables.

Explanation

• Z is a designation (class) that should be interpreted as a locomotive with a maximum power of 75 hp
• 68 is the locomotive's individual number