TATRA TRUCKS to restore legendary ‘Slovak Bullet’ locomotive

[kscarbel2]

Tatra Trucks Press Release  /  February 16, 2018

In mid-January 2018 TATRA TRUCKS received the news that its funding application for a project to restore the legendary Tatra-built 'Slovak Bullet' diesel locomotive has been approved. The company will use the funding (almost 80 million CZK) to completely repair and revitalize this legendary piece of technical history and to create a special exhibition space for it.

TATRA TRUCKS CEO Radek Strouhal explained the importance of the project: "We are delighted that we managed to win funding to restore the locomotive, which is a hugely important part of our technical heritage. As a company we are very proud of our history and tradition, so we will be launching the restoration work as soon as possible."

The total cost of the project will be around 118 million CZK. The plans for the exhibition pavilion are already complete, and the restoration project is nearing the end of the preparatory phase, as Strouhal explained: "The restoration plans are now ready to be implemented, and in the upcoming days there will be a tender for the restoration contractor."

The owners of TATRA TRUCKS, Jaroslav Strnad and René Matera, are keenly aware that the company's forward-looking technical ethos rests on a long and proud tradition, so they are involved in a number of projects to rescue and restore historical TATRA vehicles. These include the restoration of the 'Slovak Bullet' – which has the status of a national cultural monument – as well as a major project to build a new TATRA museum (funding was approved in mid-2017).

The new TATRA museum will be a part of the Nový Jičín local history museum, and it will be run by the Moravian-Silesian Region. The museum will be built on the site of a former foundry; the land has been donated by TATRA TRUCKS. The estimated total cost of the project will be 123 million CZK, of which 85% will be covered by EU funds.

Both projects are scheduled for completion during 2020. They share the same core goal: to preserve and celebrate the unique technical and industrial heritage embodied by TATRA TRUCKS and to pass it on to future generations.

.

 

[kscarbel2]

The former American icon, Mack Trucks, was not the only visionary truckmaker producing rolling stock.

https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/39989-mack-rail-–-the-rail-cars/

https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/33544-mack-rail-–-global-sales/

https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/33657-mack-rail-–-the-locomotives/

 

[HarryS]

3 hours ago, kscarbel2 said:

The company will use the funding (almost 80 million CZK) to completely repair and revitalize this legendary piece of technical history and to create a special exhibition space for it.

If I did the calculation right that is just under $4M USD. Seems like a bargain when you consider the cost of restoring an antique truck or car.

[macks in nigeria]

$4m is no small money in Eastern Europe.

[kscarbel2]

I'm thrilled this historic piece of rolling stock will be restored for future generations.

However, having said that, I don't understand why the European Union (EU) is paying for 85 percent of the work. This is a Czech domestic project.

[kscarbel2]

Tatra receives cheque to restore unique historic train

TATRA Trucks Press Release  /  March 8, 2018

On Monday 19 February, the Minister for Regional Development Klára Dostálová visited the Moravian-Silesian Region – and one of the stops on her itinerary was TATRA TRUCKS in Kopřivnice. The Minister met with representatives of the company, which has received EU funding to reconstruct and restore the unique historic 'Slovak Bullet' locomotive.

The TATRA T 68 diesel locomotive, nicknamed the 'Slovak Bullet', has been declared a national cultural monument in recognition of its importance as an outstanding example of the Czech Republic's technical heritage. In mid-January 2018 the company's funding application for the restoration was approved, and the Minister's visit to the Region represented an ideal opportunity for her to present Tatra CEO Radek Strouhal with a symbolic cheque for almost 80 million CZK (the precise sum is 79 474 072 CZK).

Dostálová expressed her strong support for the project: "There are moments when it's a great pleasure to present a funding cheque – and the restoration of the 'Slovak Bullet' is one such moment. If the company and the Moravian-Silesian Region manage to successfully complete the new TATRA automobile museum – and I have been assured that they will – it will be a phenomenal project, which will help to raise Kopřivnice's profile and attract new visitors to the town. I presented the company with a symbolic cheque for the restoration of the locomotive and the construction of an exhibition pavilion for it – and we also met with representatives from the company, the Region and the Town of Kopřivnice. The Region is coordinating the museum project, and the Town is in charge of a project to revitalize the land at the planned museum site. I am delighted that the Ministry of Regional Development is able to help implement this project by providing EU funding."

TATRA will use the funding to completely restore the historic train to a fully functioning state, as well as building a special exhibition pavilion for it, to be located next to the planned TATRA automobile museum. CEO Radek Strouhal commented: "For us, the project represents a recognition of our work – of the TATRA company, our long and proud heritage, and the talented team that is planning the restoration project. The funding we have received will enable us to restore the 'Slovak Bullet' to its former glory – and above all, to make it fully functional once again. In cooperation with the Ministry, the Region and the Town of Kopřivnice we are creating a museum which will be a major visitor attraction, and we are confident that it will boost interest in technical education among young people – which will ultimately help us to recruit the next generation of talented TATRA staff."

The total cost of the project is 118 million CZK; TATRA TRUCKS will also be contributing its own funds. The plans for the exhibition pavilion have already been drawn up; when restoration work is complete, the pavilion will be used to display the train. The funding approval also means that TATRA can now announce a tender for a contractor to carry out the restoration work.

In the middle of last year, funding was also approved for a brand-new TATRA automobile museum. The new museum will be run by the Moravian-Silesian Region as a branch of the Nový Jičín Regional Museum. TATRA TRUCKS has donated a site for the new museum – including a former foundry building. The company will also allow the museum to use the adjacent land, as well as donating its valuable collection of unique vehicles – which could not previously be displayed due to a lack of space. The exhibition at the new museum will be created in close cooperation with the current Tatra Technical Museum. The planned costs of the new museum are 123 million CZK, of which 85% will be financed via EU funding. The goal of both projects – which are scheduled for completion during 2020 – is to raise public awareness of the unique contribution made by the TATRA company to the development of our technical heritage, as well as conserving this heritage for the benefit of future generations.

.