Rolling stock of the Korean State Railway
Locomotives used in North Korea / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Korean State Railway (Kukch'ŏl) operates a wide variety of electric, diesel and steam locomotives, along with a variety of electric multiple unit passenger trains. Kukch'ŏl's motive power has been obtained from various sources. Much, mostly steam and Japanese-made electric locomotives, was inherited from the Chosen Government Railway (commonly known as Sentetsu), the South Manchuria Railway (Mantetsu) and various privately owned railways of the colonial era.[1] Many steam locomotives were supplied by various communist countries in the 1950s, including the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and China.[2]
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Most electric locomotives were made in North Korea by the Kim Chŏng-tae Electric Locomotive Works, as new construction of domestic designs or rebuilds of older units; however, many diesel locomotives have been converted to electric operation at the same factory.[3] Apart from small diesel switchers and draisines, almost all diesel and steam locomotives were manufactured outside North Korea.[4]
Due to ongoing economic difficulties in North Korea, maintenance levels are poor; locomotive serviceability is estimated at 50%.[5] However, recently a major campaign to improve the operation and appearance of rolling stock and infrastructure, and a modernisation of the electric locomotive fleet has begun following an order issued by Kim Jong Un.[6]