The EMD G16 (
JŽ series 661) was one of the most used diesel locomotives in Yugoslavia. The type is colloquially nicknamed
"Kenedi" after the US President
John F. Kennedy. After the breakup in 1991, the locomotives were passed on to successor states:
Croatia In Croatia the locomotive is classified
HŽ series 2061. As of 2007, the series has been withdrawn from service. Six units of the series were modified by removing two of the traction engines into series
2043 locomotives during the early 1990s. None remain in active service.
Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Slovenia In Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Slovenia have all kept the JŽ-era designation series 661. Today there are around fifteen operational series 661s on Serbian Railways. Those locomotives are used mostly on non-electrified railways, primarily to haul freight trains, but also international passenger trains. In Slovenia, the last 661 series locomotive ran on 17 May 2013, and it is now preserved as a historical unit.
Kosovo Kosovo Railways operates three former JŽ series 661. A fourth locomotive (001) was renumbered but is out of service. They no longer carry a type designation, instead they were just numbered 001 to 004. They are used to haul coal and clay trains. Locomotive 661-203 began a rebuilding program in 2008, undertaken by
TŽV Gredelj (Croatia) in association with
Electro-Motive Diesel; the bogies and traction motors were retained, but with a new frame and engine (
EMD 8-710G3A). The locomotives were also converted to twin cab designs. The resulting new loco has EMD model code JT38CW-DC. ==Gallery==