Elektrické jednotky řady EM 488.0/460 - historie, vývoj, technika – Caska Jiří (2025)

In the summer of 2024, the chapter of operation for the electric units of the EM 488.0/460 series, known among railway enthusiasts and the public by the nickname "pantyák," was definitively closed. The book "Electric Units of the EM 488.0/460 Series" provides a comprehensive look at the history, technology, and operational life of these iconic trains, which have been an integral part of suburban and intercity transport in Czechoslovakia and later in the Czech Republic and Slovakia for decades. The publication not only addresses the technical description of electric and inserted (non-motor) cars but also the historical development of electric units in general – from the first attempts in the 1920s to their massive deployment in the post-war period. Emphasis is placed on development, serial production, and the specifics of individual production series.
Readers will find an overview of operational deployment in various regions, a chapter dedicated to accidents and the decommissioning of units, and of course, a description of their gradual decline and replacement by modern vehicles. The book includes a detailed table of all produced units, including their locations, dates of decommissioning, and potential physical disposal. The publication is richly illustrated – containing numerous previously unpublished color photographs from the operation and decommissioning of the units...