TRANSIRA

We are preparing some materials for our trolleybuses and unfortunately we have some gaps about DAC/ROCAR trolleybuses. In 1980s we did not produce our own articulated trolleybuses and that was the reason that we bought them in Romania. In total 260 were produced for Kiev and 79 for Kharkiv. But before we started buying them in 1986 we had couple of so called experimental trols - 2 DAC-117E and 1 DAC-112EM, and later on one DAC-217E. Their pictures are available and can be viewed: http://www.kievtroll.h14.ru/112e_d1.html

Here is the list of questions which will help us to clarify some points in question:
1. The destiny of 4 experimental trols which were in Kiev (their factory numbers are available).
2. When production of DAC-217E and DAC-212E for domestic market started? This is rather important because some people in Kiev claim that DAC-217E was specially produced for Ukraine while Autobuzul still continued production of DAC-117E for domestic market.
3. When exactly the first trol DAC-112E (?) was produced?
4. How many DAC/ROCAR (their modifications, approximate years) were supplied to Columbia and Bulgaria?

We would appreciate any kind of help. In case there are people who can answer our questions bu can write in Romanian only, there is no big problem, since we have some people from Moldova here and they will help us with translation.

Hello,

This kind of information is almost impossible to find today. Rocar (former Autobuzul) was in bankrupcy and doesn't exist no longer... We know nothing about this firm's archives !

All best,

Andrei

Thanks for all the replies. My initial idea was that some of you are collecting historical materials on rolling stock including factory numbers, year of operation etc. Our experience shows that data from producers are usually not so easily accessible.

Most of DAC/ROCAR trolleybuses are now operate in Kharkiv, where they have 53 out of 79, while in Kiev we have only 6 (officially 20) out of 260.

I have posted few Kiev DAC on my ftp:
http://www.urbantransport.kiev.ua/dir/trol/
(check for 23** and 43**)

As for Kharkiv, they have better pages:
http://trollkharkov.narod.ru/main/lstdac.htm
http://trollkharkov.narod.ru/main/lstrocar.htm

Am gasit pe net o fotografie din interiorul unui Dac 217E din Kharkov:

O stire din Ucraina anului 1989, repovestita ca mare senzatie, de catre Jurnalul National:

Intotdeauna URSS a cautat nod in papura livrarilor romanesti de orice natura. De obicei se raportau lipsuri cantitative fictive, pentru a obliga partea romana sa mai livreze o data aceeasi marfa si fara bani. Facea parte din politica fratelui mai mare. Realitatea este ca troleibuzele DAC nu erau deloc perfectiunea intruchipata, dar se stie ca la export mergeau doar exemplare special construite, verificate si rasverificate. La banii aia de nimic, ce ar fi vrut, troleibuze elvetiene?

Troleibuz DAC in probe la Belgrad.

Foto: http://forum.gtsofia.info

Un model deosebit de troleibuz DAC 217 E, ce a purtat in Timisoara nr. 5 (arhiva d-lui Bucsan). Posibil ca troleibuzul sa fi fost destinat exportului.