A locomotive was needed which could operate on a mountain railway line with very hilly terrain. The steam and diesel locomotives at that time could not fulfil the request, as they could not generate sufficient power. Therefore, the line was electrified, at the then common voltage of 3 kV DC. These locomotives were deployed on this line between 1960 and 1964 and and between 1968 and 1969. The locomotives are split in two series:
JŽ 362.001-040 : 40 locomotives built between 1960 and 1967, 35 within 1964, then only 5 in the following 2 years due to indecisions about modifications to adopt on seconds series.
JŽ 362.101-110 : 10 locomotives built in 1968.
After the breakup of Yugoslavia, Slovenian Railways got 18 of those locomotives and Croatian Railways the others. Later, most of the electrified lines in Croatia were re-electrified to 25 kV AC, and the HŽ series 1061, which used 3 kV DC, was since then only deployed on the Šapjane-Rijeka-Moravice Line. This line has been later re-electrified to the standard voltage as well, and in December 2012 all of the locomotives have been withdrawn. In Slovenia, where 3 kV DC is still the standard voltage, Slovenian Railways started replacing series 362 with series 541 in 2005, and in July 2009 the last locomotive had a farewell drive. A couple of the locomotives were sold to other countries, one was acquired by the Slovenian Railway Museum, and the rest were scrapped.
Technology
The electrical part is similar and derived from FS Class E636, and in some parts from FS Class E646. Like E636, JŽ 362 has six motors, each providing 440 kW and 472,5 kW, and rheostatic regulation; the tractive effort is also higher. On 1st series two La TA 241 Westinghouse compressors provide air for pneumatic systems; the 42 V batteries are recharged by a 2.83 kW dynamo, which provides a current of 68 A, activated by the rheostat and motors 1.1 kW fans, model "Marelli/Koncar". On 2nd series compressors and battery recharge systems are identical, but fans are 3 kW "Aeroto" type and are activated by alternators, providing a 380V AC three-phase voltage. Also, rheostatic type braking is possible, on a similar way used on experimental unit E636.082.
