This paper presents the results of simulation research of an off-line-trained, feedforward neural-network-based state estimator. The investigated system is the mechanical part of an electrical drive characterised by elastic coupling with a working machine, modelled as a dual-mass system. The aim of the research was to find a set of neural network structures giving useful and repeatable results of the estimation. The mechanical resonance frequency of the system has been adopted at the level of 9.3-10.3 Hz. The selected state variables of the mechanical system are load, speed and stiffness torque of the shaft.