M62 locomotive
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 M62 locomotive in Baranovici, Belarus |
|
| Power type | Diesel-electric |
|---|---|
| Builder | Voroshilovgrad Locomotive Factory today: Lugansk (Ukraine) |
| Model | M62 |
| Build date | 1965-80 |
| Total production | thousands |
| AAR wheel arr. | Co-Co |
| UIC classification | Co´ Co´ |
| Gauge | 1435 mm/1524 mm |
| Driver size | 1050 mm |
| Wheelbase | 4200 mm |
| Length | 17550 mm |
| Width | 2950 mm |
| Height | 4493 mm |
| Axle load | 19.3 t |
| Locomotive weight | 116.5 t |
| Fuel type | diesel |
| Fuel capacity | 3900 l |
| Water capacity | 950 l |
| Fuel consumption | 340 kg/hour |
| Engine type | 14D40 |
| Cylinders | 12 |
| Transmission | Electric |
| Top speed | 100 km/h |
| Power output | 1472 kW |
| Tractive effort | 32000 kgf (314 kN) |
| Locomotive brakes | Oerlikon |
| Career | BCh, ČD, ČSD, DR, DBAG, MÁV, PKP, RZhD, UZ |
| Class | M62 (RZhD, MÁV), 781 (ČD), T 679.1, V200 (DR),, 120 (DR, DBAG),, 220, M62, ST44 (PKP), |
| Nicknames |  POL Gagarin, Iwan, HUN Szergej RUS Машка GER Taigatrommel CZE Sergej |
M62 is a Soviet heavy freight diesel locomotive, exported to many Eastern Bloc countries as well as to Cuba and North Korea.
Contents |
[edit] History
According to the Comecon directives production of heavy diesel locomotives among Eastern Bloc countries was left exclusively for Romania and the Soviet Union. [1] The first few prototypes of this heavy freight locomotive were ready in 1964 and their first destination outside the Soviet Union was Hungary.[2] In the Soviet Union a total number of 723 units were produced.
[edit] ST44 - Poland
In the early 1960s an urgent need appeared in Poland for a heavy freight diesel locomotive. The Polish industry at the time was not able to produce such a locomotive, so a decision was made to import a large number of M62 locomotives from the Soviet Union, which were already imported by Hungarian MÁV. In Poland those machines received ST44 designation[3] During first revision repairs all locomotives had front lights changes from small ones into standard, Polish large types.[4] The decision is said to be made after Poland had started to import ST43 locomotives from Romania and was probably influenced directly from the Soviet Union. For political reasons USSR simply forced Poland to buy Soviet instead of Romanian locomotives, as it preferred satellite countries not to export their products. [5] The first locomotive, produced by the Voroshilovgrad Locomotive Factory (in today's Lugansk, Ukraine), was delivered to Poland in 1966. Deliveries continued until the 1980s, with 1,113 locomotives delivered in total. One of the locomotives (ST44-1500 – producer’s designation M63) had bogies and traction engines exchanged with newer types what allowed it to achieve higher top speed. The last series, with numbers between 2001 and 2068 was imported to run on the LHS broad gauge line. In addition to different gauge this series was equipped with automatic coupling system.[6]
There were several reasons for importing M62 locomotives to Poland and today’s views on this decision are ambiguous. The locomotive was far stronger than even the strongest Polish steam locomotives servicing freight transport in those days, yet it could not pull passenger trains (due to lack of carriage heating devices) and caused huge damage to railway tracks. Another important weakness of the M62 locomotive was a huge fuel consumption. What makes advantage of this machine is a quite simple construction and a fairly reliable diesel-electric transmission. Intensive electrification of Polish railways caused the relatively new ST44 locomotives to be moved into reserve stock. Many machines withdrawn from PKP found their place among industrial and private railways, where they bore producer’s M62 designation [7]
[edit] Present use
Huge fuel and oil consumption as well as heavy wear it causes to the tracks has resulted in Polish Railways reducing the use of the class. In 2007 many still remain in service with PKP for freight use, though many are also stored. Some lines (e.g. Gdynia - Hel line) forbid access of ST44 due to the heavy track wear the class causes.[8]
The locomotives are still used in large numbers by private railroad companies, as well as on the LHS broad gauge line. [9] Today around 50 units are present in Zamość Engine Shed and it is decided to keep them for some more time.[10] In 2005 two ST44 locomotives were completely rebuilt by Bumar-Fablok S.A. and delivered to the LHS line. Changes included new Catepillar 3516B HD engines and main alternators. Those locomotives were given numbers 3001 and 3002. [11]
[edit] LH01 in North Korea
Because of its low maintenance requirements M62 locomotive is quite popular among the Railways of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (Choson Cul Minzuzui Inmingonghoagug), where they serve not only on non-electrified lines but on electrified ones as well. The designation they are given is LH01. 49 locomotives of this type were imported from the Soviet Union between 1967 and 1995.
Between the years 1996 and 1998 31 locomotives were delivered from Deutsche Bahn. In 2000 six units were delivered from Slovakian State Railways and 13 units from PKP. None of delivered locomotives were painted in traditional North Korean painting (which is blue and dark green) but still carry the same painting as in previous service.
M62-602 locomotive has a special red tablet mounted which states that this machine was personally inspected by Kim Il Sung[12]
[edit] Electric power M62
At least 11 North Korean M62 locomotives were rebuilt to become electric locomotives. This is presumed to be quite easy, as the overhead voltage in North Korea is 3000 V.[13]
[edit] BR 120 in Germany
In East Germany M62 locomotive was at first named V200, later changed to BR 120. A total number of 396 locomotives were sent to DDR between 1966 and 1978. After the unification of Germany the class designation was changed to 220. However their usage was quickly phased out and by the end of 1994 the class had all but disappeared.
[edit] 781 series in Czechoslovakia and the Czech Rebublic
Between 1966 and 1979 a total number of 599 locomotives were imported to Czechoslovakia where at first they were given T.679.1 designation for standard gauge locomotives and T.679.5 for broad gauge machines. Later those numbers were changed to 781 and 781.8 respectively. Those machines had been working in the Czech Republic and Slovakia until 2002.
[edit] M62 in Hungary
Hungary was the first country outside the Soviet Union to receive M62 locomotives. The M62 001 of MÁV is actually the first M62 in the world. Between years 1965 and 1978 MÁV bought 294 units. Locomotives with broad gauge bogies were named M62.5. In 2001 MAV changed the train's engine for a new MTU engine, she is M62 301. The M62 302 has a Caterpillar engine, and MAV continued to change the old Kolomna diesel engines to CATs and they are the M62-300-series (from 303). They have new nicknames: "Remot-Szergej", "Csendes (Quiet)"
[edit] 61 class in Cuba
21 locomotives, named 61 class were shipped to Cuba between 1974 and 1975.
[edit] Technical data
M62 locomotive bears Co-Co designation, what means it runs on two bogies with three axles on each bogie. Chassis and bogies frames are constructed of box elements. The engine and the main alternator are mounted on steel frame. The frame is fixed to the chassis with elastic supports. Electric traction engines are mounted on bogies frames with a tram system. M62 is equipped with electro-pneumatic multiple steering, therefore it is possible to drive two locomotives from one cabin. The machine is run by two-stroke engine diesel engine.[14] This machine had enough power to pull 1,000 t. freight train with top speed of 80 km/h (on level track). Two coupled locomotives are able to pull trains up to 3,600 t. Top speed in such case is 60 km/h.[15]
[edit] Nicknames
This locomotive has a certain cult following among railfans, and is referred to by several nicknames, usually derived from its Soviet provenance:
- Gagarin in Poland - from the space flight pioneer
- Iwan or Siergiej in Poland or Czechoslovakia - from two popular Russian names
- Szergej in Hungary – from a popular Russian name
- Taigatrommel (Taiga Drum) in Germany – from the amount of noise and vibration the locomotive produced. [16]
- In the Soviet Union the locomotive had one widespread nickname — Mashka (Russian: Машка) (diminutive of Maria, a reference to the "M" designation).
[edit] Resources
- ^ Jakub Halor (1999-2004). Strony modeli kolejowych w skali H0. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
- ^ Michał Rudnicki & Jacek Eychler (2003). www.transport.rar.pl. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
- ^ Wojciech Cupiał. Lokomotywa spalinowa serii ST44. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
- ^ Janusz Mróz. LHS Sławków. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
- ^ Jakub Halor (1999-2004). Strony modeli kolejowych w skali H0. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
- ^ Wojciech Cupiał. Lokomotywa spalinowa serii ST44. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
- ^ Jakub Halor (1999-2004). Strony modeli kolejowych w skali H0. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
- ^ Michał Rudnicki & Jacek Eychler (2003). www.transport.rar.pl. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
- ^ Wojciech Cupiał. Lokomotywa spalinowa serii ST44. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
- ^ Janusz Mróz. LHS Sławków. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
- ^ Zmodernizowana lokomtywa serii ST44. Bumar-Fablok. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
- ^ Taiga Drums in North Korea. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
- ^ Taiga Drums in North Korea. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
- ^ Wojciech Cupiał. Lokomotywa spalinowa serii ST44. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
- ^ Janusz Mróz. LHS Sławków. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
- ^ Jakub Halor (1999-2004). Strony modeli kolejowych w skali H0. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
