VL10

VL10[1][2]
VL10-582 in the suburbs of Tomsk
Specifications
Power type	Electric
Builder	Soviet Union Tblisi Electric Locomotive Works, Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant
Build date	1961–1977
Total produced	2,882
AAR wheel arr.	B-B + B-B
UIC classification	Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′
Gauge	1,520 mm (4 ft 11 27⁄32 in)
Locomotive weight	VL10: 184 tonnes VL10U: 200 tonnes
Electric system(s)	3000 V DC
Current collection method	Pantograph
Traction motors	8×TED TL-2
Top speed	100 km/h (62 mph)
Power output	6,165 hp (4,597 kW)
Locomotive brake	Regenerative
Career
Railroad(s)	РЖД (RZhD), Ukrainian Railways
Locale	SUN Soviet Union  RUS Russia  Ukraine

The VL10 (ru: ВЛ10) is an electric two-unit mainline DC freight locomotive used in the Soviet Union and is still operated today by the state owned Russian rail company RZhD and Ukrainian Railways. The initials VL are those of Vladimir Lenin (ru: Владимир Ленин), after whom the class is named.

History

The VL10 series was built as a replacement for the ageing VL8 which, by 1960, no longer met Soviet rail requirements. The VL10s were manufactured at the Tblisi Electric Locomotive Works (ТЭВЗ) between 1961–1977, as well as the Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant (НЭВЗ) during 1969 and 1976. It was also there that all the mechanical components for the series were produced. The first prototype of the VL10 series was built in the Tblisi works under the designation Т8-001. It was built in 1961 to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Soviet rule in Georgia.

See also

• The Museum of the Moscow Railway, at Paveletsky Rail Terminal, Moscow
• Rizhsky Rail Terminal, Home of the Moscow Railway Museum
• Varshavsky Rail Terminal, St.Petersburg, Home of the Central Museum of Railway Transport, Russian Federation
• History of rail transport in Russia

References