VL80

VL80
VL80t-784 passing through the Sharya Kostromskaya region
Type and origin Power type Electric Builder NEVZSUNRUS Build date 1961 - 1995 Total produced 4,921
Specifications Configuration: ​ •UIC Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′ Gauge 1,520 mm(4 ft11+27⁄32in) Length 32.48 m (106 ft 7 in) Height 5.1 m (16 ft 9 in) Electric system/s 25 kV 50 Hz ACCatenary Current pickup(s) Pantograph Traction motors 8×НБ-418К6 (en: NB-418K6) Loco brake ? Train brakes Mechanical pneumatic
Performance figures Maximum speed 110 km/h (68 mph) Power output 4,880 or 6,400 kW (6,540 or 8,580 hp) (depending on model)
Career Operators РЖД,БЧ,КТЗ,УЗ,OTY Locale Russia Soviet Union Belarus Kazakhstan Ukraine Uzbekistan

TheVL80(ru:ВЛ80) is aSoviet(and laterRussian) built electricACmainlinefreight locomotive. The initialsVLare those ofVladimir Lenin(ru: Владимир Ленин), after whom the class is named.

History

Designed by theВсероссийский научно-исследовательский и проектно-конструкторский институт электровозостроения(en: All-Russian scientific research and design-engineering institute of electric locomotive construction) – usually abbreviated to ВЭлНИИ – the VL80 enjoys the accolade of having the longest production span of any Soviet electric locomotive: 33 years. All variants of the series were built at theNovocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant(NEVZ; ru: НЭВЗ) between the years 1961 and 1994. All the mechanical parts, traction engines, and auxiliary electric machinery were manufactured at the Novocherkassk plant. Some of the important components, such as the tractive transformer, were sourced from other factories.

The first VL80s were characterised by theirmercury arc rectifiers.Later, they were replaced withsiliconones, thus giving birth to theВЛ80^К(en:VL80^K) series. TheКstands forкремний,the Russian word forsilicon.Between the years 1961 and 1973, a total of 695 VL80^Ks had been produced.

Currently, the VL80 series is used on allelectrifiedroutes inRussia,as well as inKazakhstan,Uzbekistan,Belarus,andUkraine.

Technical data

The VL80 is a dual-section (orarticulated) locomotive composed of two identical units, each resting on two two-axle bogies, powered by eight НБ-418К6 (en: NB-4186K6) electric tractive motors equipped with axle-support suspension. In order to pick up thecurrentfromoverhead lines,the VL80 is fitted with twopantographs;one above the driver's cab on each section. Similarly, each section of the locomotive is equipped with one ОДЦЭ-5000/25Б (en: ODCE-5000/25B) tractivetransformer.The VL80^Tand ВЛ80^С(en: VL80^S) models are furnished withdynamic brakes.

VL80^T

Manufactured between 1961 and 1980, theVL80^T(ru:ВЛ80^т) introduced a markedly different electrical system, as well as an improvedlateral supportsystem which improved the locomotive's stability. Originally, the series used spring suspension similar to that found in the VL80^K,but all models built since 1971 have cradle suspension. A total of 2,107 units were made during the 19 years in which the series was in production.

VL80^R

Designed for use along the difficult sections of theKrasnoyarsk,Eastern Siberia,andFar Easternroutes – as well as the "Батайск" (en: Bataysk) depot in theNorth Caucasus– theVL80^R(ru:ВЛ80^Р) has the same tractive capabilities as the VL80^Tand the VL80^S.The difference between the VL80^Rand the two aforementioned models is that it has an improved anti-wheelslipsystem which continuously regulates the amount ofvoltagesupplied to the traction engines, thus ensuring that an increase in thrust doesn't result in jerks, which invariably lead to wheelslip. The VL80^Rgets itsRdesignation from the fact that it is fitted withregenerative braking(ru: рекуперативное торможение) mechanism.

Several locomotives, assigned to the Krasnoyarsk section, have been modernised and are capable of participating inMUoperations withconsistscontaining 3 coupled units.

Despite having been in production for almost 20 years (1967-1986), a mere 373 examples rolled out of the NEVZ plant.

Notable examples

ВЛ80^Р-1549was used as an exhibit at the Электро-77 (en: Elektro-77)expoheld inMoscowin June 1977.

Built in 1982,ВЛ80^Р-1718became the 10,000th locomotive to be produced byNEVZ,since the plant's inception in 1936.

ВЛ80^Р-1685featured in the Soviet filmМагистраль(en: Mainline) and has obtained cult status amongst Russian rail enthusiasts.

VL80^S

TheVL80^S(ru:ВЛ80^с) is simply a VL80^Twhich has been modified for use inMUoperations. The 'S' in its name derives from the first letter of the Russian term for multiple-unit train control:Система Многих Единиц(literally:Multiple Unit System) and commonly shortened to СМЕ.

The first VL80^Ss to roll off the production line were designed to work with only two or four coupled units (or sections). In 1982, unit numbers 550, 551, and 552 were built to work with sets of two, three, or four sections. All VL80^Ss built since 1983 (ВЛ80^с-697 being the first of these) have this capability. The only restriction is that theconsistcannot be a third trailer section equipped with dynamic brakes.

As a result of several modifications being made to the locomotive's construction, enabling it to pull additional units, the new certified weight became 192 tonnes.

A total of 2,746 examples rolled out of the NEVZ works between 1979 and 1994.

VL80^SM

The last of the VL80 series, only 4VL80^SMs (ru:ВЛ80^см) were built during the model's three year, post-Soviet production life (1991-1994). All four units are currently housed at the Bataysk depot in theNorth Caucasus.