Locomotives, electric and diesel trains 1520-mm gauge.

[Poezdnik]

Hello!

The length of public railways in Ukraine is more than 22 thousand kilometers, of which 45% is electrified. Two types of electrical systems are presents on the Ukrainian railway network (of the Former Soviet Union): Voltage = 3000 V DC and 25000 V AC (50 Hz). The AC-system introduced later. Also, diesel-electric locomotives many use on the railroads 1520-mm gauge (the diesel generator with the electric transmission is present).

The VL8 (ru: ВЛ8) is a DC electric dual-section locomotive for cargo trains.
The initials VL are those of Vladimir Lenin (ru: Владимир Ленин), after whom the class is named.
VL8 was in production from 1953 to 1967 at Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant (NEVZ) and Tbilisi Electric Locomotive Plant (TEVZ) . The Donetsk Railway and Cisdnieper Railway of Ukranian railway use many the VL8, which are reliability locomotives.

[aussiesteve]

G'day Poezdnik,
You're English is far superior to my Russian.
I don't understand any Russian lingo.
But, I do like the TEM style diesel locomotives.
Here in NSW we are having some EMU commuter trains built in South Korea.
The same company that built the recent EMU commuter trains for Ukraine.
The cars will be similar in design, though different in operation.
Our NSW overhead supply system is 1500 vDC.
Sadly, here there are only a couple of preserved electric locomotives remaining.
We had a fleet of 100 electric locos for freight and passenger train haulage up til 2002.
Only EMU commuter trains continue to utilize the overhead system here.
Steve.

[Poezdnik]

Hello, aussiesteve!
Thank you very much for your a message!
The Russian - is hard.
I am wriyte a next post about the TEM diesel locomotive.

[DSY011]

Hi Poezdnik, do not worry too much about your English, there are a lot of English people who no not speak English very well. Sorry aussiesteve but sometimes even I have problems working out some of the Aussie english lingo. Mind you, when I first arrived in the UK, I had to listen very hard to understand some of the English spoken in the UK. Still it would be a poor world if everyone all sounded the same. Viva la variety.

[aussiesteve]

G'day Poezdnik and Syd,
I will look forward to the TEM post.
Reminds me of the WW2 donation of Alco locos to the USSR.
Then the home grown version emerging.
Yes, us Aussies pride ourselves on our Strine lingo.
Though, many regard it as vulgar.
Tower of Babel stuff in that we got so many lingos around the globe.
One does wonder just who invented em all.
Almost as many diverse signalling systems in use around the globe.
Yes, variety does make things interesting.
But, had Esperanto taken off as an international alternative, we at least could converse without translators.
Steve.

[Poezdnik]

Hello!
DSY011, thank you for your advice! O.K.
aussiesteve, you intimate knowledge of USSR the locomotive engineering history!

The founder family the TEM ("TE Maneuver") diesel-electric locomotives is the locomotive TE1 (ru: ТЭ1), was build on a base the RSD-1 (ALCO Plant (USA)), it have under the name DA (ru: Д А) in USSR. The locomotives TE1 was of the production of the Kharkov Transport Machine-Building Plant (HZTM), in 1947 - 1949 (on photo, the TE1 into the Moscow Museum of Railway, Russia).
TEM2 - most popular in past, shunting service diesel-electric locomotive. They was of the production of the Bryansk Machine-Building Plant (BMZ) and Voroshilovsky Slag-Building Plant (VZOR), in 1960 - 1975 (on photo, do not working already a TEM2 locomotive, in Kharkov region).
TEM15 - popular shunting service diesel-elecric locomotive. Locomotives was of the production of the Bryansk Machine-Building Plant, in 1987 - 1995.
TEM18 - modern shunting service diesel-electric locomotive. They also was of the production of the Bryansk Machine-Building Plant. Is beginning in 1992.
TEM19 - of the latest design, Russian shunting service diesel-electric locomotive. It can filled dry gas fuel (on photo, the TEM18 and TEM19 locomotives on the Moscow Exhibition of Railway, Russia).

[aussiesteve]

Crikey, that TEM19 is an interesting shape.
I have heard some of the older TEM versions in video clips at You Tube.
I am after all an Alco nutter, my most fav loco designs.
I also am wondering just when that knuckle coupler design originated.
It is very different to the standard USRR knuckle coupler.
Steve.

[Poezdnik]

Hello, aussiesteve!
Yes, the SA-3 (ru: СА-3) knuckle coupler be used for do automatical coupling carriages on the gravity hump (photo below).

[hereward]

Did I read that the gauge was chosen by the Russians to deviate from standard to make life difficult for any invaders into what is the most invaded country in the world.

[Poezdnik]

Hello, hereward!
Yes, a Russian history defined chosen the gauge.