VR Class Dv12

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Class Dv12
VR class Dv12 diesel-hydraulic locomotive at Tampere Perkiö depot. In the background VR class Dr14
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-hydraulic
BuilderValmet Oy Tampere / Rauma-Repola Oy Lokomo, Finland
Build date1963–1984
Total produced192
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARB-B
 • UICBo′Bo′
Gauge1,524 mm (5 ft)
Driver dia.1 m (3 ft 3.37 in)
Length14.00 m (45 ft 11+1⁄8 in)
Width3.24 m (10 ft 7+1⁄2 in)
Height4.6 m (15 ft 1+1⁄8 in)
Adhesive weight7.8 t (7.7 long tons; 8.6 short tons)
Loco weight62.2 t (61.2 long tons; 68.6 short tons)
Fuel typeDiesel
Prime moverTampella MGO V16 BSHR & SACM
Engine typeV16 diesel engine
Cylinders16
TransmissionHydraulic Voith L 216 rs
Performance figures
Maximum speed125 km/h (78 mph) or 85 km/h (53 mph)
Power output1,000 kW (1,300 hp)
Tractive effort200 kN (45,000 lbf)
Career
OperatorsVR
ClassDv12
Number in class192
Numbers2501–2568, 2601–2664, 2701–2760
DispositionIn Service

The Dv12 (Sv12 and Sr12 until 1977[1]) is the standard Finnish medium-weight diesel-hydraulic road switcher operated by VR. As all the main lines of Finnish railway network have been electrificied, the locomotive is designated mostly to unelectrified, less frequently used side lines.[2] Occasionally it may still pull cargo trains on main lines. It has also been put in service as a shunter, replacing older classes Dv15 and Dv16 as they were retired. A total of 192 locomotives were built by Lokomo and Valmet between the years 1963 and 1984.[3][4] As of 2022, the oldest Dv12 units still in use are 59 years old.

Technical information[edit]

A Dv12 class diesel locomotive passes Huutokoski while pulling a regional train from Pieksämäki to Joensuu.
A pair of Dv12 locomotives at Kolari, July 2007

The Dv12 is a general purpose locomotive which was designed for both passenger and cargo train use. Its 1000 kW power is somewhat low by current standards, but it is capable of multiple-unit operation with only one train crew and doublets and triplets are common.[1] It has a low axle load of 15.6 tonnes, which makes it very well suited for branch lines that allow only smaller axle loads.[1] All the axles are interconnected with shafts and universal joints to the Voith L 216 rs hydraulic transmission.[2] Because all axles must rotate at the same speed, the individual slipping of axles is impossible. This translates into a very good tractive effort for a 62 tonne locomotive. The main engine is a Finnish-built Tampella SACM MGO V16 BSHR Diesel with two Brown Boveri-VTR 200 M turbochargers.[1]

The Dv12 has two speed ranges, 85 km/h (53 mph) for cargo use and 125 km/h (78 mph) for passenger use.[1] This mechanical gear can only be switched with the locomotive at standstill.

Variants[edit]

Sr12[edit]

Between 1965 and 1972, 60 slightly heavier variants of the Sv12 were built.[5] These were assimilated in the same series when their nomenclature changed to Dv12.[5]

Sv1[edit]

Dv12 number 2501 was modified between 1978 and 1980 to run on electricity instead of diesel, becoming class Sv1 number 3201.[6] The locomotive was used first in freight traffic, later in passenger trains between Helsinki and Imatra.[7] The Sv1 was used to test three-phase alternating current electrical engines; the results were used when developing class Dr16.[7] The electrical components were delivered by Strömberg,[6] which was also involved in the Dr16 project. The locomotive was painted yellow with black stripes, a colour scheme known from another short-lived prototype, the Dr15.

In 1984, after four years of testing, the Sv1 was refitted with a diesel engine, returning to its original nomenclature and number.[6] Number 3201 is nowadays used on an Sr2 class locomotive. Dv12 number 2501 is currently, in 2019, still in use.

Retirement and future development[edit]

In 2009, VR abandoned some of the older units of 2700 series Dv12s.[8] The company plans to purchase new diesel locomotives during the 2010s.[9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Eonsuu, Honkanen & Pölhö 1995, p. 20.
  2. ^ a b Eonsuu, Honkanen & Pölhö 1995, p. 21.
  3. ^ Auvinen & Ahtiainen 2008.
  4. ^ Eonsuu, Honkanen & Pölhö 1995.
  5. ^ a b Eonsuu, Honkanen & Pölhö 1995, p. 24.
  6. ^ a b c Eonsuu, Honkanen & Pölhö 1995, p. 87.
  7. ^ a b Jokinen, Kari. "Veturitalli – Suomalaisia mahtivetureita" (in Finnish). Sv1 "Sähködeeveri". Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  8. ^ "Suruliputus saatteli veturit viimeiselle matkalle" (in Finnish). Ilta-Sanomat. 14 October 2009. Archived from the original on October 15, 2009. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  9. ^ "VR suunnittelee uusia vetureita radoille jo vuonna 2015" (in Finnish). Helsingin Sanomat. 1 October 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2011.

Literature[edit]

  • Auvinen, Jari; Ahtiainen, Jukka (2008). VR Suomi – Dieselien aikaan (in Finnish). Kustantaja Laaksonen. p. 231. ISBN 978-952-99685-7-2.
  • Eonsuu, Tapio; Honkanen, Pekka; Pölhö, Eljas (1995). Suomen veturit osa 2. Moottorikalusto. Elokuvan Maailma. pp. 20–25, 87–88. ISBN 952-5060-02-0.
  • Arttu Käyhkö: Deeverin matkassa Kustantaja Laaksonen, Otavan kirjapaino Keuruu 2015 ISBN 978-952-5805-78-9

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to VR Class Dv12.
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