Soviet Railways series ВЛ85 (VL85)
Soviet Union 1983 270 produced
The ВЛ85 (VL85) is a heavy two-section freight locomotive built for the 25 kV AC network in eastern Siberia. Electrically it had similarities with the ВЛ80C, but each section stood on three two-axle bogies. Like this it has a top speed of 110 km/h, but a higher axle load and an hourly output of more than 10,000 kW. Between 1983 and 1994, 270 were built at Novocherkassk. They got the nickname “Buk”, what stood for “Bull”. Almost all are still in regular service, with the exception of some which were damaged in accidents or fell victim to fires. In parallel to the ВЛ85, the ВЛ15 was built as DC variant with a reduced output.
Technical data
General
- Built
- 1983-1994
- Manufacturers
- Novocherkassk
- Wheel arrangement
- B-B-B+B-B-B
- Gauge
- 1,520 mm (Russian broad gauge)
Dimensions and weights
- Length
- 45.00 m
- Wheelbase
- 16.43 m
- Service mass
- 288 t
- Adhesion mass
- 288 t
- Rigid wheelbase
- 2.90 m
- Axle load
- 24 t
Power
- Power source
- electric - AC
- Hourly power
- 10,020 kW (13,623 PS)
- Continuous power
- 9,360 kW (12,726 PS)
- Top speed
- 110 km/h
- Starting effort
- 740.0 kN
Calculated values
- Factor of adhesion
- 1 : 3.82
- Power-to-weight ratio
- 34.8 kW/t
- Adhesive weight/Total
- 1 : 1.00
