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Two- and Multiple-Section Electric Locomotives[Inhalt]
Italian State Railway E.636
Italy | 1940
469 produced
E.636.385
E.636.385
Dequadim
Varianttypes 21/65 and 24/74types 21/65 and 24/74 (later)typ 28/65
General
Built1940-1962
ManufacturerBreda, OM CGE, Reggiane, SNOS Savigliano, FIAT, TIBB, OF Pistoiesi, Ansaldo
Axle configB-B-B 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length59 ft 10 1/2 in
Wheelbase28 ft 0 5/8 in
Rigid wheelbase10 ft 4 in
Service weight222,667 lbs
Adhesive weight222,667 lbs
Axle load37,110 lbs
Boiler
Varianttypes 21/65 and 24/74types 21/65 and 24/74 (later)typ 28/65
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - DC
Electric system3,000 V
Hourly power2,816 hp (2,100 kW)
Top speed59 mph68 mph75 mph
Starting effort80,931 lbf
Calculated Values
electric locomotive
passenger
freight
two-section
Italian State Railway E.656
Italy | 1975
461 produced
E.656.030 in May 2015 in Domodossola
E.656.030 in May 2015 in Domodossola
Markus Eigenheer
General
Built1975-1989
ManufacturerOfficine Casaralta, Reggiane, SOFER, TIBB, Ansaldo, Asgen, Italtrafo
Axle configB-B-B 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length60 ft 0 1/16 in
Wheelbase43 ft 5 5/8 in
Rigid wheelbase9 ft 4 3/16 in
Service weight264,554 lbs
Adhesive weight264,554 lbs
Axle load44,092 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - DC
Electric system3,000 V
Hourly power6,437 hp (4,800 kW)
Continuous power5,632 hp (4,200 kW)
Top speed93 mph
Starting effort55,977 lbf
Calculated Values
electric locomotive
freight
passenger
two-section
New York Central R-Motor
United States | 1926
43 produced
Two six-axle Chicago South Shore & South Bend R-2s in front of a freight train in February 1972
Two six-axle Chicago South Shore & South Bend R-2s in front of a freight train in February 1972
Roger Puta

When the Kaufman Act banned the use of steam locomotives in New York City, the New York Central commissioned ALCO-GE to build an electric freight locomotive in 1926. The machine, known as the R-Motor, consisted of two sections, each with two two-axle bogies that had modern nose-suspended motors. Initially there was no series production, instead the P-Motors were built for passenger service.

It wasn't until 1930 that 42 class R-2 locomotives were built. They only had one longer car body and two three-axle bogies. They were now used to serve the busy freight traffic to the ports and industrial plants. As early as the 1940s, their importance fell with the introduction of the first diesel locomotives. In 1955, ten were sold to the Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad, where they remained in use until the 1970s.

VariantRR-2
General
Built19261930-1931
Manufacturermechanical part: ALCO, electrical part: General Electric
Axle configB-B+B-B C-C 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length68 ft 0 in54 ft 0 in
Service weight345,000 lbs266,400 lbs
Adhesive weight345,000 lbs266,400 lbs
Axle load43,125 lbs44,400 lbs
Boiler
VariantRR-2
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - DC
Electric system660 V
Continuous power4,000 hp (2,983 kW)3,000 hp (2,237 kW)
Top speed60 mph
Starting effort88,500 lbf66,500 lbf
Calculated Values
electric locomotive
freight
third rail
last changed: 02/2024
Russian Railways series Э5К
Russia | 2004
more than 2,066 produced
4ЭC5К-004 in August 2017 in Shcherbinka
4ЭC5К-004 in August 2017 in Shcherbinka
Stolbovsky
VariantЭ5К2ЭC5К3ЭC5К4ЭC5К
General
Builtsince 2004since 20072014
ManufacturerNowotscherkassk
Axle configB-B B-B+B-B B-B+B-B+B-B B-B+B-B+B-B+B-B 
Gauge4 ft 11 13/16 in (Russian broad gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length63 ft 3 15/16 in114 ft 10 1/8 in172 ft 3 3/16 in229 ft 8 1/4 in
Wheelbase43 ft 3 11/16 in37 ft 4 13/16 in
Rigid wheelbase9 ft 6 3/16 in
Service weight220,462 lbs440,924 lbs652,568 lbs864,211 lbs
Adhesive weight220,462 lbs440,924 lbs652,568 lbs864,211 lbs
Axle load54,013 lbs55,116 lbs54,381 lbs54,013 lbs
Boiler
VariantЭ5К2ЭC5К3ЭC5К4ЭC5К
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - AC
Electric system25,000 V 50 Hz
Hourly power4,399 hp (3,280 kW)8,797 hp (6,560 kW)13,196 hp (9,840 kW)17,594 hp (13,120 kW)
Continuous power4,104 hp (3,060 kW)8,207 hp (6,120 kW)12,311 hp (9,180 kW)16,414 hp (12,240 kW)
Top speed75 mph
Starting effort76,210 lbf152,420 lbf228,631 lbf304,841 lbf
Calculated Values
electric locomotive
freight
two-section
multi-section locomotive
Russian Railways series 2ЭС6 and 3ЭС6
Russia | 2006
1,379 produced
2ЭС6 with a large inscription “Sosnin Vitaly Fedorovich” in Chelyabinsk
2ЭС6 with a large inscription “Sosnin Vitaly Fedorovich” in Chelyabinsk
Ural-66
Variant2ЭС63ЭС6
General
Builtsince 2006
ManufacturerUral
Axle configB-B+B-B B-B+B-B+B-B 
Gauge4 ft 11 13/16 in (Russian broad gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length111 ft 6 9/16 in167 ft 3 7/8 in
Wheelbase40 ft 8 3/16 in
Rigid wheelbase9 ft 10 1/8 in
Service weight440,924 lbs661,386 lbs
Adhesive weight440,924 lbs661,386 lbs
Axle load55,116 lbs
Boiler
Variant2ЭС63ЭС6
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - DC
Electric system3,000 V
Hourly power8,636 hp (6,440 kW)12,954 hp (9,660 kW)
Continuous power8,046 hp (6,000 kW)12,069 hp (9,000 kW)
Top speed75 mph
Starting effort158,715 lbf238,073 lbf
Calculated Values
electric locomotive
freight
two-section
Russian Railways series 2ЭС4К and 3ЭС4К
Russia | 2008
152 produced
A 2ЭС4К in March 2016 at Ruchyi station in Saint Petersburg
A 2ЭС4К in March 2016 at Ruchyi station in Saint Petersburg
Alexey Koschin/Convoker / CC-BY 4.0

After the turn of the millennium, the RŽD needed a new heavy freight electric locomotive for its network with 3,000 volts DC, whereupon the 2ЭС4К (2ES4K) was developed. This was primarily intended to replace the older two-section locomotives of the ВЛ10 and ВЛ11 series, which were built more than 2,000 times. In order to accelerate the development and to be able to set up large-scale production in a short time, the aim was to have as many identical parts as possible with the 2ЭС5К AC locomotive. This in turn was based on the ВЛ80, which had been in use since 1961.

Like the locomotives to be replaced, the 2ЭС4К consists of two sections, each with two two-axle bogies. As with older DC locomotives, the traction motors are traditionally controlled via series and parallel circuits and resistors. The only new thing is a microprocessor control that monitors various aspects.

As of mid-2020, 148 2ЭС4К and four 2ЕЛ4 for Ukraine had been produced, showing some variations. By using additional center sections without driver's cabs, 76 3ЭС4К were built up to the same time, each with a total output of 9,600 kW. The locomotives are used in two regions in the North Caucasus and on the October line between Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Variant2ЭС4К3ЭС4К
General
Builtsince 2008
ManufacturerNowotscherkassk
Axle configB-B+B-B B-B+B-B+B-B 
Gauge4 ft 11 13/16 in (Russian broad gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length114 ft 10 1/8 in172 ft 3 3/16 in
Wheelbase37 ft 4 13/16 in
Rigid wheelbase9 ft 6 3/16 in
Service weight423,287 lbs634,931 lbs
Adhesive weight423,287 lbs634,931 lbs
Axle load52,911 lbs
Boiler
Variant2ЭС4К3ЭС4К
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - DC
Electric system3,000 V
Hourly power8,583 hp (6,400 kW)12,874 hp (9,600 kW)
Continuous power7,939 hp (5,920 kW)11,908 hp (8,880 kW)
Top speed75 mph
Calculated Values
electric locomotive
freight
two-section
last changed: 06/2022
Russian Railways series 2ЭС7
Russia | 2013
35 produced
2ЭС7-003 in August 2019 in Shcherbinka
2ЭС7-003 in August 2019 in Shcherbinka

The 2ЭС7 (2ES7) is a development of the 2ЭС10 freight locomotive, which is designed for operation under 25 kV alternating current and has three-phase traction motors. Like the 2ЭС10, the 2ЭС7 delivers an hourly output of 8,800 kW with two four-axle sections. The traction equipment was developed with the help of Siemens. The locomotives can be used in multiple, but also as a single section.

The first prototype was completed in 2013 and called “Black Granite”. Series production only started in 2019. The Russian State Railways received 13 double units and 22 more went to SilkWay in Kazakhstan. With the sanctions currently in force against Russia, it is unclear whether further locomotives have been or will be built with Siemens technology after 2022.

General
Built2013, 2019-2022
ManufacturerUral, Siemens
Axle configB-B+B-B 
Gauge4 ft 11 13/16 in (Russian broad gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Service weight440,924 lbs
Adhesive weight440,924 lbs
Axle load55,116 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - AC
Electric system25,000 V 50 Hz
Hourly power11,801 hp (8,800 kW)
Continuous power11,265 hp (8,400 kW)
Top speed75 mph
Starting effort176,250 lbf
Calculated Values
electric locomotive
freight
three-phase AC
two-section
last changed: 01/2024
Soviet Railways series ВЛ8
Soviet Union | 1953
1,723 produced
Ukrainian ВЛ8-1512 in October 2017 in the Dnipro area
Ukrainian ВЛ8-1512 in October 2017 in the Dnipro area
Andrey Kurmelyov

In order to be able to dispense with double-heading with two ВЛ22s in freight traffic, the first Soviet electric double locomotive with a total of eight axles was manufactured in 1953. Due to the original production site in Novocherkassk, it was initially called Н8 (N8), but was renamed ВЛ8 (VL8) in 1963 in honor of Vladimir Lenin. The one-part, six-axle ВЛ23 was developed directly from the ВЛ8. The successor ВЛ10 was manufactured from 1967 after 1,723 ВЛ8 had been built.

It was initially only used in Siberia on lines electrified with 3,000 volts direct current, but that was later expanded to a larger area. In the 1970s some ВЛ8s received train heating. From 1976 onwards the conversion to the 100 km/h fast ВЛ8М took place. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the locomotives were in use in several CIS countries. Some were in use in Ukraine until 2010, and in Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia even for longer.

VariantВЛ8rebuilt ВЛ8М
General
Built1953-19671976-1985
ManufacturerNowotscherkassk, Tiflis
Axle configB-B+B-B 
Gauge4 ft 11 13/16 in (Russian broad gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length90 ft 3 7/16 in
Wheelbase75 ft 9 7/16 in
Rigid wheelbase10 ft 6 in
Service weight396,832 lbs
Adhesive weight396,832 lbs
Axle load49,604 lbs
Boiler
VariantВЛ8rebuilt ВЛ8М
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - DC
Electric system3,000 V
Hourly power5,632 hp (4,200 kW)
Continuous power5,042 hp (3,760 kW)
Top speed50 mph62 mph
Starting effort133,986 lbf
Calculated Values
electric locomotive
freight
passenger
two-section
last changed: 12/2023
Soviet Railways series ВЛ10
Soviet Union | 1961
1,901 produced
RŽD ВЛ10-1334 in October 2013 in Saint Petersburg
RŽD ВЛ10-1334 in October 2013 in Saint Petersburg
Neu-Zwei
General
Built1961-1977
ManufacturerNowotscherkassk, Tiflis
Axle configB-B+B-B 
Gauge4 ft 11 13/16 in (Russian broad gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length114 ft 3 5/8 in
Wheelbase34 ft 5 3/8 in
Rigid wheelbase9 ft 10 1/8 in
Service weight405,650 lbs
Adhesive weight405,650 lbs
Axle load50,706 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - DC
Electric system3,000 V
Hourly power7,188 hp (5,360 kW)
Continuous power6,115 hp (4,560 kW)
Top speed62 mph
Starting effort138,033 lbf
Calculated Values
electric locomotive
freight
two-section
Soviet Railways series ВЛ80
Soviet Union | 1961
4,921 produced
Belarusian ВЛ80<sup>C</sup>-592 in May 2021 in Minsk
Belarusian ВЛ80C-592 in May 2021 in Minsk
Homoatrox

The ВЛ80 (VL80) was the most important electric freight locomotive on the 25,000 Volt AC network in the Soviet Union and its successor states. In its mechanic part, it was mostly identical with the ВЛ10 for use on the DC network. Thy consisted of two independent sections of four axles each and had a top speed of 110 km/h. Some locomotives were even built with three sections.

Over the years, several variants were built with changes in the electric part. The first mass-produced variant was the ВЛ80К (VL80K) with 695. The next variant were 1,317 ВЛ80Т (VL80T) with a rheostatic brake. Starting with the 373 ВЛ80Р (VL80R), a regenerative brake was used. The last and most numerous variant was the ВЛ80С (VL80S) with 2,746.

Depending on the source, 4,921 or even more than 5,100 locomotives were built between 1961 and 1995. Even though the addition of the numbers of the individual variants results in the higher number, the lower number found in several sources might come from many locomotives which were rebuilt into another variant. In Ukraine in the nineties, some were even used to create electric multiple units by adding coaches between the two sections of a locomotive.

Variantfirst batchlast batch
General
Built1961-1995
ManufacturerNowotscherkassk
Axle configB-B+B-B 
Gauge4 ft 11 13/16 in (Russian broad gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length107 ft 8 15/16 in
Service weight405,650 lbs
Adhesive weight405,650 lbs
Axle load50,706 lbs
Boiler
Variantfirst batchlast batch
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - AC
Electric system25,000 V 50 Hz
Hourly power6,544 hp (4,880 kW)7,724 hp (5,760 kW)
Continuous power7,456 hp (5,560 kW)8,583 hp (6,400 kW)
Top speed68 mph
Calculated Values
electric locomotive
freight
two-section
last changed: 08/2024
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