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Soviet Railways series ТЭ3
Soviet Union | 1953
6,808 produced
ТЭ3-001 in July 1954 at the Shcherbinka depot
ТЭ3-001 in July 1954 at the Shcherbinka depot
Ataman8888 / www.trainpix.org

The ТЭ3 was developed as a derivative of the ТЭ2, which was the first mass-produced diesel locomotive developed in the Soviet Union. The centerpiece was the new 2D100 engine, which was an opposed-piston diesel engine with ten cylinders and 20 pistons. It was again a two-section locomotive, but due to the heavier and twice as powerful engines, each section now stood on two three-axle bogies

The two-section locomotives were designed in such a way that each section could also be used independently. Many assemblies were still the same as the ТЭ1 and ТЭ2, so still based on the original ALCO design. The basic appearance corresponded to the ТЭ2, but later locomotives received a raised cab.

Since the test runs showed good results and the power was now sufficient to replace the most powerful steam locomotives, the decision was made to discontinue the production of steam locomotives. To cover the demand, the production of the ТЭ3 was started in two large plants and from 1963 Lugansk was added. A total of 6,808 double units were built by 1973.

In order to achieve a total output of 6,000 hp, some locomotives were converted to three sections. As soon as new locomotives with 3,000 hp per section became available, they were rebuilt to two sections. For passenger trains, the ТЭ7 was based on the ТЭ3, which reached 140 km/h. The last ТЭ3 were used in Russia in freight transport until 2003. In other CIS countries, they could also be found in use in industry for a longer period of time.

General
Built1953-1973
ManufacturerCharkow, Kolomna, Lugansk
Axle configC-C+C-C 
Gauge4 ft 11 13/16 in (Russian broad gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length111 ft 4 9/16 in
Wheelbase41 ft 11 15/16 in
Rigid wheelbase13 ft 9 3/8 in
Service weight555,564 lbs
Adhesive weight555,564 lbs
Axle load46,297 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed62 mph
Starting effort89,024 lbf
Engine2D100
Engine type2x 10-cyl. opposed diesel
Fuel2,874 us gal (diesel)
Engine output3,943 hp (2,940 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
two-section
freight
last changed: 06/2023
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