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TheVL80 (ru:ВЛ80) is aSoviet (and laterRussian) built electricACmainline freight locomotive. The initialsVL are those ofVladimir Lenin (ru: Владимир Ленин), after whom the class is named.
Designed by theВсероссийский научно-исследовательский и проектно-конструкторский институт электровозостроения (en: All-Russian scientific research and design-engineering institute of electric locomotive construction) – usually abbreviated to ВЭлНИИ – the VL80 had the longest production span of any Soviet electric locomotive at 33 years from 1961 to 1994. All variants of the series were built at theNovocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant (NEVZ; ru: НЭВЗ) with all mechanical parts, traction engines, and auxiliary electric machinery manufactured there as well. Some of the important components, such as the tractive transformer, were sourced from other factories.
The first VL80s were characterised by theirmercury arc rectifiers. Later, they were replaced withsilicon ones, thus giving birth to theВЛ80К (en:VL80K) series. TheК stands forкремний, the Russian word forsilicon. Between the years 1961 and 1973, a total of 695 VL80Ks had been produced.
Currently, the VL80 series is used on allelectrified routes inRussia, as well as inKazakhstan,Uzbekistan,Belarus, andUkraine.
The VL80 is a dual-section (orarticulated) locomotive composed of two identical units, each resting on two two-axle bogies, powered by eight НБ-418К6 (en: NB-4186K6) electric tractive motors equipped with axle-support suspension. In order to pick up thecurrent fromoverhead lines, the VL80 is fitted with twopantographs; one above the driver's cab on each section. Similarly, each section of the locomotive is equipped with one ОДЦЭ-5000/25Б (en: ODCE-5000/25B) tractivetransformer. The VL80T and ВЛ80С (en: VL80S) models are furnished withdynamic brakes.
Manufactured between 1961 and 1980, theVL80T (ru:ВЛ80т) introduced a markedly different electrical system, as well as an improvedlateral support system which improved the locomotive's stability. Originally, the series used spring suspension similar to that found in the VL80K, but all models built since 1971 have cradle suspension. A total of 2,107 units were made during the 19 years in which the series was in production.
Designed for use along the difficult sections of theKrasnoyarsk,Eastern Siberia, andFar Eastern routes – as well as the "Батайск" (en: Bataysk) depot in theNorth Caucasus – theVL80R (ru:ВЛ80Р) has the same tractive capabilities as the VL80T and the VL80S. The difference between the VL80R and the two aforementioned models is that it has an improved anti-wheelslip system which continuously regulates the amount ofvoltage supplied to the traction engines, thus ensuring that an increase in thrust doesn't result in jerks, which invariably lead to wheelslip. The VL80R gets itsR designation from the fact that it is fitted withregenerative braking (ru: рекуперативное торможение) mechanism.
Several locomotives, assigned to the Krasnoyarsk section, have been modernised and are capable of participating inMU operations withconsists containing 3 coupled units.
Despite having been in production for almost 20 years (1967-1986), a mere 373 examples rolled out of the NEVZ plant.
ВЛ80Р-1549 was used as an exhibit at the Электро-77 (en: Elektro-77)expo held inMoscow in June 1977.
Built in 1982,ВЛ80Р-1718 became the 10,000th locomotive to be produced byNEVZ, since the plant's inception in 1936.
ВЛ80Р-1685 featured in the Soviet filmМагистраль (en: Mainline) and has obtained cult status amongst Russian rail enthusiasts.
TheVL80S (ru:ВЛ80с) is simply a VL80T which has been modified for use inMU operations. The 'S' in its name derives from the first letter of the Russian term for multiple-unit train control:Система Многих Единиц (literally:Multiple Unit System) and commonly shortened to СМЕ.
The first VL80Ss to roll off the production line were designed to work with only two or four coupled units (or sections). In 1982, unit numbers 550, 551, and 552 were built to work with sets of two, three, or four sections. All VL80Ss built since 1983 (ВЛ80с-697 being the first of these) have this capability. The only restriction is that theconsist cannot be a third trailer section equipped with dynamic brakes. Due to the needed design modifications, the new certified weight became 192 t (212 short tons).
A total of 2,746 examples were built at the NEVZ works between 1979 and 1994.
The last of the VL80 series, only 4VL80SMs (ru:ВЛ80см) were built during the model's three year, post-Soviet production life (1991-1994). All four units are currently housed at the Bataysk depot in theNorth Caucasus.
