VR Class Hr11

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VR Class Hr11

Hr11 1953.jpg

Hr11 number 1953 at Helsinki railway station in 1965.
Type and origin
Power type Diesel-hydraulic
Builder Valmet Oy
Build date 1955
Total produced 5
Specifications
Configuration:
   AAR B-B
   UIC B′B′
Gauge 1,524 mm (5 ft)
Wheel diameter 960 mm (3 ft 2 in)
Length 15.4 m (50 ft 6 in)
Loco weight 66.5 tonnes (65.4 long tons; 73.3 short tons)
Transmission Mekydro hydraulic-mechanical
Performance figures
Maximum speed 120 km/h (75 mph)
Power output 2 × 600 hp (450 kW)
Career
Operators VR
First run 1955
Withdrawn 1972
Disposition No 1950 preserved at the Finnish Railway Museum, others scrapped

The VR Class Hr11 was the first class of line-haul diesel locomotives used by Valtionrautatiet (Finnish State Railways). Only five units were built, all delivered by Valmet in 1955. The Maybach diesel engines used in the locomotives proved highly unreliable, resulting in a complete overhaul of the engine-transmission system in 1956–58, but this did not solve all of the reliability problems. The Hr11 series was withdrawn from service in 1972.

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Valmet Oyj is a Finnish company and a developer and supplier of technologies, automation systems and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. Valmet’s history as an industrial operator stretches back over 200 years. Formerly owned by the State of Finland, Valmet was reborn in December 2013 with the demerger of the pulp, paper and power businesses from Metso Corporation. Valmet is organized around four business lines: Services, Pulp and Energy, Paper, and Automation. Valmet's services include maintenance outsourcing, mill and power plant improvements and spare parts. The company provides technology for pulp, tissue, board and paper mills and bioenergy plants. In the area of automation, Valmet's solutions range from single measurements to mill wide turnkey automation projects. Valmet's operations are divided into five geographical areas: North America, South America, EMEA, China, and Asia-Pacific. Valmet has operations in approximately 30 countries and it employs 12,000 people. Its headquarters are located in Espoo, and it is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki. In 2017, Valmet's net sales totaled EUR 3.2 billion.

Maybach historic automobile brand of Germany, followed by the subbrand Mercedes-Maybach in 2014

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Contents

History

VR (Finnish Railways) started a modernization project in the early fifties. VR had a small amount of diesel and gasoline-powered railcars since the 1920s, but in 1952 VR had only steam locomotives.

Modern aluminum-carriage diesel powered express multiple units (Dm3 and Dm4) were introduced in 1952. Related to these orders, VR ordered in 1952 five passenger train diesel locomotives with hydraulic transmission from Valmet Oy, Tampere. The locomotives were delivered in 1955. [1]

Technology

The locomotives had originally two six-cylinder Maybach MD320 diesel engines driving each their own Maybach Mekydro K64B hydraulic-mechanical gearbox. The engines and transmission were placed in the bogies. The engine-transmission units proved to be very unreliable, and in 1956–58 a complete overhaul was done. Among other improvements, the engines were fitted with turbochargers, which increased the power from 450 hp to 600 hp, but simultaneously lowered the RPM from 1700 to 1500 r/min. The new engine designation was Maybach MD325. The gearboxes were changed to another type, Mekydro KL64. After the upgrade, the engines were reasonably reliable, but the reliability of the Maybach Mekydros did not improve significantly. [1]

Operation

The locomotives carried a gray livery, with wine-red broad stripes. The gray color and sleek looks earned it the nickname Lentävä susi (Flying Wolf). They pulled mainly passenger trains between Tampere, Helsinki and Turku. All units were abandoned in 1972.

Preservation

No 1950 is stored at the Finnish Railway Museum.

See also

Finnish Railway Museum railway museum in Hyvinkää, Finland

The Finnish Railway Museum is located in Hyvinkää, Finland. It was founded in 1898 and located in Helsinki. The museum was moved to Hyvinkää in 1974.

Jokioinen Museum Railway

The Jokioinen Museum Railway is located in Jokioinen, Finland. It is located on the last operating commercial narrow gauge railway in Finland, the 750 mm gauge Jokioinen Railway.

The history of rail transport in Finland began on January 31, 1862, with the opening of the railway line between Helsinki and Hämeenlinna. By 1900 most of the future main lines had been constructed, including the line to St. Petersburg. By the time of the birth of the new Finnish Republic in 1917 lines connected all major cities, major ports, and reached as far as the Swedish border, and inner Finland as far north as Kontiomäki in Paltamo region, as well as eastwards into Karelia.

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VR (company) state-owned railway company in Finland

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References

  1. 1 2 "Hr11-veturin tekniikkaa". Resiina. Museorautatieyhdistys ry, Suomen Rautatiehistoriallinen Seura ry: 12–19. April 1992. ISSN   0356-0600.