TEM2 () is a Soviet diesel-electric shunting locomotive. The locomotive was used throughout the

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

and was exported to Poland and Cuba.

History

The locomotive can be seen as a descendant of the DA units imported under

Lend-Lease Lend-Lease, formally the Lend-Lease Act and introduced as An Act to Promote the Defense of the United States (),3,000 Hurricanes and >4,000 other aircraft) * 28 naval vessels: ** 1 Battleship. (HMS Royal Sovereign (05), HMS Royal Sovereign) * ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

; TEM1 units were produced between 1958 and 1968 as the evolution of the DA units (which were American

ALCO RSD-1 The ALCO RSD-1 is a diesel-electric locomotive built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO). This model was a road switcher type rated at and rode on three-axle trucks, having a C-C wheel arrangement. It was often used in much the same ma ...

designs). 2000 TEM1 units were built as part of a "serious attempt at ending steam shunting". TEM2 is an upgraded version of the TEM1, with 883 kW of power and the same tractive effort as the TEM1, but with an increased speed and a reduced weight. The first prototypes appeared at the Bryansk factory in 1960, with several pilot batches of locomotives built before full production began in 1967. TEM2 was built in both Bryansk and Lugansk until 1987. TEM2 has several subtypes, indicated by suffixes: M (modernized braking), U (improved braking) and T (electric dynamic braking).

Usage

The units are widely associated with the construction of the

Baikal–Amur Mainline The Baikal–Amur Mainline (, , , ) is a broad-gauge railway line in Russia. Traversing Eastern Siberia and the Russian Far East, the -long BAM runs about 610 to 770 km (380 to 480 miles) north of and parallel to the Trans-Siberian Railway. ...

, providing the hauling power for the construction trains used on the line. Exported to Poland and Cuba, the Polish units can be seen on the standard and broad-gauge rail lines in the country. They are also used on the Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa and in industrial and sand haulage around

Katowice Katowice (, ) is the capital city of the Silesian Voivodeship in southern Poland and the central city of the Katowice urban area. As of 2021, Katowice has an official population of 286,960, and a resident population estimate of around 315,000. K ...

. Upgraded units are still being used in Lithuania in 2021; LTG Cargo operates an upgraded TEM2UM-1000 (TEM2) shunting locomotive. The work involved upgrading the underframe of the unit and installing new components, including a 900 kW C32 Caterpillar diesel engine, EMIT main and auxiliary generators, a new Airpol SK30 compressor, and a remote fuel metering system. The unit also had new control circuit wires and power cables and video surveillance cameras installed. Cab upgrades include a new control panel, a new chair, HVAC system, and ultraviolet lamp for disinfection of frequently touched surfaces. The upgraded unit offers a 30% reduction in fuel usage and comes at 60% of the cost of a new locomotive.

References

{{Rolling stock of Russia Diesel–electric locomotives of the Soviet Union Railway locomotives introduced in 1967 5 ft gauge locomotives