The constant growth of industry in the USSR in the 70s led to an increase in freight traffic. Locomotives in the park of railway depots could not move large trains with high speeds and on roads with difficult terrain. The development of diesel locomotives with diesel engines with a capacity of 4000 or more was not included in the long-term plans of diesel locomotive enterprises, so the emphasis was placed on the creation of multi-section locomotives made up of standard serial parts.
general information
One of these locomotives was the 2TE10M diesel locomotive, which is a symmetrical coupler of two locomotives, each of which has a separate control cabin and power plant. The production of such machines started in April 1979 and was carried out at a plant in the city of Voroshilovgrad (Ukrainian SSR). A photo of the locomotive is shown below.
Machine production continued until 1990, after which they were replaced by a more advanced version of the locomotive. All of them received serial numbers in the range from 0001 to 3678. These numbers include various diesel locomotives with the number of sections from two to four.
Features
The upgraded two-section machines received some differences from the previous model. The device of the 2TE10M diesel locomotive allows you to control all the parameters of the sections from one remote operator. Because of this, the number of warning lamps and elements on the instrument panels has increased markedly. For communication between sections, an intercom was installed .
To increase the reliability of the control system, additional shunt elements were introduced that eliminated excessive voltage surges when switching operation parameters. The removal of the pads from the outer surfaces of the wheels began to be performed by actuators with an electric drive, which accelerated the disinhibition and reduced their wear. The air entering the pneumatic system underwent preliminary drainage, which was controlled by a separate circuit.
Many three-section locomotives were shortened to two parts with a model change in the documentation for the 2TE10M diesel locomotive. At the same time, there were cases of installing an additional third part, with corresponding adjustments in the passport documentation.
Power point
As the main engine, a two-stroke diesel engine of the 10D100 or 5D49 model was used (produced by the Kolomensky Zavod, put in rare cases). A feature of this mechanism was the use of two crankshafts, the opposing pistons of which moved in the opposite direction in one cylinder. The exhaust gas was released by purging the cylinder cavities with fresh air, which was supplied from the turbochargers. The layout of the 2TE10M diesel locomotive is shown below.
The cylinder block was mounted on a powerful frame in the center. In its lateral parts there are inspection hatches through which the condition of the internal components of the diesel engine is monitored. On the front there are all the mechanisms used to control the operation of the motor. The cylinder numbering starts from this node.
To lubricate the engine, a special system is installed with a tank and a radiator for lubrication cooling. Thanks to this, it was possible to ensure reliable operation of the diesel engine under all operating conditions. The cooling of the diesel is carried out by the liquid circulating in the cooling jacket. For its exchange, a conventional centrifugal pump is used. The cooling system is no different from the usual automobile circuit.
Electrical system
A generator is installed on the output shaft of the diesel engine, which supplies current to the traction motors. Maximum generation power - up to 2000 kW. Direct movement is performed from six traction motors. Each engine develops in peak mode power up to 305 kW and brings its wheelset through a reduction gear.
The drive allows you to ensure the speed of the locomotive with a long-term operating mode of 23 km / h. The design of the locomotive is designed for a maximum speed of up to 100 km / h. A photo of a 2TE10M diesel locomotive coupled with a freight train is presented below.
Modernization attempts
In the early 2000s, in one of the sections of 2TE10M with serial number 0884, power equipment and diesel engine manufactured by the American General Electric Corporation were installed as an experiment. To control all the parameters of work, a modern on-board computer was used.
The tests performed showed an increase in fuel consumption and an increase in the cost of servicing a diesel engine (due to more expensive lubricants). There were complaints about the operation of computer equipment and control units. Therefore, the project did not receive further development, and the locomotive itself was placed at the disposal of the Yakutsk railway, where it was used for several years.
Similar work is carried out with the Kazakh 2TE10M, on which a new diesel engine is installed with electronic control of the parameters of mixture formation and an improved cooling system.