# VL80

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Class of 4921 Soviet electric locomotives

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VL80 VL80S in Vladimir, Russia Type and origin Power type Electric Builder NEVZ SUN RUS Build date 1961 - 1995 Total produced 4,921 Specifications Configuration: ​ • UIC Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′ Gauge 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) Length 32.48 m (106 ft 7 in) Height 5.1 m (16 ft 9 in) Electric system/s 25 kV 50 Hz AC Catenary Current pickup Pantograph Traction motors 8×НБ-418К6 (en: NB-418K6) Loco brake ? Train brakes Mechanical pneumatic Performance figures Maximum speed 110 km/h (68 mph) Power output 4,880 or 6,400 kW (6,540 or 8,580 hp) (depending on model) Career Operators РЖД, БЧ, КТЗ, УЗ, OTY Locale Russia Soviet Union Belarus Kazakhstan Ukraine Uzbekistan

The **VL80** (ru: **ВЛ80**) is a [Soviet](/source/Soviet_Union) (and later [Russian](/source/Russia)) built electric [AC](/source/Alternating_current) [mainline](/source/Main_line_(railway)) freight locomotive. The initials *VL* are those of [Vladimir Lenin](/source/Vladimir_Lenin) (ru: Владимир Ленин), after whom the class is named.

## History

Designed by the Всероссийский 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 the [Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant](/source/Novocherkassk_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 their [mercury arc rectifiers](/source/Mercury_arc_valve). Later, they were replaced with [silicon](/source/Silicon) ones, thus giving birth to the **ВЛ80К** (en: **VL80K**) series. The *К* stands for *кремний*, the Russian word for *silicon*. Between the years 1961 and 1973, a total of 695 VL80Ks had been produced.

Currently, the VL80 series is used on all [electrified](/source/Electrification) routes in [Russia](/source/Russia), as well as in [Kazakhstan](/source/Kazakhstan), [Uzbekistan](/source/Uzbekistan), [Belarus](/source/Belarus), and [Ukraine](/source/Ukraine).

## Technical data

The VL80 is a dual-section (or [articulated](/source/Articulated)) 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 the [current](/source/Current_(electricity)) from [overhead lines](/source/Overhead_lines), the VL80 is fitted with two [pantographs](/source/Pantograph_(rail)); 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) tractive [transformer](/source/Transformer). The VL80T and ВЛ80С (en: VL80S) models are furnished with [dynamic brakes](/source/Dynamic_brakes).

## VL80T

Manufactured between 1961 and 1980, the **VL80T** (ru: **ВЛ80т**) introduced a markedly different electrical system, as well as an improved [lateral support](/source/Support_(structure)) 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.

## VL80R

Designed for use along the difficult sections of the [Krasnoyarsk](/source/Krasnoyarsk), [Eastern Siberia](/source/Eastern_Siberia), and [Far Eastern](/source/Far_Eastern) routes – as well as the "Батайск" (en: Bataysk) depot in the [North Caucasus](/source/North_Caucasus) – the **VL80R** (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](/source/Locomotive_wheelslip) system which continuously regulates the amount of [voltage](/source/Voltage) 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 its *R* designation from the fact that it is fitted with [regenerative braking](/source/Regenerative_brake) (ru: рекуперативное торможение) mechanism.

Several locomotives, assigned to the Krasnoyarsk section, have been modernised and are capable of participating in [MU](/source/Multiple-unit_train_control) operations with [consists](/source/Consist) 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.

### Notable examples

**ВЛ80Р-1549** was used as an exhibit at the Электро-77 (en: Elektro-77) [expo](/source/World's_fair) held in [Moscow](/source/Moscow) in June 1977.

Built in 1982, **ВЛ80Р-1718** became the 10,000th locomotive to be produced by [NEVZ](/source/NEVZ), since the plant's inception in 1936.

**ВЛ80Р-1685** featured in the Soviet film *Магистраль* (en: Mainline) and has obtained cult status amongst Russian rail enthusiasts.

## VL80S

The **VL80S** (ru: **ВЛ80с**) is simply a VL80T which has been modified for use in [MU](/source/Multiple-unit_train_control) 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 the [consist](/source/Consist) 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.

## VL80SM

The last of the VL80 series, only 4 **VL80SM**s (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 the [North Caucasus](/source/North_Caucasus).

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [VL80](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:VL80).

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [VL80](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VL80) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VL80?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.