VR series Dm7
| VR series Dm7 | |
|---|---|
 Dm7 4207 in Helsinki Central Station
|
|
| Numbering: | 4020-4216 |
| Number: | 197 |
| Manufacturer: | Valmet |
| Year of construction (s): | 1955-1963 |
| Axis formula : | (1A) '(A1)' |
| Length: | 16,660 mm |
| Empty mass: | 17.2 t |
| Top speed: | 95 km / h |
| Continuous output : | 132 kW |
| Wheel diameter: | 790 mm |
The Dm7 series of the Finnish State Railways Valtionrautatiet (VR) was a diesel multiple unit for routes with low passenger traffic. With a total of 197 units and 15 vehicles from the pre- series designated as the Dm6 series, the rail buses of this type of vehicle were the largest series of diesel multiple units built for VR to date. The vehicles, which were delivered in several series from 1955 to 1963, were used by VR in passenger transport until 1988.
history
As with most other European state railways, after the Second World War there was a great need for new railcars at VR in order to end the laborious use of steam locomotives in front of passenger trains on branch lines. Initially, VR planned to buy Uerdinger rail buses , which were to be referred to as the Dm5 series. Due to a lack of foreign exchange , VR finally had to withdraw from the planned import. It finally oriented itself towards neighboring Sweden, where extensive experience with diesel multiple units had already been made, and took over a design by the Swedish company Hilding Carlssons Mekaniska Verkstad , which had been created for the Swedish private railway TGOJ , under license.
The Finnish manufacturer Valmet initially delivered 15 vehicles with the series designation Dm6 based on the type designed by Carlsson in 1954, but their wheels with the small diameter of 613 mm were unsatisfactory. From 1955, the vehicles were therefore supplied with slightly larger wheels. By 1963, Valmet had built a total of 197 Dm7 rail buses. In addition, a total of 202 matching sidecars were delivered. Some of the sidecars were also given compartments for mail and express goods.
With the cessation of passenger transport on smaller routes and the electrification of the Finnish rail network that began in the early 1970s, rail buses gradually lost their areas of use. The Dm6 pre-production vehicles were completely retired in 1974 after 20 years of use. From the same year the first Dm7s were also shut down. The railcars were able to hold out on their last routes until 1988. This year, VR ceased passenger traffic on the last four routes of the Dm7, the Kemi - Haparanda , Huutokoski - Savonlinna , Rauma - Peipohja and Jyväskylä - Äänekoski routes with the summer timetable on May 29 . With the exception of two sets for special trips, all remaining rail buses were retired.
Conversions
In 1971, three railcars of the Dm7 series were given a compartment for mail and express goods and were designated as the DmG7 series. They were used until 1981.
commitment
With the rail buses, VR primarily replaced steam locomotive-hauled passenger trains on branch lines. However, they were soon used for suburban traffic from Helsinki. Until the electrification of the lines to Kirkkonummi and Riihimäki from 1969 onwards, the Dm7s were used there in up to eight-part sets of railcars and sidecars. They also took over local public transport on the main routes. From the beginning of the 80s, the area of operation was reduced to branch lines, which were less popular. With the gradual shutdown of the rail buses, VR also mostly ended local traffic on the main routes or completely stopped passenger traffic.
Both VR and various museum railways use some sets of rail buses as historical vehicles for special trips.
literature
- Mikko Alameri: Railways in Finland . Verlag Josef Otto Slezak, Vienna 1979, ISBN 3-900134-22-7
- Richard Latten: From Fehmarn Sound to the North Cape, The Railways in Scandinavia, Volume 2: Sweden, Finland . Verlag Schweers + Wall, Aachen 1995, ISBN 3-921679-86-9
Individual evidence
- ^ Richard Latten: Vom Fehmarnsund zum Nordkap, Die Eisenbahnen in Scandinavia, Volume 2: Sweden, Finland , Aachen 1995, p. 111
