The WLs75 is a small narrow gauge diesel locomotive built in Poland, at the ZNTK in Poznań. It was used mostly on industrial railways.

WLs75
WLs75-38 in a museal station in Rudy
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel mechanical
BuilderZNTK, Poznań
Build date1965 - 1975
Total produced86
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte0-4-0DM
 • UICB
Gauge750 mm (2 ft 5+12 in)
785 mm (2 ft 6+2932 in)
900 mm (2 ft 11+716 in)
Driver dia.670 mm
Minimum curve25 m
Wheelbase1550 mm
Length5110 mm
Width1550 mm
Height2650 mm
Adhesive weight5 t
Loco weight10 t
Fuel capacity140 l
Transmissionmechanical
Performance figures
Maximum speed18.5 km/h[1]
Power output75 HP
Tractive effort2400 kg
Career
Operatorsindustry

History

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The locomotive's design was started at the CBKPTK (Central Design Bureau of Railway Stock Industry) in Poznań.[2] The design was finally made in 1961 by the ZNTK Poznań (Railway Stock Repair Works). It was powered by 75 hp diesel engine and had a mechanical transmission, driving two axles by cranks and connecting rods.[2]

WLs75s were first built in 1965. (WLs stood for Wąskotorowa - narrow-gauge, lokomotywa - locomotive, spalinowa - internal combustion engine). In total, 86 were built with the last shipped in 1975.[2] They were built for 750 mm (2 ft 5+12 in) and 785 mm (2 ft 6+2932 in) gauge.[2] Two locomotives were made for 900 mm (2 ft 11+716 in) for a park railway in Silesian Park.[3]

The locomotives were only used in Poland. It was hoped thatthey would be acquired by Polish State Railways (PKP), but the railways found them under-powered. As a result, they were manufactured for the industry, mostly sugar works, smelters and steelworks. Two were used by the Polish Army.[2] Production was relatively low, because most buyers preferred the cheaper 50 hp 2WLs50 locomotives.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Pokropiński (2009), p. 208
  2. ^ a b c d e f Pokropiński (2009), p. 165-167
  3. ^ Jakub Halor. "Kolej parkowa" (in Polish). Retrieved 2016-12-16.
  • Pokropiński, Bogdan 2009 (2009). Lokomotywy spalinowe produkcji polskiej [Combustion engine locomotives of Polish manufacture] (in Polish). Warsaw: WKiŁ. ISBN 978-83-206-1731-3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)