How the prototype of the first two-section diesel locomotive VM20 appeared

The designs of the first locomotives were distinguished not only by their primitiveness and low power. They had one more feature - mono-construction. Yes, old steam or diesel locomotives could only rely on the power of the machine installed in a common body. Somewhere closer to the 30s of the last century, the idea of ​​​​increasing the performance of technology began to hover in the air due to what today would be called work on the System of Many Units or a multi-sectional design. In those days, the plant in Kolomna was considered one of the leading specialized enterprises of the USSR - it was entrusted with a promising project.


For comfortable operation of a locomotive with a multi-car train, a power of at least 2000 hp was required. With. These were, as one famous character said, unrealistic plans, because Soviet diesel engines could not produce more than 1000-1200 “horses”. This is how the idea of ​​creating the first two-section freight diesel locomotive came about. It was the prototype VM20, consisting of two identical units of railway equipment. True, excessive haste led to technical shortcomings that prevented the serial implementation of the grandiose idea. You will learn more about the history of the creation of this unusual locomotive from the video from the Pokemosha Life channel.