NSB WLAB2
| NSB WLAB-2 | |
|---|---|
A new carriage on demonstration at Utrecht Centraal, Netherlands, on 7 June 1989
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| Manufacturer | Strømmens Verksteds |
| Constructed | 1984–87 |
| Entered service | 1 September 1986 |
| Number built | 20 |
| Capacity | 15 compartments |
| Operator(s) | Norwegian State Railways |
| Line(s) served |
Bergen Line Dovre Line Nordland Line Røros Line Sørlandet Line |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Aluminium |
| Car length | 27.00 m (88.58 ft) |
| Width | 3.24 m (10.6 ft) |
| Height | 4.22 m (13.8 ft) |
| Doors | 4 |
| Wheel diameter | 610 mm (24 in) |
| Maximum speed | 150 km/h (93 mph) |
| Weight | 48 t (47 long tons; 53 short tons) |
| Braking system(s) | Air |
| Track gauge | Standard gauge |
NSB WLAB-2 or WLAB2 is a class of twenty sleeping cars built by Strømmens Verksted for the Norwegian State Railways (NSB). They serve as the sole sleepers in Norway, being used on the Bergen Line, Dovre Line, Nordland Line and Sørlandet Line. Each car features fifteen compartments, which can each be utilized with a single or twin bunk configuration. The carriages have a unique octagonal shape, are 27 meters (89 ft) long and weigh 48 tonnes.
Planning of the series started in 1977 and the order was placed in 1984. Each of the units cost 9 million Norwegian krone and were built in 1986 and 1987. The first ordinary service commenced on 1 September 1986.
Development of a new class of sleepers commenced in 1977 with a research and development project named T 22 Nytt Passasjervognmateriell ("New Passenger Coach Material"). The first phase looked at market demands and costs, and concluded that the new sleepers should be built exclusively as twin-berthed cabins. More details were developed, allowing the overall design to be established in 1981. An order was placed with Strømmen in June 1984. Each new unit cost 9 million Norwegian krone. The order allowed the most worn of the existing seventy sleeping cars to be retired.
The first two units were delivered in June 1986, allowing them to run trials on the Bergen Line starting 19–20 June. Production continued for a further twelve months, when the twentieth unit was completed. Revenue service commenced on the Bergen Line on 1 September. Later in 1986 the cars were taken into use on the Dovre Line and the Sørlandet Line. The following year they entered service on the Røros Line and the Nordland Line. The only significant operating fault with the carriages was the freezing of the water system during cold spells. This particularly affected the forward toilet, but the issues were soon solved through modifications to the design.
Ahead of the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, NSB decided to build a new royal coach. It is modelled after WLAB2, with a similar aluminium body and technical specifications. However, the car features a more elaborate interior and among other enmities includes a shower.
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