VR Class Sr1

VR class Sr1

VR Class Sr1 number 3043 at Kouvola station in 2011

Type and origin Power type Electric Builder Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant Build date 1973–1996 Total produced 112

Specifications AAR wheel arr. B-B UIC class Bo′Bo′ Gauge 1,524 mm (5 ft) Wheel diameter 1,250 mm (49.21 in) Length 18.96 m (62 ft 2 1⁄2 in) Loco weight 84 tonnes (83 long tons; 93 short tons) Electric system(s) 25 kV 50Hz AC Catenary Current collection Pantograph

Performance figures Maximum speed 140 km/h (87 mph) Power output 3,100 kW (4,160 hp) Tractive effort 280 kN (62,900 lbf)

Career Operators VR Number in class 110 in use First run 1973 Disposition still in service

The Sr1 is a class of electric locomotives built for VR (Finnish railways). These 25kV locomotives were built in the Soviet Union at the Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Factory between 1973 and 1985. Two additional locomotives of this class were built at the VR Hyvinkää Machine Workshop in 1993 and 1995, number 3111 from spare parts and number 3112 from the original prototype locomotive (number 3000) that was never used by the VR.

The nicknames for these locomotives are "Siperian susi" (Wolf of Siberia; in Finnish slang "susi" can also mean a poorly manufactured object, compare English "dog" or "lemon"),"Kaalihäkki" (Cabbage Cage) and "Sähköryssä" (Electric Russkie).

In 1970, Valtionrautatiet ordered 27 electric locomotives from Energomachexport, which were delivered between September 1973 and the end of the year 1975. 82 additional locomotives were ordered and delivered between 1973 and 1985. The first prototype locomotive, number 3000, was bought from the constructor in 1994 by VR, which rebuilt it into number 3112.

The trains have been used in passenger and cargo transport on Finland's electrified rail network.

The locomotives originally carried a dark red livery, with light yellow stripes around and below the cab windows. The stripes were later replaced with yellow warning panels (resembling stylised wings) below the cab windows. From the early 1990s onwards this livery was replaced by an off-white livery with red stripes. Nowadays the locomotives are refitted with a white-green livery to go with the current company colours.

Sr1-3036 in its first livery

Sr1-3046 in its second livery

A Sr1 hauling a freight train in its second livery in 1987.

Sr1-3069 in a white-red VR livery

Sr1-3084 in a white-green VR livery

Sr1-3093

Electrical equipment for the locomotives was supplied by the Finnish company Oy Strömberg Ab (later part of ABB).

Locomotives number 3098–3110 were rebuilt with new bogies allowing a higher maximum speed (160 km/h) in the 1990s (3111 and 3112 were originally built for this speed), but since 2003 they have been restored back to the original top speed due to the speed being raised at the expense of tractive effort (possibly the delivery of the faster Sr2 class also had an effect). The last Sr1 to be equipped with bogies allowing 160 km/h was number 3107.