NSB El 9
Encyclopedia
NSB El 9 is a retired class of three electric
locomotive
s built by Thune
for the Norwegian State Railways (NSB), with electrical equipment from Norsk Elektrisk & Brown Boveri
(NEBB) and Per Kure
. The locomotives were delivered in 1947 after a three-year delay caused by wartime sabotage
in response to the of the German occupation of Norway. They were used nearly exclusively on the Flåm Line and Hardanger Line, two steep branch lines. The units were used on the Flåm Line until 1983, when they were replaced by El 11
. They were then used as shunters until being retired in 1988. Two of the locomotives have been preserved.
The class was custom-made for steep hills and slow speeds; it featured a low 48 tonnes (47.2 LT) weight which, with a Bo'Bo' wheel arrangement
, allows for a 12 tonnes (11.8 LT) axle load
. This made the locomotives only 10.2 metres (33.5 ft) long. They had a power output of 712 kW, a tractive effort
of 108 kilonewtons (108,000 N) and a maximum speed of 60 kilometres per hour (37.3 mph). They were given road numbers 2062 though 2064.
and the Flåm Line to Sognefjord
. Both branches were steep and curvy, which set high demands on the locomotives. The Hardanger Line was 27.45 kilometres (17.1 mi) long, had a maximum gradient of 4.5 percent, a minimum curve radius of 180 metres (590.6 ft), and a maximum speed of 40 km/h (24.9 mph). The Flåm Line is 20.2 kilometres (12.6 mi) long, had a maximum gradient of 5.5. percent, a minimum curve radius of 130 metres (426.5 ft) and a maximum speed of 40 km/h (24.9 mph) uphill and 30 km/h (18.6 mph) downhill. Both lines had a maximum permitted axle load
of 12 tonnes (11.8 LT), standard gauge
and a electrification system. The Hardanger Line opened in 1935 and the Flåm Line in 1940, although the latter did not receive electric traction until 1944.
Originally, the Hardanger Line used Class 64 electric multiple units. On 28 March 1940, NSB sent an invitation to tender for two multiple units which would be similar to Class 64. The company asked both for aluminum and steel bids. However, NSB abandoned the plans and instead signed an agreement on 4 October 1940 for delivery of three electric locomotives. The units were intended to be delivered in 1942. The mechanical components and assembly was done by Thune, and electrical parts were delivered by NEBB, except the transformer
and electric controllers, which were built by Per Kure.
By 1944, by which time Norway was occupied by Germany as part of the Second World War, overhead wire had been installed on the Flåm Line. The locomotives at Thune and nearly completed, except for the transformers, which were at Per Kure. This was during the height of resistance
sabotage, and workers at Per Kure had joined the communist resistance group Osvald
. Because of the Allied bombing of Germany
, Per Kure was thought to become part of a decentralized production chain and would be set to assemble aircraft engines. Osvald considered the plant a legitimate target and on 30 May 1944, the factory was blown up and the transformers severely damaged. Reconstruction of them took considerable time, in part because of the general lack of materials, and in part because the head engineer for the project disappeared during late 1944. In 1945, all three locomotives were sent to Myrdal Station
for storage until the transformers were finished.
The locomotives received transformers in 1947, which were installed in Oslo, and 2064 was delivered on 24 May. The cost of the three locomotives was 1,297,905 million Norwegian krone
. At first, only one unit was transferred to Flåm. The other two remained in Eastern Norway; one was stationed as a shunter at Oslo West Station
, the other in Skien
. The units operating in Oslo and Skien had problems with the rheostatic brake operating differently depending on the direction the train was running, something which was not observed in Flåm. The issue was fixed by marginally changing the excitation voltage
. The unit stationed in Flåm was periodically sent for service in Oslo, and when this happened, a new unit would be stationed in Flåm. From 21 January 1949, 2064 was returned to Flåm without the other unit being sent back. From 17 February 1955, all three were stationed in Flåm. During the late 1950s, one of the units was stationed as Voss Station
for shunting duty. Starting in the late 1950s, the class was also used on the Hardanger Line.
In the 1970s, NSB started to consider replacement of the class. In 1971 and 1973, El 11
and El 13
were test-run on the line, and it was concluded that El 11 would be suitable with minor adjustments. However, the 1960s replacement of steam locomotives had caused a shortage of electric locomotives. Not until 1980 did NSB start the upgrade process of two El 11s. From 1980s, only a single El 9 was stationed on the Flåm Line during winter, and the other two were used for local trains on the Bergen Line in Hallingdal
. If the unit stationed in Flåm was out of order, it was replaced by a Class 64 unit. Lack of spare parts and limited reliability accelerated the need to replace the units in scheduled trains. The first unit was taken into use on the Flåm Line in 1983 and the second in 1984. Two El 9s were transferred to Ål Station
and Voss Station where they hauled work train
s. Unit 2062 was taken out of service in 1983. The other two remained in regular service until 1988. Unit 2063 has been painted green and is on display at Flåm Station, while 2064 has retained the red color scheme and is stored at Tinnoset Station
, belonging to the Norwegian Railway Museum.
which is integrated with the main transformer. The locomotives have a maximum speed of 60 km/h (37.3 mph) and a tractive effort
of 108 kilonewtons (108,000 N). Because of the limited roof space, only one pantograph
was installed.
The limit on axle load makes the locomotives small and compact. They weigh 48 tonnes (47.2 LT), and the total train weight is limited to 85 tonnes (83.7 LT). This also gives the trains a short length of 10.2 metres (33.5 ft). The trains had a Bo'Bo' wheel arrangement
. In addition to air brakes for the whole train, the locomotives are equipped with rheostatic brakes which is sufficiently powerful to allow for the 5.5 percent gradient. When braking, three of the motors are connected to the air-cooled resistance on the roof, while the last motor is connected to deliver magnetization current to the other three motors. The braking is regulated with 22 steps. As a backup, the units are equipped with a carborundum track brake
on each side of the bogie
s.
Electric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s built by Thune
Thune
Thunes Mekaniske Værksted A/S, Thune for short, was a Norwegian manufacturing company that among other things built locomotives. The production facilities were last located at Skøyen.-History:...
for the Norwegian State Railways (NSB), with electrical equipment from Norsk Elektrisk & Brown Boveri
Norsk Elektrisk & Brown Boveri
Norsk Elektrisk & Brown Boveri A/S also known as NEBB was a Norwegian manufacturing company, which built a large amount of the rolling stock that is used by Norges Statsbaner. The plant was located at Skøyen. In 1988 it merged into Asea Brown Boveri ....
(NEBB) and Per Kure
Per Kure (company)
A/S Per Kure, variously also known as A/S Per Kure Norsk Motor- og Dynamofabrikk and ASEA–Per Kure, was a manufacturer first of electric heaters and later of transformers. Founded by Per Kure in 1897, it was for most of its history based at Hasle in Oslo, Norway...
. The locomotives were delivered in 1947 after a three-year delay caused by wartime sabotage
Osvald Group
The Osvald Group was a Norwegian sabotage organisation during the Second World War, and led by Asbjørn Sunde, who used Osvald as one of his cover names. The organisation was originally a branch of the Wollweber League, a subsidiary to the Soviet secret police organization NKVD which dissolved when...
in response to the of the German occupation of Norway. They were used nearly exclusively on the Flåm Line and Hardanger Line, two steep branch lines. The units were used on the Flåm Line until 1983, when they were replaced by El 11
NSB El 11
The NSB El 11 was an electric locomotive which was operated for both passenger and freight trains by NSB. It was the third type of Norwegian electric locomotive with bogies, after the NSB El 7 and NSB El 9. They were manufactured by Norsk Elektrisk & Brown Boveri and Thune mekaniske verksted...
. They were then used as shunters until being retired in 1988. Two of the locomotives have been preserved.
The class was custom-made for steep hills and slow speeds; it featured a low 48 tonnes (47.2 LT) weight which, with a Bo'Bo' wheel arrangement
Wheel arrangement
In rail transport, a wheel arrangement is a system of classifying the way in which wheels are distributed beneath a locomotive.. Several notations exist to describe the wheel assemblies of a locomotive by type, position, and connections, with the adopted notations varying by country...
, allows for a 12 tonnes (11.8 LT) axle load
Axle load
The axle load of a wheeled vehicle is the total weight felt by the roadway for all wheels connected to a given axle. Viewed another way, it is the fraction of total vehicle weight resting on a given axle...
. This made the locomotives only 10.2 metres (33.5 ft) long. They had a power output of 712 kW, a tractive effort
Tractive effort
As used in mechanical engineering, the term tractive force is the pulling or pushing force exerted by a vehicle on another vehicle or object. The term tractive effort is synonymous with tractive force, and is often used in railway engineering to describe the pulling or pushing capability of a...
of 108 kilonewtons (108,000 N) and a maximum speed of 60 kilometres per hour (37.3 mph). They were given road numbers 2062 though 2064.
History
With the construction of the Bergen Line, which was completed in 1909, it was decided that there would be built branch lines to two fjords, the Hardanger Line to HardangerfjordHardangerfjord
With a length of , the Hardangerfjord in the county of Hordaland in Norway is the third largest fjord in the world and the second largest in Norway. The surrounding district is called Hardanger....
and the Flåm Line to Sognefjord
Sognefjord
The Sognefjord is the largest fjord in Norway, and the second longest in the world. Located in Sogn og Fjordane county, it stretches inland to the small village of Skjolden...
. Both branches were steep and curvy, which set high demands on the locomotives. The Hardanger Line was 27.45 kilometres (17.1 mi) long, had a maximum gradient of 4.5 percent, a minimum curve radius of 180 metres (590.6 ft), and a maximum speed of 40 km/h (24.9 mph). The Flåm Line is 20.2 kilometres (12.6 mi) long, had a maximum gradient of 5.5. percent, a minimum curve radius of 130 metres (426.5 ft) and a maximum speed of 40 km/h (24.9 mph) uphill and 30 km/h (18.6 mph) downhill. Both lines had a maximum permitted axle load
Axle load
The axle load of a wheeled vehicle is the total weight felt by the roadway for all wheels connected to a given axle. Viewed another way, it is the fraction of total vehicle weight resting on a given axle...
of 12 tonnes (11.8 LT), standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
and a electrification system. The Hardanger Line opened in 1935 and the Flåm Line in 1940, although the latter did not receive electric traction until 1944.
Originally, the Hardanger Line used Class 64 electric multiple units. On 28 March 1940, NSB sent an invitation to tender for two multiple units which would be similar to Class 64. The company asked both for aluminum and steel bids. However, NSB abandoned the plans and instead signed an agreement on 4 October 1940 for delivery of three electric locomotives. The units were intended to be delivered in 1942. The mechanical components and assembly was done by Thune, and electrical parts were delivered by NEBB, except the transformer
Transformer
A transformer is a device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another through inductively coupled conductors—the transformer's coils. A varying current in the first or primary winding creates a varying magnetic flux in the transformer's core and thus a varying magnetic field...
and electric controllers, which were built by Per Kure.
By 1944, by which time Norway was occupied by Germany as part of the Second World War, overhead wire had been installed on the Flåm Line. The locomotives at Thune and nearly completed, except for the transformers, which were at Per Kure. This was during the height of resistance
Norwegian resistance movement
The Norwegian resistance to the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany began after Operation Weserübung in 1940 and ended in 1945. It took several forms:...
sabotage, and workers at Per Kure had joined the communist resistance group Osvald
Osvald Group
The Osvald Group was a Norwegian sabotage organisation during the Second World War, and led by Asbjørn Sunde, who used Osvald as one of his cover names. The organisation was originally a branch of the Wollweber League, a subsidiary to the Soviet secret police organization NKVD which dissolved when...
. Because of the Allied bombing of Germany
Strategic bombing during World War II
Strategic bombing during World War II is a term which refers to all aerial bombardment of a strategic nature between 1939 and 1945 involving any nations engaged in World War II...
, Per Kure was thought to become part of a decentralized production chain and would be set to assemble aircraft engines. Osvald considered the plant a legitimate target and on 30 May 1944, the factory was blown up and the transformers severely damaged. Reconstruction of them took considerable time, in part because of the general lack of materials, and in part because the head engineer for the project disappeared during late 1944. In 1945, all three locomotives were sent to Myrdal Station
Myrdal station
Myrdal Station is a mountain railway station and junction, located on the Bergen Line regional mainline in Aurland, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. The railway station is also the upper terminal of the Flåm Line local railway, which ascends from the valley floor of the Sognefjord to the mountain-top...
for storage until the transformers were finished.
The locomotives received transformers in 1947, which were installed in Oslo, and 2064 was delivered on 24 May. The cost of the three locomotives was 1,297,905 million Norwegian krone
Norwegian krone
The krone is the currency of Norway and its dependent territories. The plural form is kroner . It is subdivided into 100 øre. The ISO 4217 code is NOK, although the common local abbreviation is kr. The name translates into English as "crown"...
. At first, only one unit was transferred to Flåm. The other two remained in Eastern Norway; one was stationed as a shunter at Oslo West Station
Oslo Vestbanestasjon
Oslo West Station or Oslo V, is a former railway station located in Vika in Oslo, Norway. It was the terminus of the Drammen Line between 1872 and 1980, until the Oslo Tunnel opened. The station remained in use until 1989, when all traffic was moved to the new Oslo Central Station...
, the other in Skien
Skien
' is a city and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Skien. Skien is also the administrative centre of Telemark county....
. The units operating in Oslo and Skien had problems with the rheostatic brake operating differently depending on the direction the train was running, something which was not observed in Flåm. The issue was fixed by marginally changing the excitation voltage
Excitation (magnetic)
An electric generator or electric motor consists of a rotor spinning in a magnetic field. The magnetic field may be produced by permanent magnets or by field coils. In the case of a machine with field coils, a current must flow in the coils to generate the field, otherwise no power is transferred...
. The unit stationed in Flåm was periodically sent for service in Oslo, and when this happened, a new unit would be stationed in Flåm. From 21 January 1949, 2064 was returned to Flåm without the other unit being sent back. From 17 February 1955, all three were stationed in Flåm. During the late 1950s, one of the units was stationed as Voss Station
Voss Station
Voss Station is a railway station on the Bergen Line located in Voss, Norway.The station was opened as the original terminal station of the Voss Line in 1883. It is served by express trains to Bergen and Oslo, and the Bergen Commuter Rail, all operated by Norwegian State Railways...
for shunting duty. Starting in the late 1950s, the class was also used on the Hardanger Line.
NSB El 11
The NSB El 11 was an electric locomotive which was operated for both passenger and freight trains by NSB. It was the third type of Norwegian electric locomotive with bogies, after the NSB El 7 and NSB El 9. They were manufactured by Norsk Elektrisk & Brown Boveri and Thune mekaniske verksted...
and El 13
NSB El 13
NSB El 13 is a Norwegian electric locomotive which was used by Norges Statsbaner for both passenger and freight trains.The locomotive is a heavier and upgraded version of the NSB El 11 which was popular among its crew but unsuitable for journeys in heavy snow on lines such as Bergensbanen. Like...
were test-run on the line, and it was concluded that El 11 would be suitable with minor adjustments. However, the 1960s replacement of steam locomotives had caused a shortage of electric locomotives. Not until 1980 did NSB start the upgrade process of two El 11s. From 1980s, only a single El 9 was stationed on the Flåm Line during winter, and the other two were used for local trains on the Bergen Line in Hallingdal
Hallingdal
Hallingdal is a valley and traditional district in Buskerud county in Norway. It consists of the municipalities of Flå, Nes, Gol, Hemsedal, Ål and Hol.-History:Ancient routes went to Vestlandet through Valdres and Hallingdal and down Røldal to Odda...
. If the unit stationed in Flåm was out of order, it was replaced by a Class 64 unit. Lack of spare parts and limited reliability accelerated the need to replace the units in scheduled trains. The first unit was taken into use on the Flåm Line in 1983 and the second in 1984. Two El 9s were transferred to Ål Station
Ål Station
Ål Station is a railway station located at Ål, Norway. The station is served by up to six daily express trains operated by Norwegian State Railways. The station was opened as part of the Bergen Line between Bergen and Gulsvik in 1907....
and Voss Station where they hauled work train
Work train
Work train refers to any of a number of rail cars intended for internal non-revenue use by the railroad's operator. Work trains serve functions such as track maintenance, maintenance of way, revenue collection, system cleanup and waste removal, heavy duty hauling, and crew member transport.- Types...
s. Unit 2062 was taken out of service in 1983. The other two remained in regular service until 1988. Unit 2063 has been painted green and is on display at Flåm Station, while 2064 has retained the red color scheme and is stored at Tinnoset Station
Tinnoset Station
Tinnoset Station was a railway station on Tinnosbanen located at Tinnoset in Notodden, Norway. At the station was the docks where wagons were transferred from trains to the Tinnsjø railway ferry....
, belonging to the Norwegian Railway Museum.
Specifications
The locomotives each have four NEBB EDTM423 motors, giving a combined power output of 712 kW. The main transformer is capable of feeding each motor with 765 kilovolt-ampere (kVA), 115 kVA to heating and 40 kVA for axillary equipment. The power output is regulated with through 28 steps in the voltage regulatorVoltage regulator
A voltage regulator is an electrical regulator designed to automatically maintain a constant voltage level. A voltage regulator may be a simple "feed-forward" design or may include negative feedback control loops. It may use an electromechanical mechanism, or electronic components...
which is integrated with the main transformer. The locomotives have a maximum speed of 60 km/h (37.3 mph) and a tractive effort
Tractive effort
As used in mechanical engineering, the term tractive force is the pulling or pushing force exerted by a vehicle on another vehicle or object. The term tractive effort is synonymous with tractive force, and is often used in railway engineering to describe the pulling or pushing capability of a...
of 108 kilonewtons (108,000 N). Because of the limited roof space, only one pantograph
Pantograph (rail)
A pantograph for rail lines is a hinged electric-rod device that collects electric current from overhead lines for electric trains or trams. The pantograph typically connects to a one-wire line, with the track acting as the ground wire...
was installed.
The limit on axle load makes the locomotives small and compact. They weigh 48 tonnes (47.2 LT), and the total train weight is limited to 85 tonnes (83.7 LT). This also gives the trains a short length of 10.2 metres (33.5 ft). The trains had a Bo'Bo' wheel arrangement
Wheel arrangement
In rail transport, a wheel arrangement is a system of classifying the way in which wheels are distributed beneath a locomotive.. Several notations exist to describe the wheel assemblies of a locomotive by type, position, and connections, with the adopted notations varying by country...
. In addition to air brakes for the whole train, the locomotives are equipped with rheostatic brakes which is sufficiently powerful to allow for the 5.5 percent gradient. When braking, three of the motors are connected to the air-cooled resistance on the roof, while the last motor is connected to deliver magnetization current to the other three motors. The braking is regulated with 22 steps. As a backup, the units are equipped with a carborundum track brake
Track brake
Track brakes are a form of brakes unique to railborne vehicles. The braking force derives from the friction resulting from the application of wood or metal braking shoes directly to the tracks...
on each side of the bogie
Bogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
s.