Enhanced Yermak Started Testing

In early February 2021, NEVZ sent for testing to the Bataysk depot of the Severo-Kavkazskaya doroga (North Caucasian railway) the three-section locomotive 3ES5K-1147, which is fitted with the new systems - a locomotive adhesion enhancement device (UATL, Ustroystvo aktivatsii trenia lokomotiva), and a wheel flange lubrication device (USGL, Ustroystvo smazyvania grebney kolesnykh par). The locomotive will now undergo a supervised operation of 5,000 km.

Both systems were produced by TransInTekh of Rostov na Donu. The UATL is envisaged to enable an increase in the locomotive mileage between two sand fillings, and also a locomotive adhesion increase with the effect of complete elimination or reduction of the use of sand. The UATL devices are mounted on the bogie frames of all three locomotive sections, acting on all 24 wheels (12 wheelsets). Moreover, for testing purposes, the locomotive was equipped with new experimental sandbox nozzles instead of the serial ones.

The use of USGL allows to reduce the wheel flange wear, increases the wheelset life cycle and reduces the resistance of the locomotive in sinuous sections of track. The USGL devices are mounted on the bogie frames of the end sections, acting on 16 wheels (8 wheelsets).

Following completion of the 5,000 km test run, 3ES5K-1147 will start supervised operation, working as a banking locomotive on the difficult mountainous Toreya - Turma section of the East Siberian railway.