WLs75
WLs75-38 in a museal station in Rudy
Type and origin Power type Diesel mechanical Builder ZNTK, Poznań Build date 1965 - 1975 Total produced 86
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-4-0DM  • UIC B Gauge 750 mm (2 ft 5+1⁄2 in) 785 mm (2 ft 6+29⁄32 in) 900 mm (2 ft 11+7⁄16 in) Driver dia. 670 mm Minimum curve 25 m Wheelbase 1550 mm Length 5110 mm Width 1550 mm Height 2650 mm Adhesive weight 5 t Loco weight 10 t Fuel capacity 140 l Transmission mechanical
Performance figures Maximum speed 18.5 km/h[1] Power output 75 HP Tractive effort 2400 kg
Career Operators industry

The WLs75 is a small narrow gauge diesel locomotive built in Poland, at the ZNTK in Poznań. It was used mostly on industrial railways.

History

The locomotive's design was started at the CBKPTK (Central Design Bureau of Railway Stock Industry) in Poznań.^[2] The design was finally made in 1961 by the ZNTK Poznań (Railway Stock Repair Works). It was powered by 75 hp diesel engine and had a mechanical transmission, driving two axles by cranks and connecting rods.^[2]

WLs75s were first built in 1965. (WLs stood for Wąskotorowa - narrow-gauge, lokomotywa - locomotive, spalinowa - internal combustion engine). In total, 86 were built with the last shipped in 1975.^[2] They were built for 750 mm (2 ft 5+1⁄2 in) and 785 mm (2 ft 6+29⁄32 in) gauge.^[2] Two locomotives were made for 900 mm (2 ft 11+7⁄16 in) for a park railway in Silesian Park.^[3]

The locomotives were only used in Poland. It was hoped thatthey would be acquired by Polish State Railways (PKP), but the railways found them under-powered. As a result, they were manufactured for the industry, mostly sugar works, smelters and steelworks. Two were used by the Polish Army.^[2] Production was relatively low, because most buyers preferred the cheaper 50 hp 2WLs50 locomotives.^[2]

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  WLs75-38
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  WLs75-38

Wikimedia Commons has media related to ZNTK Poznań WLs75.

References

• Pokropiński, Bogdan 2009 (2009). Lokomotywy spalinowe produkcji polskiej [Combustion engine locomotives of Polish manufacture] (in Polish). Warsaw: WKiŁ. ISBN 978-83-206-1731-3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)