Locomotive depot. RZD: locomotive depot

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

A locomotive depot is a point where maintenance or repair work is carried out on trains. It is also called the traction part.

General information

Locomotive depots fall into two categories. They can be fixed or revolving. The first are intended for registration of steam locomotives. Secondly, the preparation of locomotives is carried out, which follow to the main (operational) locomotive depot. The turnaround point is intended for maintenance of steam locomotives. They also carry out inspection of the second volume. There are rest houses for staff. Currently, the repair locomotive depot also stands out in a separate category. Objects of this type do not have an assigned fleet of locomotives. At the same time, major repairs are being carried out at these depots, which are aimed at meeting the needs of one or more railways.

Historical information. Construction Features

The operational locomotive depot has always been an integral part of the railways. The construction of such an object depended on many factors. For example, on the complexity of the profile section of Russian Railways. The locomotive depot was tobe built at a certain distance from the neighboring one. As a rule, between them was fifty to one hundred kilometers. In a special way, the traction units were located on the line connecting the capital of Russia and St. Petersburg. The main locomotive depot was located next to the turnover depot. The expected intensity of traffic on the site determined the number of locomotive stalls. At the initial stage, the wagons were also repaired at the depot. A few years after the opening of the railways, changes were needed. The workshop and the locomotive depot became independent enterprises. Until 1933, a single rolling stock service managed all elements of the system. Later, the government decided that the wagon industry would become an independent branch of railway transport.

New classification

Locomotive depots had this name until the transition to the use of diesel and electric traction. After that, the points received several types of locomotives at their disposal. Diesel locomotives and electric locomotives were delivered here. Then the name changed. Each point began to be called a "locomotive depot" after several electric locomotives, diesel locomotives and steam locomotives were at the disposal. Motor-carriages began to be called those points that had an assigned fleet. They also carried out the repair and operation of diesel and electric trains. As a rule, there were several maneuverable diesel locomotives there. These points were also called "electrodepot". General term,used to name these objects – locomotive facilities.

Further development

In the 70s. the number of locomotive fleets has increased, as the volume of traffic has increased significantly. Some of the major points numbered more than two hundred trains. The depots could no longer provide high-quality service for all types of locomotives. At that time, points began to specialize in the maintenance of individual series. Some depots carried out "lifting" work to meet the needs of locomotive points along the entire length of the road, and in certain cases even several. Uninterrupted operation required equipping with the necessary equipment, such as bench and machine tools. Priority has been given to the supply of spare parts.

Introduction of new categories

The combination of the above factors and the area where this or that locomotive depot was located, became the reason for the next divisions. Traction parts were divided into the following categories according to their purpose: maneuverable, multiple unit, passenger and cargo. The latter were located at large marshalling and junction stations. Passenger depots were located on the respective sections of the railway. Few points have a narrow specialization. The main locomotive depot in most cases can play the role of a reverse one. It can also perform other functions. For example, many locomotive points of Sennaya, Rtishchevo and Petrov Val are negotiable for Saratov. Most depots performmultiple functions. For example, locomotive points can simultaneously be maneuverable, freight and passenger. Those in the 80s. were the locomotive depots of Moscow, Rtishchevo, Saratov, Volgograd and Orenburg. The latter functions in this mode to this day.

Functioning during the USSR

At that time, the system of preventive maintenance was operating in the locomotive depots. This structure assumed the carrying out of relevant work, taking into account the standards of the overhaul run. The locomotive depot faced many challenges. For their timely solution, it was necessary to place the following elements on the territory of the points.

1. Fuel storage. It is designed to store stocks of various lubricants, oils and fuels.
2. Technical service center. It is needed to equip locomotives and repair them.
3. Turnable triangle or circle. It is designed to carry out technological or periodic turn of the locomotive.
4. Equipment point. Most often, it is combined with a locomotive maintenance center.
5. Repair shop. It is designed for major renovation work.
6. Auxiliary items. They are necessary for the repair of individual units and components of the locomotive.
7. Rheostat test center. It is designed to carry out related work.
8. Holiday home. It can be used by members of locomotive crews during inter-trip times.
9. Administrative building. It is designed to accommodatelocker rooms, showers, offices and engineering staff.

Locomotive points can contain many more elements. For example, treatment facilities, boiler rooms, facilities for washing compounds and other production units.

Space planning

There are several options for the internal structure of points. For example, the first depots, according to the plan, had a round shape. The setting of steam locomotives at these points was carried out by moving them along one of the through tracks with further installation on the desired ditch. The latter was carried out by means of a turntable in the center of the barn. The fan layout of the depot began to be used later. Variants with a turntable were also used. At the beginning of the 20th century, after construction work and reconstruction of the depot, the rectangular-stepped structure of repair facilities became widespread.

Point of the Nikolaev railway

This locomotive depot is one of the oldest in Russia. This is a monument of cultural heritage. The object is included in the ensemble of structures of the Nikolaevsky railway station on Komsomolskaya square. It, in turn, is also a historical territory. This depot has a circular structure. It began to be built in the middle of the 19th century. The architect Konstantin Andreevich Ton was responsible for the project management. Nine locomotive depots were built on the line. The Nikolaev station was located near a reservoir, unlike the others. Locomotive depotlocated on the banks of the Red Pond. This factor influenced the introduction of major changes in the project. The structure was on a high foundation, and the workshops were built separately. This was the reason why the locomotive depot had the shape of a circle. A reservoir building was erected near it, which was built according to an individual project. The architectural elements of the structure made it look like a fortress tower.