VL80K Electric Freight Locomotive
The VL80 (Vladimir Lenin, 8-axle) is a series of two-part electric freight locomotives built in the Soviet Union, and later Russia, from 1961 to 1995. The VL80K version was built from 1963 to 1971 with 695 being produced. Later production models would feature regenerative braking, multiple unit control, and upgraded propulsion systems. Different versions of the VL80 were used on almost every AC electrified line in the Soviet Union. After the collapse of the USSR VL80s have still remained the main AC freight locomotives in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and other former USSR members with many still in operation today. A total of 5,140 locomotives have been built, and the VL80 holds the record for longest production span of any Soviet electric locomotive, being 33 years. The VL80 is well known among Eastern European railfans, appearing on many Soviet-era postage stamps and one even being featured in the Soviet film Магистраль (Mainline).
-Wikipedia
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Here is an environment mod adding decorational electrical lines to Donkk Isle
The cab at the rear is referred to the B end, while the cab at the front is the A end.
Starting off in the B end, enter the compartment behind the driver’s cab and turn on the battery, ECG drive, and main controller switches. Below them turn on the two rectifier switches, the tap changer motor and the motor-generator. Open the electrical cabinet to the left and turn on every switch and breaker besides the four TM cut-in switches at the bottom. Hold the propulsion reset button until the red light goes out, and then turn on the four cut-in switches.
Enter the B end driving compartment and ensure the handbrake on the rear cab wall is released (off). Above the left side helper’s seat, turn on the breakers labelled control, headlights, and running + compartment lights. The horn cut-in breaker is only needed if you want to use the air horn and have infinite electricity turned off. On the left side panel below the window, turn on the main switch. Now exit the cab, enter the high voltage compartment and find the breaker labelled main switch. Once this is done you now walk further back, through the passageway and into the A end locomotive, where you need to repeat this entire process again.
After doing so return to the A end electrical cabinet and observe the main reservoir air dial. If the dial reads below 100, press the aux air compressor button until it raises. Now head into the A end cab and find the four pantograph operation switches below the left side window. Press the raise forward pantograph switch. One flip switch raises its respective pantograph while another lowers it. Once the pantograph raises the Line kV dial on the driver’s panel should read 25 to 30 kV. The ammeter in the secondary compartment should also read either around + 20 or 0 to indicate that the battery is charging or has full charge. Once this happens you can now raise the rear pantograph and lower the forwards one if you wish to switch the pantographs around.
Sit in the driver’s seat and flip the reversing switch handle to the on position. Turn on the Braking Trail/Lead and Braking Cut-In switches and use the arrow buttons on the right to put the automatic brakes in release position. On the left side press the Contactors Off – Pos Reset button on the main controller panel. The reverser direction can now be changed and the train operated.
The main controller has 33 power notches, not including zero power. There are 8 positions on the main controller used to move through this power range. The 11th, 22nd. and 33rd notches are running positions while all other notches are resistance notches. Resistance notches result in increased traction motor temperature, so it is recommended to do any long-distance driving or heavy hauling in running notches. The indicator panel above the main controller shows whether the controller is in a resistance notch position, or the first, second, or third running positions.
Different notches of the main controller
[1] Disabling: The position set when the cab is trailing or not in use
[2] Contactors Off/Reset: Zero power position. This is the only throttle position in which the reverser direction can be changed.
[3] Holding: Holds the current power notch
[4] Manual Reset: Slowly decreases the current power notch until reaching zero power
[5] Automatic Reset: Decreases the power notch until it reaches the previous running position (or zero power) and holds it there
[6] Position 1: Slowly increases power until reaching running position 1
[7] Position 2: Slowly increases power until reaching running position 2
[8] Position 3: Slowly increases power until reaching running position 3
Each running position will cause the train to do a certain speed – running position 1 is around 12 kph, running 2 is 24 kph, and running 3 is 36 kph. In order to reach the train’s top speed of 110 kph the electric motors must be shunted using the reverser controller. When the main controller is in a running position, as shown by the indicator panel mentioned above, the reverser has 3 extra notches past forwards, called the shunting range. The up arrow on the reverser can be pressed to bring the train into OPP 1, OPP 2, and then OPP 3. These positions result in an increase of speed but can only be used when the reverser is set to forwards and is already in a running position, otherwise the reverser will be locked in place. Using combinations of running positions on the main controller and shunting positions on the reverser, various different speeds can be achieved.
The traction motors overload if:
-Current displayed on the ammeters exceeds 1000 amps
-Temperature exceeds 115 C
In order to reset overloaded motors, go to the electrical panel on the affected unit and press the propulsion reset button. Turn off and then on the cut-in switches of any overloaded motors. The panel above the driver’s seat in each locomotive shows if any motors have been damaged.
Current and traction motor temperature are influenced by many different factors and as such operation can change depending on the outside temperature, tonnage of the train, and grade of the track, but I don’t have enough space to explain it in depth here.
The automatic brakes are non self-lapping, meaning the braking handle has four different positions used to alter brake applications.
Release: Releases the brakes by pressurizing the brake pipe
Lap: Holds the current brake application and brake pipe pressure
Service: Increases the brake application by decreasing brake pipe pressure
Emergency: Applies an emergency brake application by quickly decreasing brake pipe pressure
This locomotive is equipped with cab signalling but it is not functional as of release because I still need to upload the required PTC environment addon. When complete track speed limits will be displayed on the panel between the windows.
