The 2Te116 is a typical Russian diesel fro heavy freight use in 2520 mm (5') area. Power divided to two modules it both provides the needed horse power and adequate fail resistance. If you take a look at some solutions like the plates shielding the air intakes in the middle of the loco some solutions look hopefully obsolete. Yet these monster have well taken their place Russian railroading and served well for several decades so far.


Technical details
-> Type: 2Te116   
-> Usage: Heavy road freight locomotive
-> Builder: Lugansk
-> Production dates: 1971 to current
-> Numbers built: 1700+ , remaining units unknown  
-> Gauge: 1520 mm (5 ft)

-> Users: Eesti Raudtee EVR, Rzd, Spacecom, Transoil, E.R.S.As in Estonia, Sinest, ...
-> Seen: Russia, Estonia, Ukraine, probably much of the ex. Eastern Europe.

-> Energy Source: Diesel fuel   
-> Engine: Kolomna type 1A-5D49 V16, 4 stroke ; later units 1A-5D49-2
-> Power output: 2 x 2250 kW (6030 Hp) at 1000 rpm      
-> Transmission: Diesel electric AC/DC
-> Alternator: AC, type ?   
-> Traction motors: DC, ETM type ED-107A, 12 x 305kW,
later types ED-118A, ED-118B, ED-118D and ED-125B 
-> Tractive Effort: 399 kN  start / 248 kN at 24km/h
-> Wheel arrangement:  Co-Co + Co-Co 
-> Wheel diameter: 1050 mm

-> Maximum operational speed where possible:  100 km/h (62 mph)   

-> Length:  18,15m 
-> Heigth:
-> Width:      
   
-> Weight:  138 metric tons x 2  
-> Axle weight max: 23 tons 

Pictures from above left
1) This light green 2Te116 unit was found in Finland near Imatra border area. It was pulling the empty log cars back to the Russain side. Running in the hot weather for the Northern latitude you can notice that all the wents, many windows and even doors are open to better went out the extra heat.

Picture by John McKey.

2) ...

The very early 2Te116 number 075 is seen here near Sortavala depot, Russia, parked before new assignments. The unit looks relatively well maintained considering its age and the use.

Picture by Ilkka Siissalo.

The very early 2Te116 number 089 is seen here at Narva, Estonia locomotive parking pushing smoke to the air.

The monsterous double diesel locomotive is also RzD's reliable work horse pulling those trains across the border that the Essti Raudtee (Estonian railways) brings to the border.

Picture by Ilkka Siissalo.

The early 2Te116 number 0586 is accelerating and can be seen blowing sand to the rails after it has passed a crowded passenger platform in Kehra, Estonia. The train is returning to Siberia from the port of Muuga just East of Tallinn.

Both pictures by Sally McKey.

Soaking in the rain with its crew in Narva Estonia the 2Te116 number 0696 prepares to take the empty can train across the border for another fill up to Siberia.

Picture by John McKey.

The Transoil 2Te116 unit 696 is idling in Muuga near Tallinn, Estonia before coupling to another string of empties to be hauled across the Russian border to Siberia.

Picture by John McKey.

The Transoil 2Te116 number 0700 is idling near Muuga harbor before new assignments. The locomotive has just filled its own oil tanks with diesel. Pictures by John McKey 2009. Finally it backs up to pick up tens of Russian oil cars.

Picture by John McKey.

And finally the cans are coupled to the unit and the train can start looping back towards East.

Pictures by John Mckey.

The ERS colored 2Te116 number 973 has just filled its own tanks and is ready for new assignments with the tanks cars at Muuga arrivals freight yard, east of Tallinn, Estonia.

Picture by John McKey.

And a third shot.

The mixed ERS / Spacecom colors 2Te116 number 974 has brought a Siberian oil train to Tallinn arrivals yard. The tanks will next be taken to the harbor by local switchers and offloaded to tanker a little later.

Picture by John McKey.

A differently colored RzD 2Te116 was rolling downhill with an empty pulpwood train on a hot summers day. In a few minutes it will pass from the Finnish side across the border to Russia.

Notice that all (every one of them) the vents are open, even doors and windows. It must be pretty hot inside the loco.

Picture by John McKey.

A leasing company SpaceCom light bluish 2te116 is seen here in Muuga near Tallinn, Estonia between the assignments.

Picture by John McKey.

The light greenish colored RzD 2Te116 number 1270 is seen at Narva arrivals and departures yard with a train of empty hoppers to be taken to the Russian side from Estonia.

Picture by John McKey.

A better view to the loong train behind the RzD 2te116 number 1270.

The Spacecom colored ERS 2Te116 unit number 1366 is braking to stop here at Tartu station, Estonia. The tanks are most likely filled with the Russain export oil.

Picture by Ilkka Siissalo.

Another RdZ 2Te116s has just brought forest industry load to Imatra, Finland ans is backing away from the arrivals yard there.

Bu now you have probabaly noticed, that not two of the RzD 2Te116 units are painted alike!

Picture by Hannu Peltola.

The return load to Russia is an impressive train of wood chip empties.

Picture by Hannu Peltola.

Another one of the numerous 2Te116s of the mighty Russian RzD. The unit 1566 is pulling pulpwood cars around 10 miles in the Finnish soil in Imatra. The cars will be left there, sorted out by Finnish VR-Yhtyma and pulled to one of the numerous paper mills in the area.

Picture by Ilkka Siissalo.

A truly unusal finding, the Sillamäe Sadam (Estonia) 2Te116 number 1667 seems totally out of place for such a small sea port. It is possible this unit is currently back in another companies colors as the need for such a high horse power solution seems unlikely for the use.

Picture by Ilkka Siissalo 2007.

The Transoil 2Te116 number 1678 is one of the commonly seen locomotives transporting mainly oil from Russia to Estonian port of Muuga (near Tallinn). Notice the additional structures above the cab well visible from this angle. In th frnt are the double airconditioning units and behind those a large additional radiator which is a standard issue for the newer 2Te116s.

Here the unit is seen in Narva, preparing to cross the border East.

Picture by Ilkka Siissalo.

The Transoil 2Te116 number 1684 and another newer unit are waiting for the lights to take the huge tank train across the border to Russia from Narva, Estonia.

Picture by Hannu Peltola.

Another view to the units motoring away. In the background another similar transoil train behind and older unit and furthest back one the the Eesti Raudtee C36-7is.

Picture by Hannu Peltola.

A now almost disappeared color scheme that was earlier very usual can be found on this Spacecom unit. The Spacecom after a few years of running locomotives itself decided to lease its 2Te116s instead. Today these can be found in numerous color schemes, sometimes even two schemes in one double diesel!

Notice the radiator hump behind the cab signifying a newer 2Te116 unit.

Picture by Ilkka Siissalo.