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PKP class MBxd2
Diesel railcar From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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MBxd2 (type A20D-P) is a narrow-gauge diesel railcar produced between 1984 and 1986 by the FAUR factory in Bucharest. A total of 32 units of this vehicle were built. The purchase and operation of MBxd2 railcars saved many narrow-gauge railway networks in Poland from closure. Due to their country of origin, MBxd2 railcars (as well as their trailer cars – the Bxhpi series) are often referred to as "Rumuni" (Romanians).
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History
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Origins
Narrow-gauge railways in Poland had been gradually phased out since the 1950s. This process was driven by various factors, including the development of motorized transport.[1] Another contributing factor to the decline and restrictions on narrow-gauge railway operations was the poor condition of infrastructure and rolling stock, much of which was outdated, with some dating back to before World War II.[2] To prevent the complete liquidation of narrow-gauge railways, in 1983, the Ministry of Transport purchased 32 railcars later designated as the MBxd2 series, along with 100 trailer cars of the Bxhpi series, from the 23 August Works in Bucharest, Romania.[2] The trailer cars were specifically designed to pair with the railcars, forming the A20D-P diesel multiple unit. This transaction was preceded by the delivery of two test vehicles.[2]
Production and testing
In 1984, the Romanian factory built two test railcars, which were sent to Gryfice and Piaseczno. These prototypes differed slightly in appearance from later units, notably lacking the corrugated stiffening ribs on the sidewalls. During testing, numerous defects were identified and subsequently corrected in the production models.[2] A total of 12 motor railcars with a 1,000 mm track gauge and 20 units with a 750 mm gauge were produced and delivered between 1984 and 1987. The railcars designed for different track gauges varied not only in the width of their bogies but also in the gear ratio used in the reduction gearbox.[2]
Operation
750 mm gauge
1,000 mm gauge
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Construction
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Body
The body is self-supporting, made of steel. Cold-formed profiles were used in the construction, which were then covered with sheet metal. Both ends of the vehicle featured a control cabin.[2] Each side had two pairs of doors: one pair leading to the control cabin and the other for passenger access. On each side wall, there were seven windows, each 1,170 mm wide; the upper part of the window could be tilted, similar to the lower deck of standard-gauge Bhp-type carriages.[2]
Interior
The interior consisted of a vestibule and two compartments: a smaller one with 15 seats and a larger one with 24 seats. The larger compartment contained a toilet and a stove.[2] The seating arrangement was 2+1, typical for narrow-gauge passenger cars. The seats were made of wooden slats. Additionally, the interior was equipped with luggage racks, waste bins, and handles for standing passengers.[2]
Rolling chassis and bogies
The wagon was mounted on two double-axle bogies with double suspension. However, this suspension had a major flaw – it caused excessive rocking of the vehicle over track irregularities.[2] The vehicle was equipped with a Knorr brake system that braked all the axles of the wagon, as well as sandboxes on the driving bogie, which dropped sand in the direction of travel onto the first axle’s wheels. The rolling chassis housed 12ES180 type rechargeable batteries with a capacity of 180 A and 24 V voltage, fuel and air tanks for compressors, and heat exchangers.[2]
Powertrain
The unit was powered by a diesel engine, the D2156HMU, produced by the Hungarian company RABA (known for manufacturing engines for Ikarus buses, among others). The engine had a power output of 192 hp at 2,100 rpm, which theoretically allowed the vehicle to tow up to two trailers.[2] However, due to the poor cooling of the engine, only one trailer could be attached to the motorized wagon. The power was transmitted through a 16HRS hydraulic transmission, initially designed for construction machinery.[2]
Control devices
The controller had eight drive positions and a neutral position. In addition, the control panel featured a reverser for changing the direction of travel and a gear shift lever. The control panel also had indicators for monitoring and measurement purposes.[2]
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Livery
The most distinctive livery for the MBxd2 wagons (as well as the Bxhpi trailers) was the factory design, featuring red and cream stripes with red doors. The central stripe on the front of the wagon had a V-shaped bend at a 45° angle downward.[2] During their service at WMD Śmigiel, a simplified livery was used—without the red stripe bend on the front. For vehicle MBxd2-222, instead of red, green was used. From 2002 onwards, the Ełk Narrow-Gauge Railway adopted a yellow color instead of the gray/ivory shade.[2]
Letter designation
The vehicle carries the type designation A20D-P, which was assigned by the manufacturer due to the key features of the design:[5]
- A – Automotoare – from Romanian: motorized wagon or diesel multiple unit;
- 20 – the number of tens in the engine power value; here approximately 200 hp;
- D – powered by a diesel engine;
- P – designed specifically for the Polish market.
On the Polish State Railways, the vehicle was given the alphanumeric designation of the MBxd2 series, meaning:[5]
- M – motorized wagon;
- B – second class;
- x – four-axle;
- d – powered by a diesel engine;
- 2 – equipped with a hydromechanical transmission.
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References
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