Jaworzyna Śląska 2023-01-07
HCP motor car of the SN80 series.
The SN80 motor car was developed in Poznań at CBKPTK, and produced in the HCP factory and received the designation HCP5M (Hipolit Cegielski Poznań construction 5 M-motor). The designation SN80 was given to PKP.
In the mid-1950s, it was decided that motor carriages would be introduced in passenger traffic on secondary, non-electrified lines with a small flow of passengers. The Central Design Office of the Rolling Stock Industry was tasked with designing motor and trailer cars. At that time, two designs of motor cars with a mechanical transmission (type 4M) and a hydraulic transmission (type 5M) were created. There were also plans to develop an SZT, a two-car and a light rail bus.
The construction of the first 5M vehicle was entrusted to the Hipolit Cegielski Works, which in 1959 made a prototype of the vehicle, marked with the SN80 series. It was planned in the period 1959 - 1960 to build 25 copies. Ultimately, only 13 were produced between 1961 and 1964. 9 vehicles were used in Leszno and 3 vehicles in Zbąszynek.
In 1961, at the Poznań International Fair, the first copy of the SN80 motor car was publicly shown. The wagon is equipped with multiple control, up to 4 SN80 wagons in the set. It was also possible to combine wagons in the following arrangement: SN80 + 101A + 101A + SN80.
The problem turned out to be the issue of hydrokinetic transmissions. As the Polish industry had difficulties in producing the torque converter, it was decided to import this component from England. But then it turned out that the power car is relatively expensive to buy and operate.
The SN80 vehicles were considered to be better in operation than the SN61 motor cars imported from Hungary.
With time, all SN80 cars were gathered in Leszno. They were exploited mainly on the route to: Głogów, Zbąszynek, Jarocin and Krotoszyn.
The structure of the SN80 vehicle.
Driver's cabins are located at both ends of the vehicle. There was a machinery compartment, 2 passenger compartments with 16 and 32 seats, a luggage compartment with an additional 8 seats, one toilet, a compartment with a heating boiler. The motor car had the option of heating the trailer cars.
Many elements of the SN80 motor car were borrowed from the type 101A "Ryflak" passenger car, which reduced production costs. The same windows and doors were used. Identical passenger seats were installed, upholstered in maroon leather. The same tables under the windows were used. On the floor, made of thick plywood, there is a PVC carpet in a maroon color. The floor is easy to keep clean. The entrance vestibule was equipped with a door identical to the type 101A car.
The toilet compartment is equipped with a toilet bowl and a sink. Cold and hot water is available. The toilets is an open system. The floor has been lined with resin in the form of a pool, which protects against damage to the walls and floor by moisture.
In the driver's cabin there was an armchair for the mechanic and a folding seat for the assistant (conductor). On the right side is the entrance door to the cabin, in addition to the interior door. The mechanic controlled the car by means of a simple controller with several positions and a combined brake. Multiple control of up to four vehicles at the same time is provided. Sometimes the following arrangement was used: SN80 + wagon 101A + SN80. It was possible thanks to the control system in car 101A. Such a set still had a top speed of 100 km/h.
In the SN80 motor car, an automatic Vapor steam boiler was used for heating. The boiler can heat a motor car and two trailer cars of type 101A "Ryflak", maintaining a temperature of +15 degrees Celsius, with an outside temperature of up to -10 degrees Celsius.
The vehicle rests on two two-axle bogies. Axle system B'2'. One is a driving bogie and the other is a rolling bogie. A Polish combustion engine Wola 1DVSa/14-350 was used, with a power of 257kW, which was produced in Warsaw. The engine uses a Voith torque converter (type T26/WAG/V). The "cardana" type drive shaft drives the gear of one wheel axle, and through another shaft, the gears on the other wheel axle. The design speed of the vehicle was 100 km/h. The diesel engine is the same engine that was used to drive the SM30 diesel locomotive.
SN80-12 vehicle.
The only surviving copy of the SN80-12 was used until November 8, 1979. Diesel car series SN 80-12 type 5Mm, factory number 11270. Manufacturer: Hipolit Cegielski Poznań, inventory number MUZ I. - 44. The vehicle has traveled about 1,100,000 km.
On June 1, 1981, it was decided not to renovate the car and to remove it from PKP status. For many years, the motor car SN80-12 stood in Warsaw. Under the "care" of the Railway Museum in Warsaw, the SN80-12 car was falling into disrepair, almost until the mid-1990s. In April 1994, he was transported to Leszno. He was very devastated. It lacked windows, seats and many elements of equipment. Thanks to the efforts and forces of the repair department of the locomotive depot in Leszno, the box was renovated, along with the supplementation of deficiencies and renewal of paint coatings. Windows were built in, the brake system was repaired. Heating and electrical systems, including lighting, have been improved. The running gear of the vehicle was renovated. The repair of the vehicle was completed in 1995.
Unfortunately, there were no funds to repair the internal combustion engine and hydraulic transmission. Therefore, tourist trains on the Leszno - Boszkowo route could not be launched. That's why the wagon stood on the siding at the Leszno station. In 2016, the wagon finally went to the Museum of Industry and Railways in Silesia, where it can be seen until today (2023). Unfortunately, the SN80 car was also destroyed by vandals, pseudo painting. Penalties for destroying railway property are far too small.
Data T-T SN80:
Production 1961 - 1964. Axle system B'2'. Service weight 49,600 kg. Total length 24.10 m. Width 2.90 m. Height 3.98 m. Wheel diameter 0.94 m. Internal combustion engine Wola 1DVSa/14-350 [2DVSa] 12 cylinders at 1,500 rpm. Power 260 kW (350 hp). Maximum power 265 kW (360 hp). Fuel diesel. Voith T26/WAG/V torque converter. Design speed 100 km/h. Number of seats 48 + 8.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman