SJ Dm3

Dm and Dm3 is a series of locomotives used by Swedish State Railways (Template:Langx) and later Malmtafik i Kiruna (MTAS) for pulling iron ore trains on the Iron Ore Line in Sweden and Ofoten Line in Norway. A total of 39 double-locomotives (Dm) were delivered between 1954 and 1971, built by ASEA. A further 19 center locomotives (Dm3) were later delivered. Norwegian State Railways also operated 12 similar locomotives, designated NSB El 12. The Dm is a articulated, freight-optimized version of the Da-locomotive.

History

The iron ore trains on the Iron Ore Line between Luleå in Sweden and Narvik in Norway were originally operated by the Of class locomotives, based on the earlier O-series locomotives first used on the line from 1914. In order to replace these locomotives, SJ chose to order new locomotives for the Iron Ore Railway based on the new Da class locomotives being ordered at the time.Template:Sfn An initial twenty-four twin-section locomotives, designated the Dm class, were ordered and delivered in 1953, with a further fifteen fitted with new, more powerful motors, delivered in the 1960s. As a result of this, four locomotives from the first batch were fitted with the more powerful motors to match.

As initially developed, the twin-section Dm class locomotives were capable of pulling 3,400 tonne trains. However, due to progressive increases in train size and weight this was no longer acceptable by the end of the 1960s, and so SJ ordered 19 new cabless centre locomotives, which were installed permanently between the two halves of a Dm class locomotive; the resulting rebuild being classed as Dm3.Template:Sfn Due to the addition of the centre locomotive, the Dm3 class locomotives were able to haul trains up to 5,400 tonnes. Around the same time, the locomotive cabs were modernised with new, rationalised control layouts and additional noise insulation. Rather than copy its neighbour, the Norwegian State Railway chose to build a different and more powerful locomotive, the NSB El 15 to modernise its operations around the same time.

In the 1980s, the majority of the remaining Dm class locomotives were moved to other locations on the SJ network, leaving the Dm3 class locomotives to operate the Iron Ore Line. All of the Dm3 and several Dm class units passed with the Iron Ore Line to the private company MTAB in 1996, with the remaining Dm class units being reclassified Dm2.Template:Sfn With further increases in train size, MTAB decided to order new locomotives to replace the older Dm2 and Dm3 units.Template:Sfn With the arrival of the first new IORE locomotives in 2000, the entire Dm2 class were removed from service along with several Dm3 class locomotives.Template:Sfn In 2004 one set was donated to the heritage society Malmbanans Vänner, who also own one of the similar-design Norwegian El 12 class locomotives as used on the Iron Ore Railway. MTAB have since agreed that the remaining Dm3 class locomotives will be retired in 2011, when enough IORE locomotives are available to relieve them.

Table

All MTAB locomotives are named after one of the mines of the LKAB.

Number	Name	Image	Remark
974-983-975	Malte		initially only Dm2 (974-975); 1999 rebuilt to Dm 3 with mid engine of 982-983-984. 2002 scrapped
976-977-978	Bruno	File:Norrbottens Järnvägsmuseum - SJ Dm3 976-977-978 01.JPG	no modernisation, since 2002 historical locomotive
979-980-981			1993 scrapped
982-983-984		File:JvmKEAH00014 Statens Järnvägar, SJ DM 982 kopplat med SJ DM3 984 och SJ DM 983.jpg	1996 out of service, 1999 mid engine 983 used in Dm2 974/975
1201-1231-1202	Kunigunda
1203-1233-1204	- - - -	File:JvmKBDB14309 13 Statens Järnvägar, SJ Dm 1204. UIC - International Union of Railways. Snöröjningsmaskin.jpg	1988 out of service and used as spare part locomotive, 1991 scrapped
1205-1235-1206	Sigrid	File:JvmKEAE02212 Statens Järnvägar, SJ Dm 1206.jpg
1207-1232-1208	Sofia	File:LKAB Sofia.jpg	Dm3 Sofia
1209-1234-1210	Viktor	File:JvmKBDB14779 07 Statens Järnvägar, SJ Dm3 1209. Gränsreportage Vassijaure.jpg
1211-1236-1212	Konsuln	File:JvmKEAH00015 Statens Järnvägar, SJ DM 1212 kopplat med ett SJ Dm3 och ett SJ Dm.jpg
1213-1237-1214	Johan		since 2004 out of service
1215-1245-1216	Josefina	File:LKAB Dm3 in Narvik (cropped).jpg
1217-1238-1218	Hermelin
1219-1239-1220	Dennewitz	File:LKAB Dm3 1219.jpg
1221-1240-1222	-		19-03-1993 accident in Katterat (N), scrapped at place and removed from the SJ rolling stock register in November 1993.
1223-1241-1224	Baron
1225-1242-1226	Alliansen	File:JvmKEAJ01006 Godståg dragen av ellok. Statens Järnvägar, SJ Dm3 1225.jpg
1227-1243-1228	Kapten	File:Narvik train station - Freight train with iron ore from Kiruna - June 1993.jpg
1229-1244-1230	Rektorn
1246-1247-1248	Oskar	File:Sörby Urfjäll, Gävle, Sweden - panoramio (1).jpg	since 2013 historical locomotive

External links

• Järnväg.net page on Dm/Dm3 Template:In lang
• Spec Sheet Template:In lang