The industrialization of the country began with the advent of rail links. And the first domestic steam locomotives were assembled in Kolomna. Kolomna Locomotive Plant named after V.V. Kuybysheva is one of the oldest enterprises in Russia. The history of the company has more than 150 years, and during this time the main direction of production has not changed.
History of creation
Kolomna Locomotive Plant named after V.V. Kuybysheva began his story with the construction of bridges. By 1862, the laying of the Moscow-Saratov railway line was suspended, the reason for this was the need to build a bridge across the Oka River. The engineer and construction manager of the branch Struve Amand Egorovich was called to help. Earlier, he had already built a bridge for the Moscow-Kazan section of the road. Taking a contract for the construction of an iron bridge, in order to ensure production processes in 1863, he leased a land plot from the peasants of the village of Bobrovo. A small production was organized on the site. The foundry produced up to 300 pounds of casting per day, and a forge, a mechanical workshop, and awnings for assembling bridge trusses and wooden parts of the bridge were immediately equipped.
Struve successfully coped with the initial task of building a bridge over the Oka. After that, he received orders for the construction of many bridge structures. So, he erected all the bridges along the lines of Kolomna - Voronezh, Serpukhov - Kursk - Kiev. The bridge across the Dnieper in the Ukrainian capital became the most famous structure of Struve. At that time, the bridge was the longest in Europe and exceeded the length of 1 kilometer. There were more than enough orders, so Moscow bridges were built - Borodinsky, Moskvoretsky, Krasnokholmsky and others. The Petersburg Liteiny Bridge, built in 1879, is still in operation and amazes with its beauty and grace. The last bridge of the Kolomna Plant is considered the Palace Bridge in St. Petersburg, built in 1915.
New challenges for the factory
In 1865, Struve decides to master another specialty - an urgent need has ripened for Russian-made railway transport, the purchase of foreign cars and wagons has been very expensive. The factory for the production of bridges was reoriented to the production of freight platforms, wagons, wheels for turning railway transport. Additionally, equipment for water supply on the railway was produced - tanks for water towers, collapsible columns. The plans included the organization of production of steam locomotives. So on the basis of the bridge-building factory appeared Kolomensky plant ( diesel locomotive ).
Companions were to ensure the implementation of the main potential area of steam locomotive construction. Amand Struve invited his brother Gustav as a director, who had the experience and fame of a specialist in the construction of military facilities and had the appropriate engineering education. Financial support for the project was provided by another member of the team - the merchant of the first guild A.I. Lessing, whose main trump card was extensive connections on exchanges and in the banking system. The factory received a new name - “Struve Mechanical and Foundry of Engineers”. The administrative staff consisted of foreign specialists. The first steam locomotive was assembled according to French drawings and was released in 1869.
Until the 1917 revolution, the Comenius Plant ( diesel locomotive ) was the leading enterprise in the construction and development of new types of locomotives (139 new projects). Since 1987, river ships have been built at the plant, the first of which was the Kulebaki steamboat.
Soviet period
During the formation of Soviet power, the Kolomna plant ( diesel locomotive ) produced a limited volume of products in the main areas - trams, steam locomotives, cars. Since 1932, the company launched the first serial production of diesel locomotives of the E series and electric locomotives marked VL19. These products were a joint production with the Dynamo plant. In 1934, the company mastered the production of submarines of the Schuka type, which in 1937 were redirected by towing to the Krasnoye Sormovo Nizhny Novgorod plant.
In the future, before the start of World War II, the Kolomna Plant ( diesel locomotive ) increased the pace of production, produced tubings for the subway, diesel engines, steam locomotives, electric locomotives and much more.
The period of hostilities made significant adjustments to the work of the enterprise. Production facilities were focused on helping the front. Tanks were repaired in workshops, armored trains were built, and ammunition was produced. The main production has resumed since 1943. The jubilee, ten thousandth steam locomotive left the factory in the fall of 1953.
Since 1956, the Kolomna diesel locomotive manufacturing plant named after Kuibyshev has been producing diesel engines for power plants, diesel locomotives, ships and submarines. Serial diesel locomotives produced at the enterprise successfully operate on the Ukrainian, Belarusian, Kazakh railways. The plant produced the world's fastest diesel locomotives of the TEP80 brand, unique passenger electric locomotives EP200 and many other products.
Today Kolomensky Zavod ( diesel locomotive ) is part of the Transmashholding holding.
Production structure
The production complex consists of 28 workshops where the main facilities are located, and 15 auxiliary facilities. The whole structure of the plant is closed to a full production cycle, the enterprise covers an area of about 124 hectares.
The main production:
- Mechanical assembly.
- Assembly welded.
- Metallurgical
- Design and technological workshop.
To ensure the activities and the development of new equipment, the company has design and technological and experimental research services. There is also a design bureau with extensive experience, which allows the plant not to attract third-party institutions for organizing research, design, testing and production of prototypes of new products that the Kolomna diesel locomotive factory is proud of.
Products
Kolomna diesel locomotive manufacturing plant produces:
- Diesels (design, manufacture, maintenance). Intend for locomotives, diesel locomotives, ships, power plants, etc.
- Diesel locomotives (passenger - TEP70BS, TEP70U; freight - 2TE70).
- Electric locomotives (main DC EP2K).
- Diesel generator sets for nuclear power plants (medium-speed engines, type - D49 (ChN26 / 26)).
- Marine diesel units.
- Power plants and autonomous power units.
- Spare parts for all products manufactured by the enterprise.
Traditions
Engineering Day is a holiday when guests are invited and doors open for everyone to look at the industries that make up such an enterprise as the Kolomna Locomotive Plant. Open Doors Day 2016 was held on September 29. A skill contest was held in the holiday program, in which young workers took part, the winners received certificates and valuable gifts.
Visitors to the plant had the opportunity to go to the workshops where production processes take place. The administration invited curious tourists to get acquainted with the history of the plant in the museum, where models of steam locomotives and diesel locomotives are exhibited, learn more about the founders of the enterprise and its best employees. At the plant, everyone could climb inside the diesel locomotive and feel like a train driver.
Museum
One of the oldest enterprises in Russia and the Moscow Region is the Kolomna Locomotive Plant. The museum, created at the enterprise, has been operating since 1923. The first exposition demonstrated historical documents, a collection of photographs and reports on achievements. He did not work long, the second time the discovery occurred in 1963. The event was timed to the anniversary of the plant, which turned 100 years old.
The modern exhibition consists of models of products manufactured in different years, which include diesel locomotives, motor ships, tractors, power plants and much more. In the historical perspective, the stands show documents and photographs reflecting the history of the plant. A visit to the museum requires prior arrangement and appointment.