The NSB Class 64 was a class of diesel multiple units (DMUs) operated by Norges Statsbaner (NSB), the Norwegian State Railways. These two-car units were primarily used for local and branch line passenger services across Norway, particularly in the mid-20th century.
Overview
The Class 64 units were designed to provide modern, self-propelled passenger transport for lines where electrification was not planned or economically viable. They represented a step forward in comfort and efficiency for many regional routes. Six units were built, entering service between 1962 and 1964.
Technical Specifications
Each NSB Class 64 unit consisted of two permanently coupled cars: a motor car (Bm 64) and a trailer car (B 64).
- Manufacturer: Strømmens Værksted (car bodies), AEG (electrical equipment and motors)
- Configuration: Two-car DMU (Motor car + Trailer car)
- Engine: Diesel engine, driving electric generators which powered traction motors.
- Power Output: Approximately 350 kW (470 hp) per motor car.
- Top Speed: Approximately 100 km/h (62 mph)
- Seating Capacity: Varied slightly but typically around 120-130 passengers per unit.
- Length: Approximately 43 meters (141 ft) for the two-car unit.
- Weight: Approximately 70 tonnes.
Operational History
The Class 64 units were introduced to modernize passenger services on several non-electrified lines. They were primarily deployed in various regions, including Trøndelag (e.g., on the Meråker Line and Nordland Line south of Mo i Rana) and Eastern Norway (Østlandet). Their robust construction and reliability made them suitable for the varied Norwegian climate and terrain. They were characterized by their distinctive red livery, common for NSB diesel rolling stock of the era.
Withdrawal and Preservation
As newer and more powerful diesel multiple units like the NSB Class 69 were introduced, and some lines underwent electrification, the Class 64 units gradually became redundant. They were progressively withdrawn from service throughout the 1980s, with the last units being retired by the mid-1980s.
One unit, BM 64.06, along with its original trailer car, has been preserved by the Norwegian Railway Museum (Norsk Jernbanemuseum) at Hamar. It remains an example of the diesel multiple unit technology employed by NSB during the mid-20th century to serve its regional network.
See Also
- Norges Statsbaner
- Diesel Multiple Unit
- NSB Class 69