Kolomna Locomotive Works
Kolomna Locomotive Works is a Russian railway-equipment manufacturer known for passenger and freight locomotives and medium-speed diesel engines.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Kolomna Locomotive Works, also known in Russian as Kolomensky Zavod, is a historic Russian engineering and manufacturing enterprise based in Kolomna, Moscow Oblast. Its industrial origins date to 1863, when military engineer Amand Struve established a mechanical engineering and foundry plant serving the expanding railway sector. The factory initially produced steel bridge structures and other railway equipment, but entered locomotive production in the late nineteenth century. It began production with a freight steam locomotive in 1869 and became one of the relatively small number of locomotive producers operating in the Russian Empire. Over more than a century and a half, the plant has worked across a broad range of heavy engineering activities. Its historical output has included steam locomotives, diesel and electric locomotives, railway cars, river vessels, traction engines, turbines, tenders, condensers, tunnelling equipment, marine engines and diesel-generator systems. During the Soviet period it also undertook defense-related production, including tank repair, armored trains and ammunition manufacturing during the Second World War. The factory additionally laid down several Shchuka-class submarines in the mid-1930s before their completion and transfer to another shipbuilding facility. The company’s modern industrial identity is centered on railway locomotives and medium-speed diesel engines. Its engine portfolio supports diesel locomotives, ships, power stations and other heavy-duty applications. The plant has been described as Russia’s largest supplier of medium-speed engines in the approximate 450–5,000 kW range. Its locomotive portfolio has included mainline passenger and freight designs, as well as direct-current and alternating-current electric locomotives. Kolomna is particularly associated with the TEP70 family of passenger diesel locomotives, which has operated extensively on non-electrified routes in Russia and other former Soviet railway systems. The TEP70BS is a later development of that family. The plant also occupies an important place in Russian railway research and development. It produced the experimental EP200 high-speed AC electric locomotive, the TEP80 experimental passenger diesel locomotive and the 2TE70 freight locomotive derived from the TEP70 platform. One TEP80 locomotive achieved a manufacturer-claimed speed record of 271 km/h in 1993, although that result is not listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. The company’s earlier milestones include the first Russian three-axle locomotive, a diesel-powered ship built in 1907 and early Soviet diesel-electric and electric locomotive programs. The enterprise has changed names and organizational identities several times. Founded as the Struve Brothers mechanical engineering and foundry plant, it became Kolomna Machine-Building Plant in 1871 and was renamed the V. V. Kuybyshev Locomotive Factory in 1935. It received major Soviet state honors, including the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner of Labour and the Order of the October Revolution. By 2015, the plant was part of Transmashholding, Russia’s major rail-transport engineering group. Publicly available reference material does not establish a separate current consumer-facing brand strategy, standalone listing status or current executive roster.
History
Kolomna Locomotive Works traces its origins to 1863, when military engineer Amand Struve founded a mechanical engineering and foundry enterprise at Kolomna. The original business concentrated on steel bridge structures for railways, reflecting the rapid development of rail infrastructure in the Russian Empire. Struve's brother Gustav joined the management in 1866, after which the enterprise operated under the Struve Brothers name. In 1871 it became the Kolomna Machine-Building Plant. The works expanded from structural steel into a diversified heavy-engineering operation. It began locomotive production in 1869 with a freight steam locomotive and subsequently produced a large number of steam locomotive designs. Its early achievements included the first Russian three-axle locomotive, a T-series machine built in 1870. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries the plant also manufactured railway cars, river vessels and traction engines. In 1907 it built a diesel-powered ship identified in the reference material as the world's first of its type, illustrating the company's early interest in diesel power beyond railway applications. During the Soviet era, the plant's activities broadened further. It produced locomotives, wagons, streetcars and diesel engines in the early years after the revolution. In 1931 it entered diesel locomotive production, and in 1932 it worked with the Dinamo plant on VL19 direct-current electric locomotives. In 1934 the factory laid down three Shchuka-class submarines. These vessels were completed in 1937 and transferred to the Red Sormovo facility for further handling. In 1935 the enterprise was renamed the V. V. Kuybyshev Locomotive Factory. The Second World War transformed the plant's production priorities. Before the war it had made steam, diesel and electric locomotives, engines, turbines, subway tunnelling shields and other railway equipment. During the conflict it supported military requirements by repairing tanks, constructing armored trains and producing ammunition. It resumed steam locomotive and diesel-engine production in 1943. In November 1953 the factory completed its 10,000th locomotive, a significant indicator of its cumulative industrial scale. From 1956, Kolomna entered a new phase centered on serial diesel locomotive and diesel-engine manufacturing. Its engines were supplied for locomotives, ships, submarines and stationary diesel power plants. The TEP60 and TEP70 passenger diesel locomotives became particularly important for non-electrified routes in Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. The TEP70 family and later TEP70BS variants became closely associated with passenger service on former Soviet railway networks. The works continued to develop experimental and production locomotive platforms in the late Soviet and post-Soviet periods. The TEP80 experimental passenger locomotive was built in two examples in 1988–1989, while TEP80-0002 achieved a reported 271 km/h in 1993. The EP200 high-speed alternating-current electric locomotive followed, with two examples released in 1996. Kolomna also developed the 2TE70 freight locomotive, based on the TEP70 and TEP70BS platform, for freight trains of up to approximately 6,000 tonnes. The EP2K direct-current passenger locomotive and the TEP70BS modernized passenger diesel locomotive became important modern product lines. The enterprise received the Order of Lenin in 1939, the Order of the Red Banner of Labour in 1945 and the Order of the October Revolution in 1971. By 2015 it was identified as part of Transmashholding. Its documented business scope includes locomotive design, manufacture and service, together with medium-speed diesel engines and diesel-generator systems for railway, marine, heavy-vehicle and power-generation uses. Current ownership details, leadership and standalone corporate structure are not established by the supplied reference material.
- 2015
Part of Transmashholding
[1]Reference material identifies Kolomna Locomotive Works as part of Transmashholding by this date.
- 1996
EP200 experimental locomotives released
[1]Two EP200 experimental high-speed AC electric locomotives were produced.
- 1993
TEP80 speed achievement
[1]TEP80-0002 reportedly reached 271 km/h in a test run, according to the manufacturer's account.
- 1971
Order of the October Revolution awarded
[1]The enterprise received the Order of the October Revolution.
- 1956
Serial diesel production expands
[1]Serial production of diesel locomotives and engines for railway, marine and stationary-power uses began.
- 1953
10,000th locomotive completed
[1]The factory produced its ten-thousandth locomotive in November.
- 1943
Steam locomotive and diesel-engine production resumes
[1]The plant resumed production of steam locomotives and diesel engines during the Second World War.
- 1935
Kuybyshev locomotive factory name adopted
[1]The works were renamed the V. V. Kuybyshev Locomotive Factory.
- 1932
VL19 electric locomotive program
[1]In cooperation with Dinamo, the plant produced VL19 direct-current electric locomotives.
- 1931
Diesel locomotive production begins
[1]Kolomna started producing diesel locomotives.
Products and positioning
A heavy-engineering and railway-technology manufacturer positioned around locomotives, locomotive power systems and medium-speed diesel engines for rail, marine and stationary-power applications.
Passenger diesel locomotive · 1973
TEP70
The TEP70 is a major passenger diesel locomotive family associated with Kolomna's postwar and late Soviet production. It was designed for passenger traffic on non-electrified railway routes and became widely used in Russia and other former Soviet railway systems, including Belarus and Kazakhstan. Its importance lies in combining substantial hauling capability with a standardized platform that supported later modernization and freight-oriented derivatives.
Passenger diesel locomotive · 2006
TEP70BS
TEP70BS is a modernized development of the TEP70 passenger diesel locomotive. It is intended for passenger service on non-electrified main lines and extends the operating relevance of Kolomna's best-known diesel-locomotive platform. The model is listed in the reference material as entering service or production from 2006 and as continuing in the product timeline.
Direct-current passenger electric locomotive
EP2K
EP2K is a direct-current electric passenger locomotive developed for mainline railway operations. It represents Kolomna's role as a Russian producer of passenger locomotives and complements the company's diesel platforms for routes with different electrification conditions. The supplied material identifies EP2K as one of the plant's principal modern locomotive products.
Experimental high-speed AC electric locomotive · 1996
EP200
EP200 was an experimental alternating-current electric locomotive program intended to explore high-speed passenger railway operation. Two examples were released in 1996, with a stated maximum speed of 200 km/h. The program demonstrates Kolomna's engineering work beyond conventional diesel traction, although the supplied material does not establish a large-scale production successor.
Experimental passenger diesel locomotive · 1988
TEP80
The TEP80 was an experimental passenger diesel locomotive built in two examples in 1988–1989. One unit, TEP80-0002, was credited by the manufacturer with reaching 271 km/h in 1993. The two locomotives were later preserved in railway museums, and the type did not become a regular mass-production passenger platform.
Freight diesel locomotive · 2004
2TE70
The 2TE70 is a two-section, six-axle freight diesel locomotive derived from the TEP70 and TEP70BS passenger platforms. It was designed to haul freight trains weighing up to approximately 6,000 tonnes. The production timeline supplied for the type runs from 2004 to 2010, making it a significant example of Kolomna's adaptation of passenger-locomotive engineering for heavy freight work.
Medium-speed diesel engine
D49 engine family
The D49 family is among Kolomna's established medium-speed diesel-engine lines. Engines in this broad family have been used in locomotive power systems and related heavy-duty applications. The supplied reference also lists 10D49 and 16D49 variants. Exact model specifications, current production status and customer-by-customer applications are not established in the available material.
Locomotive and industrial diesel engine
D500 engine family
The D500 family is a newer high-output engine line identified in the supplied production references, including V12 and V16 configurations such as 16SD500. It is associated with locomotive and heavy industrial power applications. The available source does not provide a complete launch history, production volume, customer list or current commercial specification.
Brand decisions
2015
Integration into TransmashholdingM&ABackground
Kolomna operated as a major Russian locomotive and diesel-engine manufacturer within a railway-equipment industry undergoing group consolidation.
Action taken
The works became part of Transmashholding, according to the supplied reference material.
Aftermath
The plant was positioned within a larger Russian rail-transport engineering group. The precise transaction structure and consideration are not given in the source.
2004
Introduction of the 2TE70 freight locomotiveProduct launchBackground
Kolomna had developed substantial experience with the TEP70 passenger diesel platform and its TEP70BS modernization.
Action taken
The plant introduced the two-section 2TE70 freight diesel locomotive, derived from the passenger platform and intended for trains of up to approximately 6,000 tonnes.
Aftermath
The program extended the TEP70 engineering family into heavy freight service; the supplied timeline records production through 2010.
1956
Expansion into serial diesel power systemsStrategyBackground
The plant had historically manufactured steam and electric locomotives as well as diverse heavy-engineering products. Growing demand for non-steam traction and diesel power created an opportunity to broaden its industrial base.
Action taken
Kolomna began serial production of diesel locomotives and diesel engines for locomotives, ships, submarines and diesel power stations.
Aftermath
The decision established diesel traction and medium-speed engines as central parts of the plant's long-term product portfolio.
Recent events
- 2015
Kolomna becomes part of Transmashholding[1]
M&A
Reference material identifies the plant as part of Transmashholding by 2015, placing it within Russia's major rail-transport engineering group.
- 1996
EP200 high-speed AC locomotive prototypes released[1]
Product launch
Two experimental EP200 alternating-current electric locomotives were released, with a design maximum speed of 200 km/h.
- 1993
TEP80 reaches a manufacturer-claimed 271 km/h[1]
Other
Experimental locomotive TEP80-0002 reportedly reached 271 km/h on 5 October, a speed achievement associated with the plant's high-speed diesel-locomotive research.
- 1956
Serial production of diesel locomotives and engines expands[1]
Product generation
Kolomna began serial production of diesel locomotives and engines for locomotives, ships, submarines and diesel power stations.
- 1953
Kolomna produces its ten-thousandth locomotive[1]
Other
The factory completed its 10,000th locomotive in November, marking a major cumulative production milestone.
- 1932
VL19 electric locomotive program begins[1]
Product launch
Working with the Dinamo plant, Kolomna participated in producing VL19 direct-current electric locomotives, an important early Soviet mainline electric design.
- 1931
Kolomna starts diesel locomotive production[1]
Product launch
The plant entered serial diesel locomotive production during the early Soviet industrialization period.
- 1907
The plant builds a diesel-powered ship[1]
Product launch
Kolomna constructed what the reference material identifies as the world's first ship powered by a diesel engine, demonstrating the company's expansion beyond rail equipment.
- 1870
Kolomna develops the T-series three-axle locomotive[1]
Product launch
The plant built the first Russian three-axle locomotive, beginning a long sequence of domestically designed steam locomotive types.
- 1869
Kolomna plant begins locomotive production[1]
Product launch
The factory produced its first freight steam locomotive, establishing its long-term role in Russian railway manufacturing.
Sources1 sources
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