NOHAB
A Swedish industrial manufacturer known for locomotives, turbines, marine engines, aircraft engines, and heavy engineering.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
NOHAB, formally Nydqvist & Holm AB, was a major Swedish engineering and manufacturing company based in Trollhättan. Its origins date to 1847, when Antenor Nydqvist, Johan Magnus Lidström, and Carl Olof Holm established Trollhättans Mekaniska Verkstad to build turbines for hydraulic power installations. The company subsequently developed into a diversified heavy-industry manufacturer whose products included steam and diesel locomotives, power-generation turbines, marine engines, licensed aircraft engines, railway equipment, and armored-vehicle hulls. Railway manufacturing became one of NOHAB's defining activities. The company produced its first steam locomotive in 1865 and completed its 1,000th locomotive in 1912. Its locomotive business served domestic and international customers, including railways in the Soviet Union, Brazil, Portugal, Denmark, Norway, and Hungary. A particularly significant export order arrived in 1920, when Soviet Russia ordered 1,000 locomotives. Only 500 were delivered between 1921 and 1924, but the contract demonstrated NOHAB's ability to compete in large international railway tenders. In 1924, it also built three metre-gauge steam locomotives for Brazil's Estrada de Ferro Rio d'Ouro. The company's expansion was not limited to rail transport. During the 1930s, NOHAB manufactured Bristol Jupiter aircraft engines under licence from the Bristol Aeroplane Company. Its aircraft-engine operations later joined those of AB Svenska järnvägsverkstäderna, helping form the aircraft manufacturer SAAB. NOHAB also built Ljungström steam-turbine locomotives between 1930 and 1936 and remained an important producer of industrial turbines and medium-sized marine engines. During the Second World War and the postwar period, its heavy-engineering capabilities were applied to additional defense and industrial projects, including hulls for Sweden's S-tank. After the Second World War, NOHAB broadened its diesel-railway presence. It supplied diesel railcars to the Portuguese Railways in both Iberian and metre gauge, and in the 1950s began producing diesel locomotives under licence from General Motors' Electro-Motive Division. Danish State Railways became a major customer, while Norwegian State Railways received 35 Di 3 locomotives. In Hungary, twenty NOHAB-built locomotives entered service with Hungarian State Railways as the MÁV M61 class in the early 1960s. Their reliability, economy, and association with travel around Lake Balaton gave them an enduring cultural status, even though further imports were halted by Cold War restrictions. NOHAB's corporate history ended during the industrial restructuring of the 1970s. Its diesel-engine manufacturing facility was sold to Wärtsilä and became known as Wärtsilä Nohab. The original company went bankrupt in 1979. Although NOHAB ceased to exist as an independent manufacturer, surviving locomotives remain in preservation, heritage, maintenance, freight, and special-train service in several countries. In Hungary, preserved M61 locomotives and former Scandinavian Di 3 and Danish MY units continue to support the company's lasting reputation among railway enthusiasts. The name therefore survives primarily as an industrial and railway heritage brand rather than as an active standalone business.
History
NOHAB began in 1847 as Trollhättans Mekaniska Verkstad, founded in Trollhättan by Antenor Nydqvist, Johan Magnus Lidström, and Carl Olof Holm. Its initial specialization was the manufacture of turbines for hydraulic power plants. The enterprise expanded into railway engineering and built its first steam locomotive in 1865. By 1912 it had completed its 1,000th locomotive, marking the importance of railway production to its identity. In 1916 the business was reorganized as a limited company and adopted the NOHAB name, derived from Nydqvist & Holm AB. Its international profile grew rapidly after the 1920 Soviet locomotive order. The contract called for 1,000 locomotives, of which 500 were delivered from 1921 to 1924. NOHAB also supplied three metre-gauge steam locomotives for Brazil's Estrada de Ferro Rio d'Ouro; although built in 1924, surviving railway records indicate that they did not reach Brazil until at least 1926. The interwar period saw further diversification. NOHAB built Ljungström steam-turbine locomotives from 1930 to 1936 and began licensed production of Bristol Jupiter aircraft engines. Its aircraft-engine activities later combined with those of AB Svenska järnvägsverkstäderna, contributing to the establishment of SAAB. Alongside its transportation products, NOHAB remained active in turbines for power stations and in medium-sized ship engines. After the war, the company developed a substantial export business in diesel railway equipment. In 1948 it supplied diesel railcars to Portugal in both Iberian and metre gauge variants. From the 1950s, General Motors licensing enabled NOHAB to build diesel locomotives based on Electro-Motive Division technology. Danish State Railways became a particularly important customer, and Norwegian State Railways acquired 35 Di 3 locomotives. In Hungary, twenty locomotives were delivered in the early 1960s and classified as MÁV M61. Their performance and their association with journeys to Lake Balaton made the type unusually popular in Hungarian public memory. NOHAB also undertook defense-related manufacturing, including construction of hulls for Sweden's S-tank. However, the company's diversified structure did not prevent decline during the industrial crisis of the 1970s. Its diesel-engine facility was transferred to Wärtsilä and became Wärtsilä Nohab. The original NOHAB company entered bankruptcy in 1979. The corporate entity is defunct, but its products remain visible in preservation and railway operations. Hungarian M61 locomotives, former Norwegian Di 3 units, and former Danish MY locomotives have been retained by museums, foundations, railway operators, and private owners. Some continue to haul special, work, or freight trains. This afterlife has preserved NOHAB as a prominent name in European railway heritage, particularly in Hungary, despite the disappearance of the original company.
- 1979
Bankruptcy
[1]NOHAB enters bankruptcy, ending the original company's independent corporate existence.
- 1970
Diesel-engine facility transferred to Wärtsilä
[1]The diesel-engine manufacturing operation is sold and continues as Wärtsilä Nohab.
- 1950
General Motors locomotive licence
[1]The company begins producing diesel locomotives under licence from General Motors' Electro-Motive Division.
- 1948
Portuguese diesel railcars supplied
[1]NOHAB delivers diesel railcars to Portugal in Iberian-gauge and metre-gauge configurations.
- 1930
Licensed aircraft-engine production begins
[1]NOHAB starts manufacturing Bristol Jupiter aircraft engines under licence.
- 1920
Soviet locomotive contract
[1]Soviet Russia places an order for 1,000 locomotives; 500 are delivered between 1921 and 1924.
- 1916
Reorganized as NOHAB
[1]The business is reconstituted as a limited company under the Nydqvist & Holm AB name, commonly abbreviated NOHAB.
- 1912
1,000th locomotive completed
[1]The company completes its 1,000th locomotive and records the achievement in an anniversary publication.
- 1865
First steam locomotive
[1]The company builds its first steam locomotive, beginning a railway-manufacturing tradition that becomes central to its business.
- 1847
Trollhättans Mekaniska Verkstad is founded
[1]Antenor Nydqvist, Johan Magnus Lidström, and Carl Olof Holm establish the company in Trollhättan to manufacture hydraulic-power turbines.
Products and positioning
Diversified Scandinavian heavy engineering with a strong export orientation, combining railway manufacturing with power-generation, marine, aerospace, and defense capabilities.
Railway equipment · 1865
Steam locomotives
NOHAB built steam locomotives from 1865 and reached its 1,000th locomotive by 1912. Its steam output covered domestic and export requirements, including locomotives for Soviet Russia and Brazil. The company also produced specialized Ljungström steam-turbine locomotives between 1930 and 1936.
Railway equipment · 1950
NOHAB-GM diesel locomotives
From the 1950s, NOHAB manufactured diesel locomotives under licence from General Motors' Electro-Motive Division. These locomotives served railways in Scandinavia and elsewhere, including Danish State Railways and Norwegian State Railways, and became a major postwar expression of NOHAB's engineering and export capabilities.
Diesel locomotive · 1960
MÁV M61
Twenty NOHAB diesel locomotives were supplied to Hungarian State Railways in the early 1960s and classified as M61. The type became associated with express services and holidays around Lake Balaton. Although regular passenger service ended in December 2000, several examples remain preserved or operational for special, maintenance, and freight work.
Aircraft engine · 1930
Bristol Jupiter aircraft engines
NOHAB produced Bristol Jupiter aircraft engines under licence during the 1930s. The aircraft-engine division later became part of the industrial combination that helped establish SAAB, linking NOHAB's engineering base to Sweden's emerging aerospace industry.
Industrial machinery · 1847
Industrial and marine turbines and engines
Beyond railway equipment, NOHAB manufactured turbines for power plants and medium-sized ship engines. These products reflected the company's original hydraulic-turbine specialization and its broader role in Swedish heavy engineering.
Defense manufacturing
S-tank hulls
NOHAB manufactured hulls for Sweden's S-tank, extending its heavy-fabrication expertise into defense production. The work complemented its established activities in locomotives, engines, turbines, and other large engineered structures.
Brand decisions
1970
Sale of the diesel-engine operation to WärtsiläM&ABackground
NOHAB was undergoing industrial restructuring during the difficult economic environment of the 1970s.
Action taken
Its diesel-engine manufacturing facility was sold to Wärtsilä and continued as Wärtsilä Nohab.
Aftermath
The transaction separated a major operating division from the original NOHAB company, which later entered bankruptcy in 1979.
1950
Adoption of General Motors diesel-locomotive technologyProduct launchBackground
Postwar railways were shifting from steam to diesel traction, creating demand for modern locomotive technology.
Action taken
NOHAB began producing diesel locomotives under licence from General Motors' Electro-Motive Division.
Aftermath
The licensed designs supported important deliveries to Denmark, Norway, and other railway markets.
1930
Expansion into licensed aircraft enginesProduct launchBackground
NOHAB's industrial base supported diversification beyond locomotives and power machinery.
Action taken
It began licensed production of Bristol Jupiter aircraft engines.
Aftermath
The aircraft-engine division later contributed to the formation of SAAB through combination with a railway-workshop company's aircraft activities.
1920
Acceptance of the Soviet locomotive orderStrategyBackground
NOHAB sought international growth in the railway sector after decades of locomotive production.
Action taken
The company accepted an order for 1,000 locomotives from Soviet Russia and delivered 500 during 1921–1924.
Aftermath
The order became one of NOHAB's most significant early international projects, although the full quantity was not delivered.
1916
Corporate reorganization under the NOHAB nameStrategyBackground
The original Trollhättans Mekaniska Verkstad business had expanded beyond its early turbine activity into locomotive and heavy engineering production.
Action taken
The company was reconstituted as a limited company and became known as Nydqvist & Holm AB, abbreviated NOHAB.
Aftermath
The reorganization provided the corporate identity under which NOHAB pursued major export contracts and diversified manufacturing.
Recent events
- 1979
NOHAB enters bankruptcy[1]
Bankruptcy
The original NOHAB company went bankrupt after the sale and restructuring of parts of its industrial operations.
- 1970
NOHAB's diesel-engine facility is sold to Wärtsilä[1]
M&A
During the 1970s, NOHAB's diesel-engine manufacturing operation was sold to Wärtsilä and continued under the Wärtsilä Nohab name.
- 1950
NOHAB begins licensed production of General Motors diesel locomotives[1]
Product launch
NOHAB entered the diesel-locomotive market through a production licence from General Motors' Electro-Motive Division, supporting major exports to Scandinavian railways.
- 1930
NOHAB aircraft-engine operations contribute to the formation of SAAB[1]
M&A · Other
NOHAB began licensed production of Bristol Jupiter aircraft engines. A few years later, its aircraft-engine division combined with AB Svenska järnvägsverkstäderna's aircraft activities in the formation of SAAB.
- 1920
NOHAB receives a large Soviet locomotive order[1]
Other
Soviet Russia ordered 1,000 locomotives from NOHAB. The company delivered 500 of them between 1921 and 1924.
Sources1 sources
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