PKP class Lyd1

The locomotive was designed in Fablok in Chrzanów, sharing some features and components with a normal gauge locomotive SM03 (Ls150). It was powered by 150 hp diesel engine, driving three axles by mechanical transmission, a jackshaft, connecting rods and coupling rods. A prototype was constructed in 1960, and subsequently tested on a railway of a Polish Military Weapon Research Institute in Zielonka, where it served until 1992. From 1962, the locomotive entered series production, with a factory designation WLs150 (WLs stood for Wąskotorowa - narrow-gauge, lokomotywa - locomotive, spalinowa - internal combustion engine of 150 hp). Until 1968, 144 were built by Fablok (64 for 750 mm gauge, 71 for 785 mm gauge, and 10 for 900 mm gauge, designated WLs150-2). Four 785 mm gauge locomotives were later converted to 750 mm. A development was WLs180 locomotive, differing mainly in 180 hp diesel engine (manufactured by Henschel licence). Since Fablok was overloaded with manufacturing normal gauge locomotives, a production of WLs 180 was moved to Zastal in Zielona Góra, in cooperation with Fablok, which delivered axles and transmission. It received a designation 803D there. From 1969 to 1972, Zastal built 47 locomotives (factory numbers 001 to 047) Of these, 10 were for 750 mm gauge, 34 for 785 mm gauge and 3 for 900 mm gauge. ==Description==

The PKP Lyd1 classification gives the technical details of the locomotives. L indicates a narrow gauge locomotive, y indicates 3 axles (0-6-0 or C), d indicates diesel fuel, and finally, 1 indicates mechanical transmission (there could be also other locomotives classified as Lyd1, but WLs150 and 180 were the only locomotives in this class of the PKP). The locomotive is configured with a single cab in a middle. The cab has two big windows in both front and rear walls, and doors with single windows in sides. The body has car-like full width hoods over forward and rear sections, with two headlights attached to vertical end walls. In forward section (slightly longer) there is an engine with a water radiator in front and two fuel tanks on sides; in rear section there is a compressor and transmission box. A mechanical transmission 2P-154, manufactured by Fablok, is 4-gear, with reversing gear and hydraulic steering. Main brake is air one, there is also a mechanical screw brake. ==Deployment and usage==

The locomotives were only used in Poland. Polish State Railways PKP designated them as Lyd1 series. First there were bought in 1966 five 785 mm gauge locomotives, numbers Lyd1-305 to 310, for Upper Silesian railways. Soon numbers 305, 307 and 310 and one additional ex-industrial locomotive were rebuilt to 750 mm gauge, as Lyd1-224 to 227. ==References==