Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

VR Class Dm7

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In service
  
1954–88

Constructed
  
1954–63

Number preserved
  
21

Manufacturer
  
Valmet

Number built
  
15 (Dm6) 197 (Dm7)

VR Class Dm7

Fleet numbers
  
4000–4014 (Dm6) 4020–4216 (Dm7)

The Dm6 and Dm7 were diesel multiple units built by Valmet in the 1950s and 1960s for Valtionrautatiet. They are known by their nickname lättähattu (Finnish for "flat hat", the first widespread youth culture movement in Finland).

Contents

History

At the beginning of the 1950s it became clear that VR needed multiple units to compete with buses in short-distance traffic. In 1952, seven Dm6s were ordered from Valmet, and eight more the next year.

After testing the Dm6:s and having noted that the new DMU:s worked well in Finnish conditions, VR ordered more units. In total, 197 Dm7 class multiple units were built with some modifications (a larger wheel size, for instance).

DmG7

Three Dm7:s (numbers 4145–4147) were transformed into goods transport vehicles. They were withdrawn in 1981.

Ttv

16 Dm7:s were transformed into electric maintenance vehicles.

Preservation

All Dm6:s have been withdrawn from service. 20 Dm7:s are preserved by Finnish museum railway associations.

No 4020 is at the Finnish Railway Museum.

References

VR Class Dm7 Wikipedia