The class TU2 diesel locomotive is by far the most well-known and popular narrow gauge locomotive in the former Soviet Union.
The railways in the former Soviet-Union were considered of high strategic importance and therefore much information was secret. Even the class TU2 locomotives were surrounded by a cloud of mystery.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, fortunately much has changed for the better. Much of the scarce and fragmented information on the class TU2 has meanwhile been published in different sources, both in printed form as on the internet. Especially about the Baltic republics and the Ukraine many details are known. This makes it is possible to make an attempt to reconstruct the history of the class TU2 narrow gauge diesel locomotives and at the same time shine a light on the systems they worked on.
This site consists of two parts. In the first part the more technical aspects of the class TU2 and its predesessor, the class TU1, are reviewed. The second part deals with the countries and railways using class TU2's.
Undoubted this site contains many errors and misinterpretations. You are invited to come forward with additional pictures, information, corrections and suggestions. In advance thank you very much for your coorporation!
Select a topic from the menu on the left or follow the history step-by-step by clicking on NEXT on the bottom of each page.
Paul Engelbert