VL82 is a Soviet twin-section freight dual-system electric locomotive. It is designed for non-stop train operation on sections electrified with both 25 kV 50 Hz AC and 3 kV DC. It was developed based on the eight-axle electric locomotives VL10 and VL80.
Dual-system electric locomotives are used on railway mainlines where transitions exist between sections electrified with AC and DC (neutral sections), but where constructing a dedicated transition station is unfeasible for various reasons. At the same time, dual-system locomotives, utilizing full power in both modes, have increased weight (which is not a disadvantage for freight locomotives) and higher costs for electrical equipment and its maintenance.
Starting in 1972, the factory began producing an improved version of the dual-system locomotive, designated VL82M. A total of 67 such locomotives were built by 1979.
Compared to their predecessors, the new locomotives feature a redesigned body structure (instead of single large round headlights on the front, they have twin headlights with visors, similar to the VL80T, and modified side panels), along with other improvements.
