In Northeast-Lithuania the narrow gauge railways were almost of the same importance as in Estonia. At least 29 different class TU2 (10% of the total fleet) have run on Lithuanian narrow gauge lines. A number of class TU2 have survived until now. Almost all Lithuanian class TU2s worked on the Panevežys network.
The Panevežys narrow gauge system was built by the First Russian Supply Railway Company, who referred to it as the Svenžany division. The station of Svenžany (nowadays: Svencionaliai) is situated half way the main line from Vilnius to Daugavpils. From here the First Russian Supply Railway Company built a 70 km long narrow gauge line running eastwards to Pastavy in present-day Belarus. It was opened in 1895. Later the line was extended to Bereshvetsh (km 125).
In 1901 the railway opened another branch, starting at the station of Svencionaliai, running westwards to Panevežys. It was 145 km long. The terminus was the Panevežys broad gauge railway station on the line from Daugavpils to Šiauliai.
In 1920 the new border between Lithuania and Poland divided the narrow gauge network in two parts. On Lithuanian territory the 125 km long section from Panevežys to Kiauneliškis remained in service. On Polish territory the section between the border near Kiauneliškis and the Svencionaliai broad gauge station was closed, although the track was not lifted.
The line from Svencionaliai to the west had served as a military railway during the war. Many new branch lines had been built and one of them (Lyntupy - Kobylnik) became the new main line of the narrow gauge system in the Polish Wilna Region. The line was operated by the PKP. A new broad gauge line replaced the original narrow gauge line from Lyntupy to Bereshetsh.
During WW1 German troops built a number of military railways (Feldbahnen) northwest of Panevežys. These 600-mm gauge lines were later taken over by the Lithuanian state railways (LG), who converted them to 750-mm gauge and built new branches. By 1938 the following 750-mm gauge lines had been opened north of Panevežys:
The total length of the regauged and additional new lines was 191 km, bringing the total length of the Lithuanian part of the network to 318 km.
In 1939 Lithuania regained the Wilna Region from Poland. Immediately the 20 km long line from Kiauneliškiai across the border to Svencionaliai was reopened, connection the Panevežys system to the Svencionaliai - Kobylnik line. Now the Panevežys network had reached its maximum extension of 416 km.
In 1945 the network was taken over by the MPS. It is unclear if the Lyntupy - Kobylnik section in Byelorussia has been reopened after WW2. Also, by 1960 the passenegr service on the border-crossing section from Sventionus to Lyntupy (in Byelorussia) had been ended.
Sketch of the Panevezys system in 1961. By then it had an extension of 386 km.
(Click on the map to enlarge).
The lines were operated which different classes of steam locomotives, amongst which the post war classes GR, PT and K. In 1956/1957 the first diesel appeared. This was TU2-001 and soon afterwards also TU2-002 and TU2-003 came to Panevežys. These locomotives were in Panevežys for trial runs only and soon disappeared again. TU2-002 was probably passed on to the Vilnius pioneer railway. TU2-003 turned up in Tallinn in 1958 already.
In November 1957 ten brand new TU2s were allocated at Panevežys MPD on a structural basis. They had running numbers TU2-122 - 124 and 126 - 132. In April/May 1959 Panevezys MPD received four TU2s from the Kustanai railway in Kazakhstan: TU2-051, 052, 053 and 089.
A total of 14 class TU2s was not enough to fully dieselise the extensive network. In 1960 the mixed and the passenger trains required daily six operational locomotives plus probably roughly the same number as reserve. Additional locomotives were needed for the freight services.
But the railway did not obtain more TU2s. Instead class TU3 diesels came to Panevežyš. In 1961 trial runs were conducted with TU3-001 and TU3-003 on the Panevežys network. Four or five months later 12 additional class TU3 were allocated to Panevežys depot. These engines had running numbers TU3-002 and TU3-033 through 043. Such a large TU3-fleet (14 engines) in one single depot was really extraordinary. The large number of class TU3 can be explained by the wide curve radius used for the network. This unique circumstance made the extensive network suitable for the class TU3, which can not pass curves under 70-m radius. Hence the TU3's could replace the TU2s here.
With eight TU2s and fourteen TU3's the Panevežys narrow gauge railway had a total of 22 diesel locomotives at her disposal. In those days the passenger trains are known to have been hauled by a class TU3. They were composed of up to 9 boogie postal, luggage and passenger coaches. The class TU2s normally only hauled freight trains or were kept as reserve at the depot. The TU2-fleet was hardly used and therefore reduced. In January 1959 TU2-124 found new employment on the Tula system in Russia. TU2-129 followed around 1961. Also, TU2-123 was handed over to the Vilnius pioneer railway. Only five TU2s remained in Panevežys.
Due to the lack of spare parts, the class TU3 were gradually taken out of service between 1965 and 1972. As a replacement for the class TU3's, eightteen class TU2s were reallocated to Panevežys MPD.
| origin | numbers |
| Liepaja (Latvia) | TU2-252 |
| Tallinn / Estonia | TU2-003, 013, 064, 076, 090, 138, 139, 140, 142, 150, 217, 243, 245 |
| Gulbene (Latvia) | TU2-154, 252 |
| Riga pioneer railway (Latvia) | TU2-093 |
Following the reallocations, Panevežys MPD had 21 TU2s in stock on 1-1-1971 and 26 TU2s on 1-1-1972. Since the class TU3 have disappeared the class TU2 have been the only motive power on the narrow gauge system. Now the rolling stock was almost fully standardised, with one single class of diesel locomotive and one single class of passenger coaches (Pafawag).
The narrow gauge system flourished and there were even plans to regauge the lines to broad gauge, integrating the network in the rest of the railway network of Lithuania. In the end this could only be realised with small sections of the network. Still the MPS wanted to get rid of its narrow gauge systems. As passenger and freight volumes dropped (artificially?) more and more narrow gauge lines could be closed. The first line to be closed was Žeimelis - Joniškis in 1969. On 16 February 1972 all lines west of Utena closed. Utena - Rubikiai closed on 15th March 1983. Remarkably, Utena - Svencionaliai was reopened as a broad gauge line in 1981. In the north, the section Joniškelis - Zeimelis closed on 22 February 1979 and Šiauliai - Pakruojis on 10 January 1980.
After 1983 only the following sections have been in service:
Because of the line closures and the decline of passenger and freight volumes, the number of locomotives needed decreased. Thus in the course of the 1970s and 1980s more and more class TU2 were dumped or diverted to other railways:
| number | year | reallocated to |
| TU2-122 | 1971 | Chita pioneer railway (Russia) |
| TU2-003 | 1973 | MPS Tumskaja (Russia) |
| TU2-064 | 1973 | Tashkent pioneer railway (Uzbekistan) |
| TU2-154 | 1974 | MPS Vapnjarka (Ukraine) |
| TU2-243 | 1973 | Khabarovsk pioneer railway (Russia) |
| TU2-053 | 1975 | Irkutsk pioneer railway (Russia) |
| TU2-142 | 1980 | Tsjumen pioneer railway (Russia) |
| TU2-140 | 1981 | Semipalitinsk pioneer railway (Kazakhstan) |
| TU2-138 | 1983 | MPS Atbasar (Kazakhstan) |
| TU2-132 | 1987 | scrapped |
| TU2-217 | 1984 | scrapped |
| TU2-252 | 1988? | Evpatoria pioneer railway |
Also a new TU2 could be welcomed. TU2-094 has been in service since 1980. It previously worked on the Valmiera system in Latvia.
Between 1987 or 1988 and 1992 the most eastern section of the main line, between Anykšciai and Rubikiai, was used as a pioneer railway. However the line was also still in use for regular traffic. The rolling stock originated from the Vilnius pioneer railway, which closed in 1984. At least two Pafawag passenger coaches came to Anykšciai. The Anykšciai - Rubikiai pioneer railway used class TU2 from the Panevežys depot (at least TU2-245 is known to have worked here). Shortly after the revolution, in 1992, the pioneer railway has been abandoned.
Two years later also regular traffic ended on the Anykšciai - Rubikiai section. Passenger and freight trains have ended in the station of Anykšciai since.
In the mid-1990s also the lines north of Panevežys (Panevežys - Biržai and Joniškelis - Petrašiunai - Linkuva) were still open, though only for freight traffic. The trains were composed of a class TU2 and flat boogie freight wagons. In 1994 only 17 tons were transported whilst in the past the volume was more than 400 tons annually. Due to the poor condition of the tracks, the maximum permitted speed was only 15 km/h. Hence it was decided to close these lines on 1 July 1996.
The last part of the once over 400 km long network was the 56-km long line from Panevežys to Anykšciai. In winter only one passenger train a day ran from Panevežys to Anykšciai and back (in the morning). In summer there was an additional passenger train pair in the afternoon. In the mid-1990s the passenger trains were normally composed of a TU2 and 3-4 PV51 passenger coaches. After the morning passenger train had returned to Panevežys, a second class TU2 left Panevežys for Anykšciai with a freight train. This carried sand from Anykšciai to the Panevežys glass works. In summer 1997 also closed freight wagons were observed in the freight train to Anykšciai.
In the early 1990s at least TU2-052, 089, 094 and 139 were operational. But in October 1998 still 12 class TU2 with running numbers TU2-051, 052, 076, 089, 090, 093, 094, 128, 131, 139, 150 and 245 were allocated to Panevežys MPD.
TU2-130 had been dumped. TU2-013 might have been transferred to Gulbene (Latvia) to be used for spare parts. At least the remains of a TU2 in the livery of Panevežys was observed there in 1998. Also TU2-013 was not accounted for in October 1998. Later it turned up in Anykšciai as a monument. It is standing on the head of a freight train in the station of Anykšciai.
The small TU2-076 and "large brother" M62-1231 at Panevežys station on 18 AUgust 2002.
Since approximately 2001 TU2-013 has been standing as a monument on the head of a freight train in Anykšciai station.
TU2-052 in the blue livery of the Lithuanian State Railways (LG).
The same loco in Spring 2003.
Photo: Till Puetz.
TU2-090 remained green but still received a large LG-logo on the front of the cab. It is seen here dumped at the depot in Spring 2003.
Photo: Till Puetz.
The appearance of the Panevežys class TU2 are not original anymore. They have been stripped from their communist red star on the front of the loco after the revolution of 1991. On most class TU2 a large logo of the Lithuanian State Railways (LG) has been painted on the front of the cabins. In the mid-1990s the LG started to repaint its TU2s in a new livery. At first, it was decided to paint the top half of the negines in a bright graygreen livery. At least TU2-89 and TU2-094 recieved this livery. But later a new livery was designed: the bottom half of the loco was painted oceanic blue, the top half yellow and the roof orange. Until 1997 TU2-052, 076, 089, 093, 131 and 150 were painted in this livery. The 9 class PV51 passenger coaches received a similar livery. Still, six TU2s kept their original green livery.
In the year 2000 the freight traffic from Anykšciai to Panevežys stopped. On 25 March 2001 also the scheduled passenger service between Panevežys and Anykšciai have come to an end.
After the closure, the line was not dismantled and all rolling stock remained at Panevežys MPD. In December of that year the local authorities in the Panevežys Region took over the railway and founded a new railway company: Aukštaitijos Siaurasis Geležinkelis (ASG). In 2002 the line from Panevežys to Anykšciai and further to Rubikiai (km 68,4) was reopened.
Until to date the ASG has only run specials. But it has the intention to reopen the line for regular traffic in future. It can be questioned how realistic this plan is, since the passenger trains were hardly used in the last years before the line was closed. Only some elderly people travelled in the trains and above all, the region is very sparsely populated.
The ASG uses the some rolling stock as the LG, including the class TU2. Probably only three class TU2 are in working order: TU2-076, 093 and 150. These engines have received a somewhat different livery, with a completely yellow front and a large logo of the ASG.
TU2-076 with a railway enthusiasts special between Panevezys and Anyksciai in August 2002.
In Spring 2003 TU2-076 was again on its way with a special, seen here at Raguvele station. Note the new ASG-logo on the front of the cab.
Photo: Till Puetz.
In 2002/2003 the following twelve class TU2 locomotive were observed at the depot:
| number | livery | logo | last overhaul | remarks |
| TU2-051 | green | - | 19-12-1995 | dumped |
| TU2-052 | blue/yellow/orange | LG | 9-5-1997 | dumped? |
| TU2-076 | green | yellow/blue/orange | 12-11-1993 | in service |
| TU2-089 | green/grey | ? | ? | dumped |
| TU2-090 | green | ? | ? | dumped |
| TU2-093 | yellow/blue/orange | ASG | 2002? | in service |
| TU2-094 | green/grey | ? | ? | dumped |
| TU2-128 | green | - | 19-9-1995 | dumped |
| TU2-131 | blue/yellow/orange | LG | 10-12-1997 | out of use |
| TU2-139 | green | - | 19-11-1994 | dumped |
| TU2-150 | yellow/blue/orange | ASG | 2002? | in service |
| TU2-245 | green | LG | 17-7-1994 | dumped |
Noticeably, in Autumn 2003 three of ASG's class TU2's were offered for sale.
TU2-150 in the new yellow/orange ASG-livery inside the shed of Panevežys MPD in August 2002.
TU2-131 (blue) and TU2-139 (green) in the workshop of Panevežys MPD in August 2002.
TU2-128 dumped outside Panevežys MPD in August 2002.
By Spring 2003 the windows of the dumped locos were prevented from vandalism by steal plates. Shown here are TU2-131, 090, 089 and 094.
Photo: Till Puetz.
In 2004 TU2-139 was restored to working order. It received a gray and red livery. Maybe this will become the new ASG-scheme?
Photo taken from www.ngr.lt
In Spring 2006 TU2-051 was noticed dumped at Birzai station. In April/May 2006 at least TU2-076, TU2-139 and TU2-150 were operational.
By November 2008 also TU2-090 and TU2-093 had been restored to working order. Both engines had received the new dark red ASG-livery. On 19 November 2008 TU2-094 has been transferred to the Lavassaare museum in Estonia.
In 1946, immediately after the Soviet communists had annexed Lithuania, a pioneer railway opened in Vilnius. The 1,6-km long line was situated in the Vingis Park (Vingio parkas), west of the town centre. Two TU2s are believed to have run here. The first was probably TU2-002. It is said to have come to Vilnius after trial runs had been conducted with her on the Panevežys network in 1957. But later it turned up in Mikhailovka (Ukraine), so it is unclear if it really worked in Vilnius.
The other diesel engine is TU2-123. Originally it also worked in Panevežys, where it had become superfluous due to the arrival of the TU3's in 1961. Subsequently it was transferred to Vilnius. This loco worked on the Vilnius pioneer railway until it was closed in 1984.
In 1980 the Vilnius pioneer railway was still operational. TU2-123 worked here from 1961 until 1984.
Photo: Mehis Helme.
