siirtovaunun

Siirtovaunu, translation often rendered as transfer wagon, is a type of railway vehicle designed to move or transfer other wagons within a railway yard, workshop, or industrial site. Its primary function is to reposition wagons for loading, unloading, or forming trains without needing to move an entire consists with a full-powered locomotive. In practice, the siirtovaunu is coupled to the wagon to be moved and is directed along short yard tracks, with operation typically performed by a shunting locomotive or, in some designs, by manual or mechanical drive.

Design and variants vary, but siirtovaunut are usually small or medium-sized wagons with proper coupling at both ends to connect to other wagons. They commonly feature braking connections to enable controlled movement and may include simple transfer mechanisms, clamps, or securing devices to grip a wagon during transfer. Some versions are flat or open-topped and may be equipped with ramps or lifting gear for handling specific types of loads. The vehicle is built for short-distance movement within restricted rights of way, such as yards, plant sites, or workshops.

Use of siirtovaunut has been widespread in industries that handle large numbers of wagons, including freight yards, timber and mining operations, and large manufacturing sites. They have historically complemented shunting locomotives by enabling rapid reorganization of wagons, forming trains, or isolating wagons for maintenance or transfer between facilities. In Finland and other countries, siirtovaunut were once common in railway operations and industrial railways, though many have been retired or replaced by modern shunting locomotives and automated yard systems. Some examples remain in use in heritage railways or within specialized industrial contexts.