loco-info.com
The reference for locomotives and railcars
Navigation
Random
Search
Compare
Settings
Heavy Diesel-Electric Freight Locomotives[Inhalt]
Adtranz DE-AC33C “Blue Tiger”
DB AG class 250, Pakistan Railways No. 6001 to 6030 and Malayan State Railway class 26
Germany | 1996
61 produced
RAG 250 001 in January 2002 in Bad Bentheim
RAG 250 001 in January 2002 in Bad Bentheim
Spoorjan

The “Blue Tiger” demonstrator was created by Adtranz as the first representative of a planned family of locomotives. The engine and three-phase traction motors are from General Electric. Ten production locomotives were delivered in Germany, which are only used by private railways. In addition, 30 units were built for Pakistan and 20 for Malaysia in different gauges. After Bombardier bought Adtranz, the marketing of the DE-AC33C was discontinued because diesel variants of the TRAXX had also been developed.

VariantDB 250PakistanMalaysia
General
Built1996, 2002-2003
ManufacturerAdtranz, Bombardier
Axle configC-C 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)5 ft 6 in (Indian broad gauge)3 ft 3 3/8 in (Meter gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length76 ft 9 5/8 in77 ft 9 1/16 in
Service weight277,782 lbs264,554 lbs
Adhesive weight277,782 lbs264,554 lbs
Axle load46,297 lbs44,092 lbs
Boiler
VariantDB 250PakistanMalaysia
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed75 mph
Starting effort116,226 lbf
EngineGE 7FDL12GE 7FDL16GE 7FDL12
Engine typeV12 dieselV16 dieselV12 diesel
Fuel1,585 us gal (diesel)1,453 us gal (diesel)
Engine output3,299 hp (2,460 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
freight
GE AC Series
three-phase AC
last changed: 04/2023
British Rail class 56 (Electroputere LDE 3500)
Great Britain | 1976
135 produced
56081 in BR Blue livery in October 2023 at Doncaster
56081 in BR Blue livery in October 2023 at Doncaster
Foulger Rail Photos

The class 56 originated in the need of British Railways for a new power class 5 diesel locomotive in the seventies. It was specified that the bodyshell and many mechanical parts would be from the class 47. The engine was a Ruston-Paxman 16RK3CT, that was a development of the English Electric diesels. It was rated at 3,520 hp, but set at 3,250 hp. Instead of the main DC generator of earlier diesel-electrics, now an AC alternator powered the DC traction motors via a rectifier.

Since the British builders didn't have capacities at the time due to years of cost savings, the manufacturing was transferred to Electroputere in Romania. They called the type LDE 3500 and delivered the first 30 in 1977 to Britain. It didn't take long until it was found out that they were of poor build quality and had to be withdrawn after only a few years. They only entered service again after extensive rebuilds. So a low-rate production of a revised design was started at BREL. Until 1984, they built 85 at Doncaster and 20 at Crewe with sub-assemblies coming from other works.

56026 with a coal train near Poolsbrook
56026 with a coal train near Poolsbrook
Phil Sangwell

All in all, they delivered valuable services. Although maintenance wasn't as easy as for the modular class 58, they were less prone to wheelslip than this. In 1995, all remaining locomotives came to the English Welsh & Scottish (EWS). Withdrawals started soon, with the last ones being withdrawn in 2004. After some years of storage, many were sold to a multitude of new owners. So some were soon used in construction trains, some were used by private operators for freight traffic and three even came to Hungary.

General
Built1976-1984
ManufacturerElectroputere, BREL
Axle configC-C 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length63 ft 6 in
Service weight275,520 lbs
Adhesive weight275,520 lbs
Axle load45,920 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed80 mph
Starting effort61,800 lbf
EngineRuston-Paxman 16RK3CT
Engine typeV16 diesel
Fuel1,382 us gal (diesel)
Engine output3,250 hp (2,424 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
freight
last changed: 09/2024
View on YouTube
British Rail class 58
Great Britain | 1983
50 produced
58035 with an empty coal train at Woodthorpe
58035 with an empty coal train at Woodthorpe
Phil Sangwell
General
Built1983-1987
ManufacturerBREL, Doncaster
Axle configC-C 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length62 ft 9 in
Wheelbase48 ft 9 in
Rigid wheelbase13 ft 9 in
Service weight286,600 lbs
Adhesive weight286,600 lbs
Axle load47,840 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed80 mph
Starting effort60,000 lbf
EngineRuston Paxman 12RK3ACT
Engine typeV12 diesel
Fuel1,183 us gal (diesel)
Engine output3,300 hp (2,461 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
freight
British Rail class 59 (Electro-Motive Division JT26CW-SS)
Great Britain | 1985
15 produced
Hanson 59103 “Village of Mells” in May 2008 in Westbury
Hanson 59103 “Village of Mells” in May 2008 in Westbury
Hugh Llewelyn
Variant59/0, 59/159/2
General
Built1985-1995
ManufacturerElectro-Motive Division
Axle configC-C 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length70 ft 0 in
Wheelbase56 ft 6 1/2 in
Rigid wheelbase13 ft 7 1/4 in
Service weight266,540 lbs
Adhesive weight266,540 lbs
Axle load44,423 lbs
Boiler
Variant59/0, 59/159/2
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed60 mph75 mph
Starting effort122,000 lbf
EngineEMD 16-645E3C
Engine typeV16 diesel
Fuel1,201 us gal (diesel)
Engine output3,300 hp (2,461 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
freight
British Rail class 60
Great Britain | 1989
100 produced
English, Welsh and Scottish Railway No. 60071 "Ribblehead Viaduct" in March 2010 at the Murco Oil Depot
English, Welsh and Scottish Railway No. 60071 "Ribblehead Viaduct" in March 2010 at the Murco Oil Depot
Hugh Llewelyn

Due to the poor reliability of the class 56, British Railways tendered a new diesel locomotive for heavy block trains. The winner of the tender was Brush Traction and the engine was from Mirrlees. This draws 3,100 hp from just eight cylinders and was one of the most economical on the market at the time. After a few teething problems, the first locomotives were put into service in 1990. After privatization, they all came to the EWS, which at times put 75 percent of the locomotives out of service. They later came to DB Cargo UK where some were modernized from 2010 onwards. Others were soon resold and in 2020 the first one was scrapped.

General
Built1989-1993
ManufacturerBrush Traction
Axle configC-C 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length70 ft 0 in
Service weight284,480 lbs
Adhesive weight284,480 lbs
Axle load47,413 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed60 mph
Starting effort106,500 lbf
EngineMirrlees MB275T
Engine type8-cyl. diesel
Fuel1,561 us gal (diesel)
Engine output3,100 hp (2,312 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
freight
last changed: 03/2023
British Rail class 66 (Electro-Motive Division JT42CWR)
Great Britain | 1998
651 produced
Freightliner 66555 in February 2011 at the Bombardier depot in Derby
Freightliner 66555 in February 2011 at the Bombardier depot in Derby
mattbuck
Variantstandard variant66/6
General
Built1998-2015
ManufacturerElectro-Motive Division
Axle configC-C 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length70 ft 1 in70 ft 3 in
Wheelbase57 ft 1 1/2 in
Rigid wheelbase13 ft 9 in
Service weight279,776 lbs285,712 lbs
Adhesive weight279,776 lbs285,712 lbs
Axle load46,629 lbs47,619 lbs
Boiler
Variantstandard variant66/6
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed75 mph65 mph
Starting effort91,900 lbf101,200 lbf
EngineEMD 12N-710G3B-T2/EC
Engine typeV12 diesel
Fuel1,691 us gal (diesel)
Engine output3,245 hp (2,420 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
freight
China Railway DF7G
Dōngfēng 7G
China | 2002
40 produced
DF7G No. 5099 in March 2016 in Xinzheng, Henan
DF7G No. 5099 in March 2016 in Xinzheng, Henan
Gary Todd / China Rail Dongfeng DF7G Diesel-Electric Locomotive
Varianttype 0000type 5000 / 9000type 8000
General
Builtsince 2002since 20032006
ManufacturerQingdao Sifang, Qishuyan, CRRC Beijing
Axle configC-C 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length60 ft 4 7/16 in62 ft 3 1/4 in
Service weight304,238 lbs
Adhesive weight304,238 lbs
Axle load50,706 lbs
Boiler
Varianttype 0000type 5000 / 9000type 8000
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed62 mph
Starting effort97,792 lbf98,466 lbf
Engine12V240ZJ12V240ZJ6FEQ16V240ZJB
Engine typeV12 dieselV16 diesel
Engine output2,950 hp (2,200 kW)2,682 hp (2,000 kW)3,943 hp (2,940 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
passenger
freight
China Railway HXN5 (General Electric ES59ACi)
China | 2008
300 produced
HXN5 in September 2015 with a freight train
HXN5 in September 2015 with a freight train
N509FZ

The class designation HXN5 of China Railway stands for a heavy freight diesel locomotive designed by General Electric. A total of 700 of the model called ES59ACi were ordered in 2005. They have only a cab at one end and are powered by the 16-cylinder GEVO engine only used in export locomotives. At 6,250 hp, they are among the most powerful single-engined diesel locomotives in the world.

Only the first two were built by GE in Erie, Pennsylvania and all other locomotives were built in China by CSR Qishuyan. Unlike the original plans, production was halted after a total of 300. Two other types which are related to the HXN5 are the Indian WDG-6G, called ES57ACi and the ES58ACi of the Brazilian Carajás Railway.

General
Built2008-2010
ManufacturerGeneral Electric, CSR Qishuyan
Axle configC-C 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length73 ft 1 3/4 in
Rigid wheelbase12 ft 1 11/16 in
Service weight330,693 lbs
Adhesive weight330,693 lbs
Axle load55,116 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed75 mph
Starting effort139,382 lbf
EngineGE GEVO-16
Engine typeV16 diesel
Fuel2,378 us gal (diesel)
Engine output6,249 hp (4,660 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
freight
GE Evolution
three-phase AC
last changed: 08/2024
China Railway HXN5B
China | 2012
more than 210 produced
HXN5B Nr. 0167 im Dezember 2016 in Yuxi, Yunnan
HXN5B Nr. 0167 im Dezember 2016 in Yuxi, Yunnan
Vmenkov

Due to the need for diesel locomotives for heavy shunting and freight service, China Railway had the HXN5B developed by CSR Qishuyan. It was designed after the same principles as the American Road Switchers. It is powered by a twelve-cylinder with 3,530 kW (4,800 hp) and three-phase traction motors

For the “Belt and Road” project, additional locomotives were needed for the Chinese-Russian border area whose bogies could be adapted to the Russian and standard gauge. For this purpose, the HXN5B was selected after the DF7C and adapted to use the SA3 central buffer coupling.

General
Builtsince 2012
ManufacturerCSR Qishuyan
Axle configC-C 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Service weight330,693 lbs
Adhesive weight330,693 lbs
Axle load55,116 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed62 mph
Starting effort125,893 lbf
EngineR12V280ZJ
Engine typeV12 diesel
Engine output4,734 hp (3,530 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
freight
switcher
three-phase AC
last changed: 11/2023
German Federal Railway class 240
Germany | 1989
3 produced
DE13 of the HGK in October 2013 in the Gremberg marshalling yard
DE13 of the HGK in October 2013 in the Gremberg marshalling yard
Paul Smith
General
Built1989
ManufacturerMaK, Krupp, ABB
Axle configC-C 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length68 ft 9 3/16 in
Wheelbase51 ft 1 in
Rigid wheelbase12 ft 9 1/8 in
Service weight257,941 lbs
Adhesive weight257,941 lbs
Axle load42,990 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed99 mph
Starting effort91,048 lbf
EngineMaK 12M282
Engine typeV12 diesel
Fuel1,321 us gal (diesel)
Engine output3,554 hp (2,650 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
prototype
freight
three-phase AC
loading...

We use cookies to save the following settings:

  • selected navigation structure
  • selected language
  • preferred units
  • spelling of railway company names

If you refuse the use of cookies, the settings will only be retained for the current session and will be reset to the default values the next time you visit the site.

Display of units

Here you can set the desired unit system for the technical data.

  • Metric: Lengths in meters, weights in tonnes, and volumes in cubic meters
  • Imperial (UK): Lengths in feet/inches, weights in long tons and volumes in imperial gallons
  • Imperial (US): Lengths in feet/inches, weights in pounds, and volumes in US gallons
  • Individual: Depends on the country of origin of each locomotive
Operator names

Here you can set the display of railway company names.

  • Short: Abbreviation or short form of the name
  • Standard: commonly used name, partially translated to English
  • Complete: full name in local language