New Diesel Locomotive
 

Freightliner have ordered 30 new locomotives from GE in the USA.

Freightliner order 30 General Electric Genesis JS37ACi locomotives

Quote:

Freightliner Group has placed an order for 30 freight locomotives of a new design giving greater hauling capacity and a significant improvement in fuel economy than currently seen on the UK network. Project Genesis, which is being developed in partnership with General Electric (GE), will bring new technology to the UK rail freight market, enabling Freightliner to move longer and heavier trains whilst reducing CO2 emissions per tonne moved.

Starting in mid 2009, Freightliner will utilise the most advanced locomotive product in the industry while GE - Transportation will enter the UK rail freight market for the first time. The innovative design offers an array of new features, including AC traction technology and dynamic braking. GE - Transportation’s JS37ACi locomotives allow Freightliner to increase its hauling capacity while lowering fuel consumption by an estimated 10 percent compared to the current locos in its fleet.

This substantial investment, the largest loco order ever placed by Freightliner, fits well with the DfT’s recently published strategy document ‘Towards a sustainable future’ which sets out the transport system's role in supporting continued economic growth and making a key contribution to the Government aim of a 60% CO2 emissions reduction by 2050, The new locomotives enable both economic growth and lower emissions.

The driving cabs of the new loco will bring new standards of comfort to drivers, with air-conditioning as standard. Freightliner have kept the Trade Unions involved (including RMT and ASLEF) and will involve groups of drivers for input into the design and build of the cab.

Eddie Fitzsimons, Chief Executive, Freightliner Group Ltd said; “We are extremely excited about Project Genesis. Not only will we improve our carbon footprint but will be able to move more payload per train than ever before. We have been in discussions with GE over recent months to develop what will be the epitome of 21st century locos on the UK network, bringing revolutionary technology the to rail freight market.”

Robert Parisi, General Manager of International Locomotives and Modernizations, GE - Transportation said; “We are pleased to enter the UK market for the first time and introduce our advanced locomotive product. It’s exciting to provide solutions to our customer’s needs.”

Tim Shakerley, Engineering Director, Freightliner Group Ltd added; “We recognise that a locomotive is a 30 year asset and therefore development of new technology is important to ensure the locomotive is up to date and relevant for its design life. Packaging this technology into a locomotive compliant to the UK clearance gauge and axle weight is a tremendous challenge but we are confident that GE can achieve this.”


Technical details
Body - Narrow Body with exterior walkway
Length Over Buffers - 23,000 mm
Height (over operator cab) - 3,917 mm
Width (over cab sides) - 2,642 mm
Total Weight - 126 tonnes
Axle Configuration - Co-Co
Gross Horsepower - 2750 kW (3686 hp)
Maximum Speed - 120 kph / 75mph
Maximum Starting Tractive Effort - 534 kN
Wheel Diameter - 1,067 mm
Fuel Capacity (usable) - 6,000 litres / 1320 Gallons
Engine - GE J616
Alternator - GE GTA series
Traction Motors - AC - GE 5GEB30
Bogies - Fabricated frame with axle hung motors
Air Brakes - Dynamic Electronic - EAB
Control System - GE CCA – Common Control Architecture
Diagnostics -Self Testing with diagnostic display panel

Traction
The traction motors are individually controlled via separate inverters. Consequently this leads to better power distribution based on available adhesion and the use of the AC motor with its better torque-speed curve means the loco has a much higher starting torque which means it has a greater starting tractive effort.

Dynamic Brakes
The locomotive is fitted with rheostatic (dynamic) brake. When slowing it uses the traction motors to regenerate energy and put electric current back into the locomotive, using the electric current to drive the auxiliary motors. This is the first time it has ever been applied in a diesel loco in the UK.

Cabs
Dual cabs with left of centre operator desk, and air conditioning as standard. The engine is resiliently mounted to reduce vibration. Cabs are sound insulated and driver information is provided by MMI screens.

Fuel efficiencies
The locomotive is 7% more fuel-efficient than previous locomotives achieving 197g/kwh. By using the energy dissipated by the dynamic brakes to drive the auxiliaries, and controlling the auxiliaries separate from the engine speed, a further 3 % efficiency is gained. It is therefore 10% more efficient than previous locos.

Diagnostics
The locomotive will be fitted with remote dial up software which allows GE to monitor the performance, troubleshoot and find problems before anyone knows they are happening, and dispatch a technician with the correct parts to the location where the loco is going to finish its journey for preventative maintenance.

This is interesting news. Will they at least look different to the 66's? Please God let them look different to the 66's! Variety is the spice of life!!!!

The engines look very eco friendly, and any diesel loco that reduces CO2 emissions sounds good to me.

Yes, they will look very different from a 66. They will be significantly more powerful and being GE, they will probably sound like a real locomotive. :)

I was browsing the Dapol Model Railways website yesterday and there was a little bit of text in the news section saying that they will produce models of these new locos and that they will be class 68s.

I should think these new locos would look different to a 66 (I hope) as they are supposed to have a narrow body with an external walkway.

There are some details of this loco in The Railway Herald 111.

Are these locos to be used for a specific type of train? Just as the Class 67's were supposedly primarily for postal traffic, is there a definite need for a new design? I'm not complaining, anything to relieve the monotony (or how about a new word; "mono loco lly") that we've had imposed upon us by EWS.

I should think these new locos would look different to a 66 (I hope) as they are supposed to have a narrow body with an external walkway.[/QUOTE]

Similar to the class 58 then.

Auch you never know maybe just maybe EWS will think about a new type to replace the 37s (Ok I am dreaming again):rolleyes:

Les

In that case the loco will probably look like two small "sheds" connected by a bridge:rolleyes:
I can't imagine anything very stylish. It will just be a case of squashing all the equipment into a suitably sized box.
A bit like this ugly Vossloh creation.:o
http://www.john.p.whitby.btinternet....iasca_0809.jpg

Or the GE version of a 58. :)

Congratulations to Freightliner for breaking away from the GM strangle hold on the market, it is about time a modern product was developed for Europe.
I am sure that cab comfort will be high on the agenda for the unions as they appear to have failed to get anything done about the older class 66 which are a nightmare to operate. The newer 66 are not so bad but still leave a lot to be desired. A modern looking class 58 great !

Freighliner and GE have released more details of this loco at the Innotrans event in Berlin.

http://www.railwaygazette.com/news_view/article/2008/09/8844/freightliner_powerhaul_design_on_show.html

Hate to be a Party Pooper here but what on earth happened to Britain's locomotive building industry?, as everyone knows in the steam days Britain and America exported loco's all over the world now it seems its just America, I never thought I would see the day that American power would run on British steel in such a big way, looks like Britain is destined to be like Australia where just about everything is American built or built under license in Australia, one of the things I used to admire most about locomotives in Britain was that they were unique to that country, I have nothing against American loco's but I guess I am just a little sad that the American loco's are getting a bit of a stranglehold on the UK.

David

Have to agree David.
Only the Americans seem willing to build diesels to suit our restrictive loading gauge. Perhaps it might be a different story if we had more electrified lines and needed new electric freight locos ......................We could then be flooded with German stuff.:D

Dont think the engineering now exists in the country to pull a project together like this at the right price :(

David, why not go a step further and ask what happened to British heavy industry. We make nothing do we.
Paul.

This is very sad, we in Oz are in the same boat all we do is supply the raw materials and make very little ourselves, nearly all Aussie owned brands have been snapped up by large overseas companies.

I dont think the Americans have it all their own way though, I did read where I think Venezuela are buying 200 new diesel locomotives from China, if China can spread their wings with loco's like they have with everything else even GE may find themselves in some kind of price war.

David.

David,
You asked about the British Locomotive Industry, it is now in a small shed in Darlington.
One loco every 18 years!!!!!
John (G)

Crikey John that is even worse than Oz, I thought Hunslet were building a replacement for the Class 08 Shunter?, if they do I guess it will better than nothing.

I used to be proud of Britain's manufacturing might, Ships, Locomotives and Cars, I can remember when train loads of cars used to leave the Longbridge Austin Factory in the 1950s, hard to believe that many now come from Japan and Korea, I think we lost the plot somewhere along the line., one day it will come back to bite us on the you know what.

David.

I was of course referring to a main line locomotive although that could also be termed Model Engineering in 12 inch to the foot scale however Hunslet do make the little Quarry locos to order.
If I win the lottery I'll have one and a circle of two foot track to play on.
John (G)

At least you still do that, more than we do anymore.:( Although, we must be the world leaders when it comes to supplying boxes of fudge at tourist destinations surely, so does fudge making count as a heavy industry?
;)

Love that one Adam, I guess it depends on how much you eat, if all these problems were not so serious it would be laughable, the way World finance is going at the moment we may all finish up the Creek.

David.

Brilliant John, but sadly very true.
Paul.

Some of the fudge I have bought from seaside resorts would qualify for being heavy industry.
Paul.

There are entire streets devoted to it, I think that 90% of the shops along The Shambles in York are fudge shops!

After all this talk of fudge it's hard to imagine that this thread started off discussing Freightliner's new diesel loco order from GE in America.:)
The first photos of the actual loco are now available in this leaflet. If you thought 66's were ugly then take a look at this.:eek:
http://www.freightliner.co.uk/filelibrary/PDFs/news/Fact%20Sheet.pdf

That's one uggly buggly loco.

I knew there was a reason that I was not keen on Diesel traction. Now I know I was right. What happened to the nice clean lines of the class 37's 40s' 44's and 47's. They looked British and were British.

Now, I'm not British. I don't mind the look of 59s and 66s, and I think 58s are ugly. I still say this new one is worse. As with GEs vs. EMDs in North America, it seems GE can't make a passable cab.

But, seriously, I recognize the visibility advantages of this design. Like the 58, a "dogbone" configuration maximizes forward visibility in both directions while allowing some rearward visibility. And the single windshield is obviously best.

Looks like a 58 thats already been in an accident to me. Hope its better for the drivers though !

That is abusing the right to be ugly.
Crikey it makes a Class 67 look perfectly sensible!

No one has mentioned we used to build them in GREAT BRITAIN

That loco looks horrible. Really horrible.

Anyone got a picture of said ugly loco ?

It all started to go wrong with the class 58, allthough the 60 was impressive visually and with that thudding engine note.

Hi, Swisstrains posted a good link in this thread on page 3. Hope this is helpful.
Regards

Thanks, my first impression was that it was a train from the childrens programme "underground ernie"

Another ugly freight engine ! perhaps thats just it, if it's a freight engine then design is purely functional.

Shame, maybe the engine noise will be worth hearing.

Heres a short video of the new Class 70 loco in the U.S.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDU3kDjzM5g

Great pity we cannot build new locomotives here is it not.What happened to our engineering industry eh!

That is one ugly son of a bitch

Actually that blasphemy of a machine has got me thinking, has anyone ever seen anything uglier?
Locomotive that is!
I think I would have to resist the temptation to give in to uncrontrollable laughter if I ever saw one.
That or cry.
Ladies and Gentlemen, soon to be seen on the rails of the Country that gave you "Mallard", Duchess Pacifics, Merchant Navy Class et al, I give you the Carbuncle Class ugly-as-sin monstrosity.
Anyway, there has already been a Class 70, the "Hornby,s"