List of most powerful locomotives
As railroads around the world haul larger quantities of freight efficiently, the title of world's largest locomotive has often been passed to new generations of rolling stock. Currently, the most powerful articulated and single unit locomotives world run in China, namely HXD1.7 (Shenhua Mining Group) and HXD1/2/3B series.
Standard
There are many ways in which a locomotive can be the largest: the heaviest, longest, most cylinders, most power, or most wheels. It is often defined as the longest in length, but there is even a debate on whether or not to include the tender, which is equivalent to the fuel tank of a diesel, in the measurement. To establish the "largest" category, several factors take precedence: overall weight, which gives traction over driving axles; size (length & height of engine itself); and power, which may be in terms of raw horsepower, tractive effort, available power at axles (shaft horsepower) or, in the case of steam locomotives, available steam on a sustained basis.
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| Name | Railway | Series | Manufacturer | Dates | Drive | Wheel arrangement | Weight | Tractive Effort/Force | Power | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shenhua Mining Group HXD1 | Shenhua Mining Group | HXD1.7 | CRRC Zhuzhou | 2013 | Electric | 3xBo'Bo' | 276 t | 256,282 pounds-force (1,140 kN) | 19,303 horsepower (14,394 kW)
Continuous Rating |
The most powerful articulated electric locomotive in the world. |
| 4E5K | Russian Railways | — | Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant | 2014–present | Electric | 4xBo'Bo' | 384 t | — | 17,838 horsepower (13,302 kW) 1-hour rating | Four sections modification of E5K. |
| GT1s | Russian Railways | — | Sinara transport machines | — | Gas turbine-Electric | — | 360 t | 220,313 pounds-force (980 kN) | 11,285 horsepower (8,415 kW) | Most powerful gas-turbine electric locomotive. Most powerful internal combustion locomotive built. |
| Little Joe | The Milwaukee Road | EF-4 and EP-4 | General Electric | 1950-80 | Electric | 2-D+D-2 | 247.5 t | 75,700 pounds-force (337 kN) | 5,110 horsepower (3,811 kW) | Max speed of 68 mph, used for freight and passenger. |
| Eurotunnel Class 9 | Eurotunnel | 9000 | Euroshuttle Locomotive Consortium | 1993-2002 | electric | Bo-Bo-Bo | 132 t | 90,000 pounds-force (400 kN) starting; 70,000 pounds-force (311 kN) continuous | 9,400 horsepower (7,000 kW)* | Always used in pairs (one at each end of the train). Early versions were 7,500 horsepower (5,600 kW)* but most have been rebuilt to 7 MW. |
| AD43C | Iranian Railways(RAI) | 2001-2100 | ALSTOM | 2001 | Diesel Electric | Co'Co' | 120 t | 122,000 pounds-force (543 kN) | 4,300 horsepower (3,207 kW) | about 50 locomotives are stopped because of failures in the RK215 diesel engine |
| Ae 6/6 | SBB, Switzerland | 11401-11520 | SLM, MFO/ BBC | 1952; 1955–66 | electric | Co-Co | 120 t | 88,125 pounds-force (392 kN) | 5,766 horsepower (4,300 kW) continuous | still in operation (October 2012) |
| Ae 6/8 | BLS, Switzerland | 201-208 | SLM / Sécheron | 1939 | electric | (1'Co)(Co1') | 140 t | 79,360 pounds-force (353 kN) | 5,914 horsepower (4,410 kW) 1-hour rating | 2 remain in working order as heritage locos |
| Ae 8/8 | BLS, Switzerland | 271-275 | SLM / BBC | 1959-66 | electric | (Bo)(Bo)+(Bo)(Bo) | 160 t | 105,885 pounds-force (471 kN) | 8,683 horsepower (6,475 kW) 1-hour rating | 1 preserved in working order |
| Ae 8/14 | SBB, Switzerland | 11852 | SLM, MFO/ BBC | 1939 | electric | (1'A)A1'A(A1')+(1'A)A1'A(A1') | 236 t | 110,160 pounds-force (490 kN) | 10,255 horsepower (7,647 kW) continuous; 10,945 horsepower (8,162 kW) 1-hour rating |
Exhibit at Swiss Transport Museum |
| Re 4/4 | BLS, Switzerland | Re 425 161-Re 425 195) | SLM / BBC | 1964-83 | electric | Bo'Bo' | 80 t | 70,590 pounds-force (314 kN) | 6,678 horsepower (4,980 kW) continuous | in operation (October 2012) |
| Re 465 | BLS, Switzerland | Re 465 001-465 0018 | SLM, ABB | 1994-97 | electric | Bo-Bo | 84 t | 71,940 pounds-force (320 kN) | 8,410 horsepower (6,271 kW) continuous; 9,390 horsepower (7,002 kW) short term | Similar locomotives with slightly different technical data are in operation with SBB (Re 460; 119 pc/ NSB (El 18; 22 pc)/ VR (Sr2; 46 pc)/ KCRC (Hong Kong; 2 pc) |
| Re 6/6 | SBB, Switzerland | 11601-11689 | SLM, MFO/BBC/Sécheron | 1972, 1975–80 | electric | Bo-Bo-Bo | 120 t | 89,475 pounds-force (398 kN) | 9,705 horsepower (7,237 kW) continuous; 10,460 horsepower (7,800 kW) 1-hour rating |
At the time of construction (1972) one of the world's most powerful locomotives, still in operation (June 2016), revised classification Re 620 |
| PRR GG1 | Pennsylvania Rail Road (PRR), Penn Central, Conrail, Amtrak & NJ Transit | 4800-4938, 900-929 | Altoona Works, General Electric | 1934–43 | Electric | 2-C+C-2 (4-6-6-4) | 208.9 to 216.4 t | 65,500 pounds-force (291 kN) | 4,629 horsepower (3,452 kW) | Most scrapped; the prototype and 15 production locomotives preserved in museums |
| Class 461 | Železnice Srbije, Serbia | ŽS461-0/1, ŽS461-2 | Electroputere Craiova, Romania | 1965–91 | Electric | Co'Co' | 120 t | — | 7,638 horsepower (5,696 kW) | Operational in Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Hungary & Macedonia. |
| XA Triplex | Virginian Railway | 700 | Baldwin | 1916 | Steam | 2-8-8-8-4 | 532 t | 199,550 pounds-force (888 kN) simple; 166,600 pounds-force (741 kN) compound | — | Rebuilt into separate locomotives; Maximum speed approx. 10 mph |
| Erie Class P-1 | Erie Railroad | 2603-2605,
later 5014-5016 |
Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1914-1916 | Steam | 2-8-8-8-2 | 531 t | 176,256 pounds-force (784 kN) | — | Maximum speed approx. 10 mph |
| Norfolk & Western Y6 class | Norfolk & Western | — | Roanoke Shops | 1940s | Steam | 2-8-8-2 | 449 t | 166,000 pounds-force (738 kN) | 5,600 horsepower (4,176 kW) | Strongest-pulling steam locomotive still in existence |
| Union Pacific 9000 class | Union Pacific | 9000-9087 | American Locomotive Company | 1926-1930 | Steam | 4-12-2 | 355 t | 97,664 pounds-force (434 kN) | 4,750 horsepower (3,542 kW) | — |
| Challenger | Union Pacific | 3950-3999 | ALCO | 1936–43 | Steam | 4-6-6-4 | 485 t | 97,350 pounds-force (433 kN) | 5,000 horsepower (3,728 kW) | Union Pacific 3985 operates in excursion service and is currently the largest operational steam locomotive |
| Big Boy | Union Pacific | 4000-4024 | ALCO | 1941-–44 | Steam | 4-8-8-4 | 548 t | 135,375 pounds-force (602 kN) | 6,290 horsepower (4,690 kW) | Several on static display.
No. 4014 has been moved from Pomona, Calif., to Cheyenne, Wyo. for restoration. |
| Yellowstone | Northern Pacific | 220-237 (DM&IR) | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1928-1945 | Steam | 2-8-8-4 | 566 t | 140,093 pounds-force (623 kN) | 6,250 horsepower (4,661 kW) | — |
| Allegheny | Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) & Virginian Railway (VGN) | 1600-1659 (C&O),
900-907 (VGN) |
Lima Locomotive Works | 1941–48 | Steam | 2-6-6-6 | 544 t | 110,000 pounds-force (489 kN) | 7,500 horsepower (5,593 kW) | Two on static display |
| PRR Q2 | Pennsylvania Railroad | 6131, 6175-6199 | Altoona Works | 1941–45 | Steam | 4-4-6-4 | 456 t | 100,816 pounds-force (448 kN); 115,816 pounds-force (515 kN) with booster | 7,987 horsepower (5,956 kW) | Most powerful steam locomotive ever static tested |
| PRR S1 | Pennsylvania Railroad | 6100 | Altoona Works | 1939 | Steam | 6-4-4-6 | 487 t | 76,403 pounds-force (340 kN) | 7,200 horsepower (5,369 kW) | Fast passenger locomotive; the magazine Popular Mechanics cites 1941 a speed of 133.4 mph (214.7 km/h) |
| H220 | Victorian Railways | H Class | Victorian Railways / [Newport Workshop] | 1941–1958 | Steam Boiler, 3 Cylinder | 4-8-4 | 265t | 55,060 pounds-force (245 kN) | 3,600 horsepower (2,685 kW) | The most powerful steam locomotive, at the time built in, Australia. 1 Built. Preserved at Newport, Victoria |
| PRR S2 | Pennsylvania Railroad | 6200 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1944 | Steam Turbine Direct-drive | 6-8-6 | 470 t | 70,500 pounds-force (314 kN) | 6,900 horsepower (5,145 kW) | Most powerful steam turbine locomotive ever built |
| M1 | Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) | 500-502 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1947–50 | Steam Turbine Electric | 2-C1-2-C1-B
(4-8-0-4-8-4) |
428 t | 98,000 pounds-force (436 kN) | 6,000 horsepower (4,474 kW) turbine; 4,960 horsepower (3,699 kW) generators |
Nicknamed "Sacred Cows". Sold back to Baldwin in 1950 and scrapped. |
| Jawn Henry | Norfolk and Western Railway (N&W) | 2300 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1954-58 | Steam Turbine Electric | C+C-C+C | 404 t | 175,000 pounds-force (778 kN) | 4,500 horsepower (3,356 kW) |
Struck from the N&W roster on January 4, 1958 |
| Big Blow | Union Pacific | 1-30 (control cab),
1B-30B (turbine unit) |
General Electric | 1958–61 | Gas turbine-electric | C-C+C-C | 425 t | 212,312 pounds-force (944 kN) | 8,469 horsepower (6,315 kW); over 10,000 hp at lower altitude and ambient temperatures (only turbine) | Two preserved in museums. Surpassed by GT1s |
| EMD DDA40X | Union Pacific | 6900-6947 | Electro-Motive Division of General Motors | 1969–71 | Diesel-electric | D-D | 244 t | 113,940 pounds-force (507 kN) starting; 103,000 pounds-force (458 kN) continuous | 6,600 horsepower (4,922 kW) | One operational, several in museums; largest operational single-unit diesel locomotive and the most powerful |
| Voith Maxima | — | — | Voith | 2006–14 | Diesel-hydraulic | Co'Co' | 126–136 t | 91,730 pounds-force (408 kN) | 5,000 horsepower (3,728 kW) continuous (Maxima 40CC) | Voith Maxima 40CC is the most powerful diesel-hydraulic locomotive ever built |
| SJ Dm3 | Malmbanan | — | ASEA | 1953–71 | Electric | 1'D+D+D1' | 273 t | 211,320 pounds-force (940 kN) | 9,655 horsepower (7,200 kW) | Highest continuous tractive effort when built, most powerful locomotive using jackshafts |
| DB Class 103 | Deutsche Bahn | 103 101-245 | AEG, BBC, Henschel, Krauss-Maffei, Krupp, Siemens AG | 1970–73 | Electric | Co'Co' | 114 t | 70,140 pounds-force (312 kN) | 9,977 horsepower (7,440 kW) continuous; 13,900 horsepower (10,365 kW) 1-hour rating; 16,270 horsepower (12,133 kW) short term |
One of the most powerful electric locomotives ever built; immense short term power: tractive effort of 312 kN up to a speed of 140 km/h (87 mph) |
| DB Class 151 | Deutsche Bahn | 151 001-170 | AEG, BBC, Henschel, Krauss-Maffei, Krupp, Siemens AG | 1972–78 | Electric | Co'Co' | 118 t | 88,800 pounds-force (395 kN) | 8,432 horsepower (6,288 kW) | Powerful freight locomotive in the 1970s with high continuous tractive effort |
| DB Class 101 | Deutsche Bahn | 101 001-145 | Adtranz | 1996–99 | Electric | Bo'Bo' | 83 t | 67,443 pounds-force (300 kN) | 8,583 horsepower (6,400 kW) continuous | Maximum speed 220 km/h (137 mph) |
| EuroSprinter | Deutsche Bahn, ÖBB | — | Krauss-Maffei, Siemens | 1996–2001 | Electric | Bo'Bo' | 86 t | 67,000 pounds-force (298 kN) | 8,583 horsepower (6,400 kW) continuous; 9,790 horsepower (7,300 kW) short term |
Maximum speed 230 km/h (143 mph); Taurus Rh 1216 050-5: 357 km/h (222 mph) world record for conventional electric locomotives |
| DSB EG | DB Schenker Rail | 3103-3113 | Siemens Mobility | 1999–2000 | Electric | Co'Co' | 132 t | 89,930 pounds-force (400 kN) | 8,717 horsepower (6,500 kW) continuous | One of the most powerful single-frame electric locomotives in operation in Europe |
| 060-EA | Romanian Railways(CFR) and diverse private railways in Romania and Hungary | 40 (060-EA): 120km/h 41 (060-EA1): 160km/h 42: 200km/h |
ASEA (first ten pieces) Electroputere Craiova (the rest, approx. 1000 pieces) |
1965-91 | Electric | Co'Co' | 120 t | 93,000 pounds-force (414 kN) | 6,839 horsepower (5,100 kW) | Powerful locomotive in the 1970s; high continuous tractive effort |
| Softronic Transmontana | Romanian Railways (CFR) and diverse private railways in Romania and Hungary | 480 (Romania)
610 (Hungary) |
Softronic Craiova | 2010–present | Electric | Co'Co' | 120 t | 97,800 pounds-force (435 kN) | 8,046 horsepower (6,000 kW)* continuous; 8,851 horsepower (6,600 kW)* 1-hour rating |
Based on the ASEA 060-EA, but with asynchronous traction motors, IGBT and computerized control |
| JR Freight Class EF200 | JR Freight | — | Hitachi Ltd. | 1990– | Electric | Bo'Bo'Bo' | 100.8 t | 59,000 pounds-force (262 kN) | 8,046 horsepower (6,000 kW) | Most powerful single-frame narrow-gauge locomotive in series production |
| EMD SD90MAC | Union Pacific | 8500-8561 | Electro-Motive Diesel | 1996–2002 | Diesel-Electric | C-C | 210 t | 200,000 pounds-force (890 kN) starting; 165,000 pounds-force (734 kN) continuous | 6,300 horsepower (4,698 kW) | Retired from service, some on lease with EMLX |
| GE AC6000CW | Union Pacific; CSX Transportation; BHP Billiton | 600-699, 5000-5016,
6070-6077, 7500-7579 (being overhauled and renumbered 69xx) |
General Electric | 1996–2001 | Diesel-Electric | Co'Co' | 210 t | 188,000 pounds-force (836 kN) starting; 166,000 pounds-force (738 kN) continuous | 6,250 horsepower (4,661 kW) | Actual HP output on early production units is 4350 hp due to use of the 7FDL engine. |
| Indian locomotive class WAG-7 | Indian Railways | 27001-27999, 28000-28770, 24501-24700 | Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, India, BHEL, India | 1992 | Electric | Co'Co' | 132 t | 135,000 pounds-force (601 kN) | 8,775 horsepower (6,544 kW) Continuous:8,200 horsepower (6,115 kW) |
Most powerful locomotive in India. |
| China Railways HXN3 | China Railways | HXN30001-
HXN30300 |
Dalian Locomotive, EMD | 2008– | Diesel-Electric | Co'Co' | 150 t | 140,000 pounds-force (623 kN) starting; 134,000 pounds-force (596 kN) continuous | 6,300 horsepower (4,698 kW) | Most powerful diesel-electric locomotive in active production. |
| China Railways HXN5 | China Railways | HXN50001-
HXN50300 |
GE, CSR Qishuyan Locomotive | 2008– | Diesel-Electric | Co'Co' | 150 t | 140,000 pounds-force (623 kN) starting; 127,000 pounds-force (565 kN) continuous | 6,250 horsepower (4,661 kW) | Most powerful diesel-electric locomotive in active production. |
| China Railways HXD1 | China Railways | HXD10001-
HXD10220 |
CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive, Siemens | 2006–08 | Electric | Bo'Bo'+Bo'Bo' | 200 t | 170,000 pounds-force (756 kN) starting; 111,000 pounds-force (494 kN) continuous | 12,874 horsepower (9,600 kW) | — |
| China Railways HXD2 | China Railways | HXD20001-
HXD20180 |
Datong Electric Locomotive, Alstom | 2006–08 | Electric | Bo'Bo'+Bo'Bo' | 200 t | 170,000 pounds-force (756 kN) | 13,410 horsepower (10,000 kW) | — |
| China Railways HXD3 | China Railways | HXD30001-HXD30890, HXD38001-38150 | Toshiba, Dalian Locomotive | 2006–09 | Electric | Co'Co' | 150 t | 130,000 pounds-force (578 kN) | 9,655 horsepower (7,200 kW) | — |
| China Railways HXD1B | China Railways | HXD1B0001-HXD1B0500 | CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive, Siemens | 2009– | Electric | Co'Co' | 150 t | 170,000 pounds-force (756 kN) starting; 111,000 pounds-force (494 kN) continuous | 12,874 horsepower (9,600 kW) | Most powerful single-frame locomotive in series production |
| China Railways HXD2B | China Railways | HXD2B0001-HXD2B0500 | Datong Electric Locomotive, Alstom | 2009– | Electric | Co'Co' | 150 t | 131,000 pounds-force (583 kN) starting; 125,000 pounds-force (556 kN) continuous | 12,874 horsepower (9,600 kW) | Most powerful single-frame locomotive in series production |
| China Railways HXD3B | China Railways | HXD3B0001-HXD3B0500 | Dalian, Bombardier | 2009– | Electric | Co'Co' | 150 t | 128,000 pounds-force (569 kN) starting; 114,000 pounds-force (507 kN) | 12,874 horsepower (9,600 kW) | Most powerful single-frame locomotive in series production |
| China Railways HXD1C | China Railways | HXD1C0001-HXD1C0990 | CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive, Siemens | 2009– | Electric | Co'Co' | 150 t | 170,000 pounds-force (756 kN) starting; 111,000 pounds-force (494 kN) continuous | 9,655 horsepower (7,200 kW) | — |
| China Railways HXD2C | China Railways | HXD2C0001- | Datong Electric Locomotive, Alstom | 2010– | Electric | Co'Co' | 150 | 130,000 pounds-force (578 kN) starting; 90,000 pounds-force (400 kN) continuous | 9,655 horsepower (7,200 kW) | — |
| China Railways HXD3C | China Railways | HXD3C0001- | Dalian, Bombardier | 2010– | Electric | Co'Co' | 150 t | 130,000 pounds-force (578 kN) starting; 83,000 pounds-force (369 kN) | 9,655 horsepower (7,200 kW) | — |
| IORE | Malmbanan | IORE 101 - 126 | Bombardier | 2000–04 | Electric | Co'Co'
+Co'Co' |
360 t | 314,740 pounds-force (1,400 kN) | 14,483 horsepower (10,800 kW) for a pair |
Possible to operate halves which is not usually done |
| VL85 | Russian Railways | 270 | Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant | 1983-94 | Electric | Bo'Bo'Bo'
+Bo'Bo'Bo' |
300 t | 209,522 pounds-force (932 kN) | 12,550 horsepower (9,359 kW) continuous; 13,437 horsepower (10,020 kW) short term | — |
| Union Pacific Coal GTELs | Union Pacific | 80 (later 8080) | Union Pacific Omaha Shops | 1961 | Diesel-Electric + Gas Turbine-Electric | A1A-A1A
+2-D-D-2 |
728 t | — | 7,000 horsepower (5,220 kW) (2000 hp Diesel + 5000 hp turbine) | Home-built experimental coal-fired gas turbine. Assembled from ALCO PA-1 UP #607, GN W1 #5018, and the tender from Challenger #3990. 215 feet (66 m) overall length; 1,457,280 pounds (661,011 kg) total weight. Unsuccessful; set aside in 1964 and scrapped in 1968. |
| 6029 | New South Wales Government Railways | AD60 Class | New South Wales Government Railways / [Beyer, Peacock and Company] | 1952–1954, 1956 | Steam Boiler, 4 Cylinder | 4-8-4+4-8-4 | 255t | 59,575 pounds-force (265 kN) | 5,930 horsepower (4,422 kW) | Largest steam locomotive operating in Australia |
| Virginian Railway EL-3A | Virginian Railway | 100-109 | ALCO + Westinghouse | 1925-1926 | Electric | 1-D-1+1-D-1+1-D-1 | 624 t | 277,500 pounds-force (1,234 kN) | 7,125 horsepower (5,313 kW) (1-hour rating); 6,000 horsepower (4,474 kW) continuous | 152.25 feet (46 m) overall length. |
See also
References
- Diebert, Timothy S.; Strapac, Joseph A. (1987). Southern Pacific Company Steam Locomotive Conpendium. Shade Tree Books. ISBN 0-930742-12-5.
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