TCDD DE24000

DE 24000
Two DE24000 locomotives pulling a westbound regional train.
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Designer Matériel de Traction Electrique, modified vastly Builder Matériel de Traction Electrique(first units) Tülomsaş (all remaining) Model 1968 Build date 1970–1984 Total produced 418
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR C-C  • UIC Co'Co' Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) Bogies 2 Wheel diameter 1,100 mm (43 in) Length 22.67 metres (74.4 ft) Loco weight 113 tonnes (111 long tons; 125 short tons) Fuel capacity 4,960 litres (1,090 imp gal; 1,310 US gal) Prime mover Pielstick 16PA4V185(most units) Hedemora Diesel V16(some units) RPM range 679-1500 ​  • RPM low idle 620  • RPM idle 650  • Maximum RPM 1700 Engine type Diesel V16 Aspiration Turbocharged Alternator 600VAC Generator 72V Traction motors DC traction motors ​  • Rating 1 hour 1200 (automatically governed)  • Continuous 1200 (automatically governed) Cylinders V16 Transmission AC-DC Gear ratio 16⁄87 at traction motors Loco brake Air brake Train brakes Air brake Safety systems emergency brake, gas-generator notching decoupler, dead man's switch
Performance figures Maximum speed 120 km/h (75 mph) (designation) 144 km/h (89 mph) (overspeed with blue and accelerated trains-this practice prohibited) Power output: ​  • Starting 1,760 kW (2,360 hp) (original rating with Pielstick engines) 2,160 hp (1,610 kW) (re-rating and all units with Hedemora engines  • 1 hour no restriction  • Continuous 2,200 hp (1,600 kW) Tractive effort: ​  • Starting 394kN  • 1 hour 357kN @ 16 km/h  • Continuous 48kN at max speed
Career Operators Turkish State Railways[36 units) TCDD Taşımacılık (remaining) Numbers DE24001 – DE24418 Nicknames "Mavi lokomotif" (blue locomotive-ones with blue livery) Yirmidörtbinlik (24000ths) Locale Turkey

TCDD DE 24000 is a type of diesel locomotive built for operations on Turkish State Railways (TCDD) by Tülomsaş. 218 units were built between 1970-84 under license from Matériel de Traction Electrique (MTE) of France. The DE 24000 formed the backbone of the dieselisation of the Turkish railways during the 1970s. It follows the hood unit road switcher design, like most Turkish mainline locomotives.

In addition to MTE, diesel parts were supplied by Chantiers de l'Atlantique, electric parts from Jeumont-Schneider, and mechanical parts from Forges et Ateliers du Creusot.

History

During the 1970s the Turkish State Railways decided to replace their 800 steam locomotives with diesel. This quite-delayed task required the delivery of more than 400 diesel units. On February 15, 1968, TCDD and MTE signed an agreement for delivery of the DE 24000 along with the delivery of the smaller DE18000. To build up domestic competence on diesel engines, TCDD decided that the production would be done by Tülomsaş of Turkey. Only Tülomsaş-built units are still operational.

Blue trains (Mavi tren) and DE 24000

Blue trains are express passenger trains with 120 km/h (75 mph) timetable speed. They originally started replacing black trains (Turkish: kara tren), which are trains pulled by black steam locomotives with tenders. All cars of the blue trains had blue livery and were pulled by blue DE24000s. They are now pulled by TCDD DE33000s and have regular livery but still retain their long-distance national passenger rail network status.

Overspeeding provision

These locomotives had been used over their power and speed ratings until 2004. Delayed trains were "force-fit" into the timetable by overspeeding up to 10% over timetable speeds. This required both overspeeding the prime mover and modifying the traction motors' final drive ratios. This practice was banned after the Pamukova train derailment.

DE 24009 at Alsancak.

External links

• Tülomsaş page on DE 24000
• Trains of Turkey page on DE 24000