Alstom Prima diesel locomotives

Prima
An Alstom Prima locomotive in Chemins de Fer Syriens livery, Syria
Power type	Diesel
Builder	Alstom with engine from EMD or Ruston Except BB 47500: Alstom / Siemens with engine from MTU
Build date	JT 42BW / JT 42CW: 1996- Class 67: 1998- Class 333: 2000-2005 PL42 AC: 2001 Class 334: 2004 BB 75000: 2006 onwards
Total produced	JT 42BW: 48 JT 42CW: 8 M9 : 10 <Class 67: 30 Class 333: 92 PL42 AC: 33 Class 334: 28 BB 75000: 400+ on order
UIC classification	JT 42BW / Class 67 / BB 75000 / PL42 AC / Class 334: Bo'Bo' JT 42CW / Class 333: Co'Co'
Gauge	JT 42BW / JT 42CW / Class 67 / PL42 AC / BB 75000: 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) Standard gauge Class 333 / 334: 1,668 mm (5 ft 5 2⁄3 in)  Iberian gauge
Axle load	JT 42BW / Class 334: 22.5 tonnes (22.1 long tons; 24.8 short tons) JT 42CW: 19 tonnes (18.7 long tons; 20.9 short tons) Class 67: 22 tonnes (21.7 long tons; 24.3 short tons) Class 333: 20 tonnes (19.7 long tons; 22.0 short tons) PL42 AC: 32.5 tonnes (32.0 long tons; 35.8 short tons) BB 75000: 21 tonnes (20.7 long tons; 23.1 short tons)
Locomotive weight	JT 42BW / Class 334: 90 tonnes (88.6 long tons; 99.2 short tons) JT 42CW: 114 tonnes (112.2 long tons; 125.7 short tons) M9 : 100.56 tons[1] Class 67: 88 tonnes (86.6 long tons; 97.0 short tons) Class 333: 120 tonnes (118.1 long tons; 132.3 short tons) PL 42AC: 130 tonnes (127.9 long tons; 143.3 short tons) BB 75000: 84 tonnes (82.7 long tons; 92.6 short tons)
Fuel type	Diesel
Fuel capacity	JT 42BW / JT 42 CW / Class 333: 6,000 litres (1,320 imp gal; 1,585 US gal) M9 : 5,000 litres (1,100 imp gal; 1,320 US gal)[1] Class 67: 5,700 litres (1,254 imp gal; 1,506 US gal) PL42 AC: 9,500 litres (2,090 imp gal; 2,510 US gal) Class 334: 4,000 litres (880 imp gal; 1,057 US gal) BB 75000: ?
Engine type	JT 42BW / JT 42CW: 12N710G3B Class 67 / Class 334: 12N710G3B-EC Class 333: GM 16-645 E3 PL42 AC: 16N710G3B-T1 BB 75000: MTU 16 cylinder V M9 : Ruston 12 RK 215T of 3,220 hp (2,400 kW) derated to 1,800 hp (1,340 kW)[1] DE32C, AD32C: Ruston engine
Alternator	JT 42BW / JT 42CW: AR10JBA (Aux. rated 25 kW) Class 67: AR9AC6HEX (Aux. rated 18kW) Class 333: AR10 + D14 (Aux rated 18kW) PL42 AC: TA17/CA6 (Aux. rated 18kW) Class 334: AR10 + D14 + HE5 (Aux. rated 25kW) BB 75000: ?
Traction motors	JT 42BW / Class67 / Class 334: D43 FM JT 42CW / Class 333: D78 PL42 AC: 6FXA 4057 BB 75000: ? three phase / asynchronous
Transmission	Diesel electric
Multiple working	yes
Top speed	JT 42BW: 140 km/h (87 mph) JT 42CW: 110 km/h (68 mph) M9 : 110 km/h (68 mph)[1] Class 67 / Class 334: 200 km/h (124 mph) Class 333: 120 km/h (75 mph) PL42 AC: 160 km/h (99 mph) BB 75000: 120 km/h (75 mph)
Power output	JT 42BW / JT 42 CW / Class 67 / Class 333 / 334: 3,000 hp (2,237 kW) (nominal) PL 42AC: 4,200 hp (3,132 kW) (nominal) BB 75000: 1,600 kW (2,146 hp)
Tractive effort	Maximum: JT 42BW: 244 kN (55,000 lbf) JT 42CW: 588 kN (132,000 lbf) Class 67: 144 kN (32,000 lbf) Class 333: 341 kN (77,000 lbf) PL 42AC: 311 kN (70,000 lbf) Class 334: ?
Locomotive brakes	JT 42BW / JT 42CW / Class 67 / Class 333 / PL42 AC / Class 334: Electropneumatic BB 75000: ?
Career	JT 42BW / JT 42CW: Israel Railways Class 67: DB Schenker (UK) Class 333 / 334: RENFE (Spain) PL42 AC: NJT (USA) BB 75000: FRET SNCF (France)
Official name	JT 42BW[2] JT 42CW[3] (EWS) Class 67[4] RENFE 333 (rebuild)[5] PL42 AC[6] RENFE 334[7] SNCF BB 475000[8][9]

The Prima Diesel-electric locomotives are a class of medium and heavy, four- and six-axle, passenger and freight mainline locomotives.^[10] They have been built both to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in) standard and 1,668 mm (5 ft 5 ²⁄₃ in) broad gauges, and find use in the Middle East, Europe and North America. Alstom is the primary designer in cooperation with both General Motors (now EMD) and Siemens.

History

Initially the Prima locomotives were electric only, with the technology demonstrator and test platform being built in 2002^[11] in Belfort France by Alstom. Next came the Prima 6000 technology demonstrator; this too was an electric locomotive, with 6000 kW of power and primarily intended to test and demonstrate multi-voltage operations for European cross-border operations.^[12] Orders for the Prima electrics came, mostly from SNCF.

A series of diesel locomotives also associated with the Prima name were also built. These were the General Motors (GM) engined machines built by Alstom at its Spanish plant in Valencia, and Ruston engined locomotives built in Belfort, France.

The Valencia plant was sold to Vossloh in 2004. Locomotives continued to be built there using EMD engines and electrical transmission systems - including almost total rebuilds of the RENFE 333 class. Vossloh changed the names of the products produced there to the "Vossloh Euro" platform^[13] (see Vossloh Euro locomotives) and the end came of the association of the Valencia plant with the Prima name.^[14]

Also produced in the 1990s were Prima diesels countries outside Europe. The DE32C was produced for Chemins de Fer Syriens in Syria, and Sri Lanka received 10 locomotives which it designated M9 class. A DE43C model was exported to Iran (AD43C^[15]). Nevertheless the Euro 3000 and Euro 4000 products produced at Vossloh España continue to show similarities with the earlier Prima products^[14]—such as the centrally located driver position with radially located controls, the single drivers window, and general body shape and design of the rigid body shell.

Alstom and Siemens collaborated to produce the BB 75000 diesel, which has received orders for at least 400 locomotives from SNCF with a possibility of 100 more. A Siemens/Alstom BB 75000 mock-up was unveiled on 25 March 2004,^[16] The first locomotive was produced in 2006.

In 2008 Alstom unveiled the 'Prima II' platform;^[17] diesel versions are to be offered,^[18] so it is expected that further models of the Prima diesel locomotive family will appear.

Technology

The Prima type locomotives built at Alstoms Valencia plant were engined with General motors engines; in fact the entire power train - engine, generator, electronics and motors were supplied by General Motors for the Valencia built Primas. For the locomotives built in France - primarily those exported outside Europe Ruston engines were used. The Prima diesels for SNCF Fret used MTU engines.

Modern innovations in the Prima class included - a centrally located drivers seat with ergonomically arranged controls, a monocoque rigid bodyshell.

The BB 75000 retains the Prima appearance - the single window, drivers position, body design, but the 'innards' are supplied by Siemens, the engine from Caterpiller.

Variants

M9

Main article: Sri Lanka Railways M9

The Sri Lankan M9 locomotive is a 6 axle machine with 1,800 horsepower produced from a Ruston 12 cylinder engine.^[19] Ten units were ordered in 1997 and delivered in 2000, costing 190 million Sri Lankan Rupees each^{[citation needed]}. The locomotives are painted in a yellow, white and blue livery,^[20] and are numbered 864 to 873.^[21] As of 2010 only 3 were in operation due to technical problems,^[1] earning them the unfortunate title "Most Unsuccessful locomotive in Sri Lanka Railway".^[22] The first of the 7 inoperative locomotives, number 869, was returned to service after 6 years in September 2010, following work by the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies (ACCIMT).^[23]

JT 42BW

An order of 48 were ordered for Israel Railways, these four-axle locomotives can be seen operating push-pull passenger trains with single or double decker carriages. One unusual feature of this class is the 'horn like' headlight situated on top of the loco's cabin.^[24] These have 2,200 kW of power and numbered 731–778 in Israel Railways.^[25]

JT 42CW

Eight ordered for the railways of Israel, these six-axle locos are suited for heavy freight work amongst other tasks.^[26]

JT 42HW-HS

Main article: British Rail Class 67

More commonly known as the English, Welsh and Scottish Railways Class 67, this type have a high axle load (22.5 tonnes) for UK rails, coupled with a high top speed. They have a very poor Route Availability of 8; typically they do not run at their top speed of 200 km/h on British rails.

RENFE Class 333

Main article: RENFE Class 333

These locomotives (333.3 and 333.4 subclasses) are the result of an almost total rebuild of the original Class 333 version (posthumously named 333.0) —practically all the previous equipment is scrapped—but the GM engine is reused, because of the extent of new equipment (including the main frame) the rebuilt locomotives are regarded as Prima types.

DE32C

In operation with Chemins de Fer Syriens in Syria with 2,160 kW (2,900 hp) of power at wheel.^[27] The engine in this model is manufactured by Ruston.^[28]

AD 43C

Main article: AD43C

In operation with Islamic Republic of Iran Railways.^[29] These locos are very high power: 4,300 hp (3,200 kW).^[30] 20 were built by Alstom, the remaining 80 of an order of 100 were to be built in Iran by Wagon Pars.^[30][31] These locomotives also used a Ruston engine ^[30] with later batches manufactured by Desa diesel under a technology transfer agreement.^[32]

PL 42AC

Main article: PL42AC

This model only has a single cabin. Despite having a top speed of 160 km/h the average speed on the railway it operates on is only 48 km/h. They were built for New Jersey Transit.

RENFE 334

Main article: RENFE Class 334

These were the last of the Valencia-built Prima locomotives and technicallly should be considered part of the Vossloh Euro series of locomotives since they came off the production line after 2004. Built for passenger work on non-electrified lines in Spain, and were intended to replace older Class 333s.

Alstom/Siemens BB 75000

Main article: Alstom/Siemens BB 75000

This loco is much less powerful than the previous Prima designs, though any short-comings can be overset by the ability to work in multiple. The use of a Bo'Bo' design may have some cost benefits^[vague] over a more complex (but more powerful) Co'Co' designed locomotive.

See also

• Vossloh Euro locomotives - for the effective successors to the heavyweight Prima diesels.
• Alstom Prima electric locomotives
• Siemens Eurorunner and Bombardier Traxx - two major European competitors.
• Prima locomotives

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} [http://www.srilankanlocos.com/data/data.html "Diesel Locomotives of Sri Lanka Locomotive classification"]. www.srilankanlocos.co. M9. http://www.srilankanlocos.com/data/data.html. Retrieved 2010. 
2. ^ Vossloh España Diesel electric locomotives JT 42BW data sheet
3. ^ Vossloh España Diesel electric locomotives JT 42CW data sheet
4. ^ Vossloh España Diesel electric locomotives Class 67 data sheet
5. ^ Vossloh España Diesel electric locomotives S333 data sheet
6. ^ Vossloh España Diesel electric locomotives PL42 AC data sheet
7. ^ Vossloh España Diesel electric locomotives RENFE 334 data sheet
8. ^ La locomotive FRET BB 75000 de la SNCF
9. ^ Note: Some of the information on The SNCF FRET BB 475000 is derived from a translation of the French language Wikipedia page fr:BB 75000
10. ^ Alstom Launches Prima Locomotive Range : International Railway Journal
11. ^ Prima platform: electrical locomotives. Railcolor.net
12. ^ Alstom Prima 6000 Demonstrator: Introduction. Railcolor.net
13. ^ Diesel heavy haul across Europe eurotrib.com
14. ^ ^{a b} Brief description of all Primas except BB75000 : Railcolor.net
15. ^ Alstom AD43C : Rail.lu
16. ^ SNCF Fret BB 37000: Introduction. Railcolor.net
17. ^ Prima II unveiled by Alstom 23rd May 2008 Railway Gazette
18. ^ ALSTOM Transport, 25 February 2009, via conferinte.club-feroviar.ro
19. ^ Mainline Diesel-Electrics (SriLanka) infolanka.com
20. ^ Photographic image of M9 loco in 2007 Copyright: Dave Smith railpictures.net
21. ^ Diesel Locomotives of Sri Lanka : SLR Locomotive data srilankanlocos.com
22. ^ M9 Locomotive freewebs.com
23. ^ "French engine Alston AD 32C (M9) back on track". Lankapuvath. 21 September 2010. http://www.lankapuvath.lk/index.php/latest-news/general/9307-french-engine-alston-ad-32c-m9-back-on-track. Retrieved 30 March 2011. 
24. ^ The Railfaneurope.net : JT42BW
25. ^ "Viaggio Light Fixed Formation Units for Israel Railways". Railvolution (Czech Republic: M-Presse) (3/10): p. 33. 
26. ^ Railfaneurope.net : JT42CW
27. ^ "PRIMA DE 32 C AC diesel locomotives, Syria". www.transport.alstom.com. Alstom. Archived from the original on 17 October 2005. http://web.archive.org/web/20051017040138/http://www.transport.alstom.com/home/Products_and_Services/RAIL_VEHICLES/Passenger_trains/Main_line_Trains/10858.EN.php?languageId=EN&dir=/home/Products_and_Services/RAIL_VEHICLES/Passenger_trains/Main_line_Trains/&docLink=7613. 
28. ^ Railfaneurope.net : Syrian diesels
29. ^ RAI locomotives railfaneurope.net
30. ^ ^{a b c} "ALSTOM to supply 100 diesel-electric locomotives in Iran" (Press release). 27 October 1999, publisher=Alstom. http://www.alstom.com/news-and-events/press-releases/ALSTOM-to-supply-100-diesel-electric-locomotives-in-Iran-19991027/. 
31. ^ Wagon Pars data sheet AD 43 C wagonpars.com
32. ^ "Into Man B & W and the New Millenium". www.enginemuseum.org. Anson Engine Museum. http://www.enginemuseum.org/intoman.html. "..contract was signed during September with ALSTOM Transport of France for Ruston to supply 100 traction engines type 16RK215T. The engines were to be used to power one hundred AD43C locomotives for the Iranian Islamic Republic Railways ... Prior to signing the contract Ruston negotiated a Consortium, Transfer of Technology, Localisation and Distribution agreement with the Iran Heavy Engine Manufacturing Company (DESA). The agreement was for Ruston to supply the first engines fully built and the remainder to be built in Iran by DESA .." 

External links

• Comparison with later products with this 2002 brochure shows an Alstom / GM-EMD Euro locomotive with 4,300 hp (3,200 kW) of power.