NS Class 6400

NS Class 6400
Railion 6418 "John" (2009)
Builder	MaK / ABB
Build date	1988-94[1]
Total produced	120[1]
AAR wheel arr.	Bo-Bo
Gauge	1435 mm
Wheelbase	bogie center distance 7.400m[1]
Length	14.400m[1]
Width	2.400m[1]
Locomotive weight	80tonnes[1]
Fuel capacity	2900l[1]
Prime mover	MTU 12V396TC13 (1180kW)[1]
Transmission	Electric
Top speed	120 km/h[1]
Tractive effort	290kN[2]
Career	Railion Nederland
Nicknames	Duitse Herder, Vlaamse Reus[note 1]

The NS Class 6400 is a type of 4 axle diesel-electric freight locomotive. 120 were built by MaK and ABB between 1988 and 1994 for Nederlandse Spoorwegen.

Design and description

The locomotives were the result of a contract won by MaK and Brown, Boveri & Cie to replace Nederlandse Spoorwegen's old medium power locomotives.^{[note 2]} The design is based upon the MaK DE 1002 with modifications;^[1] the locomotives are 1.4m longer to incorporate additional equipment, in particular an auxiliary diesel generator, as well as ATB equipment; the bogies are longer than on the DE 1002 to incorporate tread brakes instead of disc brakes.^[3]

Operations and operators

For Nederlandse Spoorwegen 120 of these locomotives were built, numbered 6401-6520.^[1]

The locomotives became the property of NS Cargo, and then Railion Benelux when the company merged with DB Cargo in 2000.^[4] The locomotives subsequently became the property of the successor companies; Railion Nederland, then DB Schenker Rail Nederland^[5] (part of the DB Schenker group).

Some locomotives have had PZB (Indusi) or Memor safety systems installed to allow operations in Germany or Belgium.^[2]

The class can be seen over the whole country, with many to be found at Amsterdam Westhave, Kijfhoek Yard, Roosendaal, Tilburg, Emmerich am Rhein (Germany), Amersfoort, Venlo, Zwolle and many other places. The locomotives often work in pairs or in threes on heavy trains.^{[citation needed]}

Many of the locomotives carry boys names; these are from the names of Dutch notaries, often directors of companies and businessmen; e.g. 6401 was named Mijndert after Mijndert Pon, director of the Pon company.^[2]

In November 2010 two units were sold to Eurotunnel in 2010 to operate alongside the existing Class 0001 locomotives.^[6]

Due to the economic downturn of the late 2000s, in 2011 numbers 6401-6410, 6419, 6420, 6443-6460, 6462, 6471-6475, 6480-6494, 6496, 6498 and 6501-6503 were out of service.^[7]

Accidents

In 1993 several locomotives were sent to the Norwegian State Railways (NSB) for assessment. On 3 October 1993 locomotive 6454 ran away downhill 5 km outside Nordstrand Station; it collided with a stationary passenger train in the station, resulting in the death of five people. As a result of the apparent brakes failure all the class were taken out of service; it transpired that mechanical failure was not the cause and that the brakes had been rendered inactive by a control valve closed in the wrong position.^[2]

On 24 September 2009 locomotives 6415 and 6514 were involved in a head on collision with an EMD 66 locomotive of ERS (No. 6616) near Barendrecht close to the point the line passes under the A15 motorway.^{[note 3]} One of the drivers was killed, the other seriously injured. Further collision with a passenger train was avoided when the driver braked heavily, though some passsengers were injured.^[8][9] As of 2010 investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.^[10] In March 2010 both the locomotives 6415 and 6514 were scrapped.^[7]

Locomotives 6424, 6429, 6430, 6442, 6444, 6465, 6491, 6493, 6497, 6499, 6516 6520 also have been damaged in collisions, 6437 was damaged by run away wagons, 6501 was involved in a crash with a tram.^[2]

Liveries

The locomotives were originally in NS grey and yellow, except the last 10 units (6511-6520) which were in a red livery with diagonal white stripe on the front surface.^[5] After takeover by Railion locomotives received a red Railion sticker on the side, later some locomotives received a red railion livery. A small number of units also received RailPro livery and branding. The locomotive names are carried on the cab fronts between the roof and top of the windows.

Three NS 6400 units   Red painted NS 6514   Railion liveried locomotive   Railion locomotive in RailPro branding

See also

• NSB Di 8 diesel electric locomotives ordered as a result of the NS 6400 trials in Norway.
• MaK DE 1004 aka "Eurotunnel Class 0001", similar design locomotives built for eurotunnel as rescue locomotives; fitted with special smoke filtration equipment for tunnel use

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k} "MaK - DE 6400 für die Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)" (in german). www.loks-aus-kiel.de. http://www.loks-aus-kiel.de/index.php?nav=1400707&lang=1. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} "NS Class 6400". www.netherlandsrailways.co.uk. http://www.netherlandsrailways.co.uk/NS%20Class%206400.htm. 
3. ^ "MaK DE 6400" (in dutch). nl.wikipedia.org. http://nl.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MaK_DE_6400&oldid=22589156. 
4. ^ "DB And NS Sign Freight Merger Deal.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)". elibrary.ibtimes.com. International Railway Journal. 1 October 1999. http://elibrary.ibtimes.com/article-1G1-58673358/db-and-ns-sign.html. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "MaK - DE 6400 für die Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)" (in german). www.loks-aus-kiel.de. See individual locomomtive histories. http://www.loks-aus-kiel.de/index.php?nav=1400707&lang=1. 
6. ^ "Eurotunnel buys more rescue locomotives". www.railwaygazette.com. Railway Gazette International. 3 November 2010. http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/eurotunnel-buys-more-rescue-locomotives.html. 
7. ^ ^{a b} "Somda nieuws goederenvervoer, 2 jan 2011, Goederentreinen [SOMDA news - 2nd January 2011, freight trains]" (in dutch). somda.nl. section : DBSRN (DB Schenker Rail Netherlands). http://somda.nl/nieuws/143/#8. 
8. ^ "Dode bij treinbotsing Barendrecht" (in dutch). www.nrc.nl. NRC Handelsblad. 25 September 2009. http://www.nrc.nl/binnenland/article2369187.ece/Groot_spoorongeluk_bij_Barendrecht. 
9. ^ "Opruimen treinongeluk duurt nog dagen" (in dutch). nos.nl (Nederlandse Omroep Stichting). 25 September 2009. http://nos.nl/video/44263-opruimen-treinongeluk-duurt-nog-dagen.html. 
10. ^ "ECTOR RAILVERKEE : BOTSING TUSSEN TWEE GOEDERENTREINEN EN EEN PASSAGIERSTREIN, BARENDRECHT" (in dutch). www.onderzoeksraad.nl. Onderzoeksraad voor Veiligheid. http://www.onderzoeksraad.nl/index.php/onderzoeken/railverkeer-treinbotsing-barendrecht/. 

Notes

1. ^ Duitse Herder and Vlaamse Reus; dutch for German Shepherd Dog and Flemish Giant rabbit
2. ^ The NS Class 2200 and NS Class 2400
3. ^ Map position : 51°51′54″N 4°32′38″E / 51.865°N 4.54389°E / 51.865; 4.54389 , source "Treinongeval bij Barendrecht" (in dutch). Treinongeval bij Barendrecht. dutch language wikipedia. http://nl.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Treinongeval_bij_Barendrecht&oldid=21050631. 

External links

• "DIESEL-ELEKTRISCHE LOCOMOTIEF MaK DE6400" (in dutch). www.spoortechniek.nl. http://www.spoortechniek.nl/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21:mak-de6400&catid=4:diesel-locomotieven&Itemid=27. 
• Nico Spilt. "Diesellocs NS 6400" (in dutch). www.nicospilt.com. http://www.nicospilt.com/index_Diesel_6400.htm. 
• "The Dutch Railways at Railfaneurope.net : Class 6400". www.railfaneurope.net. http://www.railfaneurope.net/ns/rl_6400.html.