Most powerful locomotive in the world

[SBB CFF FFS]

I was wondering, what is the most powerful locomotive in the world in terms of kilowatts or horsepower?

The most powerful that I know of is the 10,600 hp (7,850 kw) six-axle Swiss-built Re 620 (old designation Re 6/6) electric locomotive, used by the Swiss Federal Railways, SBB CFF FFS.

It is primarily used to pull freight trains up the steep St. Gotthard Pass, but it does sometimes pull passenger trains, especially long EuroCity (international) trains up the pass.





With freight trains, it is often used in tandem with its smaller brother, the 6,320 hp (4,700 kw) four-axle Re 420/430 (old designation Re 4/4) electric locomotive. This is used to provide a total of 10 axles, often called an Re 10/10 configuration by the Swiss Federal Railways. This procedure can be seen in this photograph:



The Re 620 has a top-speed of 87 mph (140 km/h).

It was initially built in 1972, but then again between 1975 and 1980.

I believe the most powerful diesel-electric locomotive in terms of horsepower or kilowatts is the 6,000 hp (4,500 kw) six-axle American-built SD90MAC-H, am I correct?

Regards

[MP 6.7]

Yeah, the SD90MAC and the GE AC6000 were the modern 6000HP units. Both are no longer in production in the US due to Tier 2 restrictions. Both of which have had bad reliability problems. Both manufacturers seem to have problems with the engines failing...CSX has derated all but a few (may be all now) of their AC6000's to 4400HP and designated them C44-6. UP has also had nothing but problems with EMD's H engine in the SD90.

Back in the early 70's however, I do think that one model of EMD's double diesel (DD) line was something like 6200 or 6400 HP. I'm not knowledgeable when it comes to DD40's and all...so I'll let someone else elaborate.

[CSX 700]

Originally Posted by MP 6.7

Yeah, the SD90MAC and the GE AC6000 were the modern 6000HP units. Both are no longer in production in the US due to Tier 2 restrictions. Both of which have had bad reliability problems. Both manufacturers seem to have problems with the engines failing...CSX has derated all but a few (may be all now) of their AC6000's to 4400HP and designated them C44-6. UP has also had nothing but problems with EMD's H engine in the SD90.

Back in the early 70's however, I do think that one model of EMD's double diesel (DD) line was something like 6200 or 6400 HP. I'm not knowledgeable when it comes to DD40's and all...so I'll let someone else elaborate.

Highest horsepower diesel in the US to date would be the DDA40X, which was rated at 6600hp, though it was powered by a pair of 16-645 prime movers. For a short period after they were first delivered, EMD rated 4 or 5 of the units at 7200hp, though this did not last long and the units were downrated to 6600hp.
In recent years though there were a pair of 6000hp models offered, the SD90MAC-H by EMD and the AC6000CW by GE. Orders for both models were limited and both are out of production. Both models have continued to suffer problems with new prime movers that were designed to meet the 6000hp level. Because of problems with its design, GE sued the company that they partnered with to develope the now discontinued 7HDL prime mover which was used to power the AC6000CW.
And to clarify things, the CSX AC6000CW fleet has been rerated to 6000hp again. This was done early this year. Only one CSX unit is still classed as a C44-6, CSX #699, and that is because that unit is powered with a standard 4400hp,16 cylinder FDL prime mover found in the AC4400CW and C44-9W. This unit required an engine change but with the HDL nolonger in production the unit was sent to GE where it was re-rengined with the FDL prime mover.

Bryan Jones

[jb17kx]

And how much did GE do Deutz for?

On the subject of the DDA40X, it was built for UP by merging the bodies of 2 GP40s, and changing the axles to a D-D arangement, with 4 axles on each bogie.
Thus, the unit had 2 GM 16-645 engines, which took it to 6,600hp.

[CSX AC6000CW]

Originally Posted by CSX 700

Highest horsepower diesel in the US to date would be the DDA40X, which was rated at 6600hp, though it was powered by a pair of 16-645 prime movers. For a short period after they were first delivered, EMD rated 4 or 5 of the units at 7200hp, though this did not last long and the units were downrated to 6600hp.
In recent years though there were a pair of 6000hp models offered, the SD90MAC-H by EMD and the AC6000CW by GE. Orders for both models were limited and both are out of production. Both models have continued to suffer problems with new prime movers that were designed to meet the 6000hp level. Because of problems with its design, GE sued the company that they partnered with to develope the now discontinued 7HDL prime mover which was used to power the AC6000CW.
And to clarify things, the CSX AC6000CW fleet has been rerated to 6000hp again. This was done early this year. Only one CSX unit is still classed as a C44-6, CSX #699, and that is because that unit is powered with a standard 4400hp,16 cylinder FDL prime mover found in the AC4400CW and C44-9W. This unit required an engine change but with the HDL nolonger in production the unit was sent to GE where it was re-rengined with the FDL prime mover.

Bryan Jones

now that good news that the ac6000cw's are being rerated to 6000hp.

[Superchief3751]

Don't forget UP's "Big Blow" gas turbine units that ran in the 1950's and 60's. I believe those things were rated at 8500 horsepower. And if you want most powerful steam engine, ALCO's 4-8-8-4 Big Boy and Lima's 2-6-6-6 Allegheny were both rated at 6000+ horsepower.

[greffern]

OK, I don't know how to convert these figures, but we have a contender in IORE.....
Factsheet
foto

[Chessie SD50 8563]

The H8 at tops put out about 7498HP at about 40MPH

The PRR had a steamer that pushed 8900HP at 60MPH... although I forget what class it was.

Both the EMD 20-710G3C and the 16-265H7 are capable of 8000HP+.... but were never offered that high in any configuration.

Dont the Swedish have a 15000HP electric?

And in 1976 EMD/ASEA released the 10000HP GM10B.... there was no buyers.

[sd80mac]

what about GG1 and Joe? what were they rated at?

ken

[UP Wings]

You are right about the Union Pacific's Gas Turbines. The last set, the "Big Blows" were rated at 8500 hp but that was reported to be in the worst conditions. I think I remember Pentrex's video saying that they could possibly get a little over 10,000hp out of them if they ran at sea level. (or something like that)

The DD40X was the most powerful diesel ever put on American rails as far as I know. Basically a pair of GP40's on one frame. One prime mover working one truck, the other working the other.