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Genset locomotive

A genset locomotive is a locomotive in which a number of smaller diesel engines are used rather than a single large engine. The term is short for "generator set."

Aspects of gensets

A genset uses one to three small diesel engines to provide power. An operator is able to activate each engine as needed, with multi-engine gensets activating one for light work and more for heavier work, with excess engines turned off when the extra power is not needed.

Advantages

  • More efficient design.
  • Longer service life.
  • Fuel savings.
  • Ultra-low emissions.
  • Improved wheel to rail adhesion capability.
  • With multiple engine gensets, should one genset engine fail, the others can keep the train going, albeit at reduced speed.
  • Removing a genset engine requires smaller size crane, while a larger crane is required to remove a traditional diesel prime mover.

Disadvantages

  • More complex design.
  • Greater capital cost.
  • Greater deadweight.
  • More engines, and the engines and generators do not use standard parts, reducing reliability.
  • Multiple smaller truck type engines which lack the hardiness of a single large railroad type prime mover.
  • Engineers do not like them because they are slow to get a cut of cars moving.

Table of produced gensets

YearCountryManufacturerModelHPEnginesAxlesGaugeRemark
2013IndiaBanaras Locomotive WorksWDM-2G2400 (3x800)B-B1676mm
2006United StatesNational Railway EquipmentNRE 3GS21B2100 (3x700)CumminsB-B1435mm
2014South AfricaGrindrod Locomotives07101067mm
1000 mm
2010United StatesRailserve Leaf1200 (2x600)Cummins
QSX15-L3B-B1435 mm
201?United StatesMotivePowerMPI MP14B1400 (2x700)Cummins
QSK19CB-B1435 mm
2007United StatesRailpower TechnologiesRailpower RP14BD1530 (2x765)Deutz
BD2015B-B1435 mm
2004United StatesRailpower TechnologiesRailpower GG20B
Greengoat300;
2000 using supplemental batteryCaterpillar C9B-B1435 mmLarge battery for extra power
201?United StatesProgress RailProgress Rail PR43C4300 (1x3600 +
1x700)Caterpillar
C175
C18C-C1435 mm
20??United StatesBrookvilleBrookville BL20CG2100 (3x700)CumminsB-B1435 mm
20??United StatesNational Railway EquipmentNRE 2GS16B-AU1400 (2x700)CumminsB-B1435 mm
2013GermanyBombardier TransportationTraxx
DE Multi-Engine2880 (4x720)1435 mm

References

References

  1. "What is a Genset locomotive?". Railserve Leaf.
  2. "N-Viromotive new locomotive".
  3. "Locomotives". [[National Railway Equipment Company]].
  4. "Technology - Genset". [[Union Pacific Railroad]].
  5. (February 20, 2023). "The controversial Genset locomotive". [[Trains (magazine).
  6. (March 21, 2017). "Gensets are already dead". Industrial History.
Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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