ADtranz DE-AC33C

The Blue Tiger (manufacturer designation: DE-AC33C) is a type of high powered diesel-electric locomotive developed by ADtranz in association with General Electric.

Blue Tiger
German Blue Tiger in Vacha, Germany (1997)
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
DesignerAdtranz / GE[1]
ModelDE-AC33C
Build date1996–2004
Total producedPakistan: 30
Malaysia: 20
Germany: 11
Total: 61
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICCo′Co′
GaugePakistan: 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Malaysia: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge
Germany: 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
LengthPakistan:
Malaysia: 23,700 mm (77 ft 9.1 in)[2]
Germany: 23,410 mm (76 ft 9.7 in)[3]
Axle loadPakistan:
Malaysia: 20 t (19.7 long tons; 22.0 short tons)[2]
Germany: 21 t (20.7 long tons; 23.1 short tons)[3]
Loco weightPakistan:
Malaysia: 120 t (120 long tons; 130 short tons)[2]
Germany: 126 t (124 long tons; 139 short tons)[1][3]
Fuel capacityPakistan:
Malaysia: 5,500 L (1,200 imp gal; 1,500 US gal)[2]
Germany: 6,000 L (1,300 imp gal; 1,600 US gal)[3]
Prime moverPakistan: General Electric 7FDL16
Malaysia/Germany: General Electric 7FDL12[2][3]
Loco brakePneumatic and Dynamic
Train brakesPneumatic
Performance figures
Maximum speed120 km/h (75 mph)[3]
Power outputGerman models: 2,460 kW (3,300 hp)[3]
Tractive effortstarting: 517 kN (116,000 lbf)[3]
Career
NumbersPakistan: 6001 to 6030
Malaysia: 26101 to 26120[2]
Germany: 250 001 to 250 011

History and design

The prototype was unveiled in 1996.

Initially the axle load was expected to be a light 18 tonnes (17.7 long tons; 19.8 short tons) and the power at ~2,500 kW (3,400 hp).[4] In practice, the German locomotives had an axle load of 21 tonnes (20.7 long tons; 23.1 short tons) (which is normal for this type of diesel locomotive).

General Electric supplied diesel engines and electrical transmission system (which used IGBT-based inverters driving AC traction motors). The rest of the locomotive was built by AdTranz in Kassel.

For the Pakistani export models a 16-cylinder engine was used.

Bombardier took over AdTranz in 2001, subsequently the Blue Tiger locomotive was shown at InnoTrans in 2002[5] with a view to European orders. The German production models had a mass of 126 tonnes (124.0 long tons; 138.9 short tons) (axle load 21 tonnes or 20.7 long tons or 23.1 short tons) and an engine power of 2,430 kW (3,260 hp).

As of 2009, the class is no longer listed as a production model by Bombardier; GE also lists the family as a former production type.[6] For the European market, Bombardier produces the less powerful diesel variants of the TRAXX family, whilst GE offers variants of its Evolution series for export.

Operators

Pakistan

The first orders for the locomotives came from Pakistan Railways in the late 1990s.[7] The locomotives were being built to a gauge of 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) and powered by a 16-cylinder engine of 3,300 horsepower (2,500 kW) instead of the 12-cylinder engine used in the prototype and other production models. The first ten were shipped out, the remainder assembled under license in Pakistan.[8] Pakistan Locomotive Series Start From 6001 to 6030.

Malaysia
A KTMB Class 26 is resting with its cement train at Ipoh station.
A KTMB Class 26 is resting with its cement train at Ipoh station.

Twenty locomotives were built to 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) gauge in 2003–2004 for KTM.[2][9] They were designated as "Class 26" (Numbers: 26101 – 26120).[2]

All the locomotives were named after capes in Malaysia. In the first decade of operations the locomotives proved more reliable than the Malaysian Class 29 locomotives bought at around the same time.[10]

Germany

10 Locomotives were built to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) gauge with a view to leasing or orders.

Various companies have used the locomotives. Initially Karsdorfer Eisenbahngesellschaft GmbH (KEG)[11] was to use 8 units, but went bankrupt in 2005. In 2006, the distribution was:[12]

  • Osthannoversche Eisenbahnen (5 units including the prototype)
  • ITL Eisenbahngesellschaft (Import Transport Logistik) (2 units)
  • Havelländische Eisenbahnen AG (4 units)

Models

A working scale model of this locomotive has been produced by the Slovenian company Mehano in N, TT and HO scale.

References
  1. Blue Tiger privat-bahn.de
  2. 26 Class / Blue Tiger Archived 24 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine keratapi.com
  3. Technische Daten des Blue Tiger Blue tiger technical data. privat-bahn.de
  4. Europe/Mid East – 'Blue Tiger' unveiled, Rail janes.com
  5. InnoTrans 2002 in Berlin railfan.de
  6. Earlier locomotive models Archived 28 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine getransportation.com
  7. "Adtranz and GE Transportation Systems.(receives 30-locomotive Blue Tiger order, expect $1 billion in future orders)", Railway Age, January 1997, archived from the original on 11 June 2014
  8. GE Locomotives in Asia & Middle East subsection 'Pakistan' locopage.net
  9. "KTM focuses on beefing up rail freight transport capacity", Business Times (Malaysia), 6 January 2003, archived from the original on 25 October 2012
  10. "Readymade Train Wreck". www.mmail.com.my. The Malay Mail. 10 October 2008. Archived from the original on 13 October 2008.
  11. Bombardier: Eight Blue Tiger Locomotives Soon To Be In Service For Karsdorfer Eisenbahn (Bombardier press release) Archived 19 September 2019 at the Wayback Machine canadair.ca
  12. Blue Tiger Lieferliste 'Blue Tiger' operator list privat-bahn.de
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