Red Flag 5000-8/1 class locomotive

The Red Flag 5000-8/1 (붉은기, Pulg'ŭn'gi) is a class of universal mainline electric locomotives built by the Kim Chong-t'ae Electric Locomotive Works for the Korean State Railway.

Red Flag 5000-8/1
Type and origin Power type Electric Builder Kim Chong-t'ae Works  North Korea
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Bo'Bo'Bo'  • Commonwealth Bo-Bo-Bo Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) Loco weight 120,000 kg (260,000 lb) Electric system/s 3,000 V DC Current pickup(s) Pantographs Traction motors 530 kW  • Continuous 1140 A Train brakes rheostatic and straight air brakes Couplers AAR knuckle
Performance figures Maximum speed 120 km/h (75 mph) continuous: 49 km/h (30 mph) Power output 4,326 horsepower (3,226 kW)
Career Operators Korean State Railway Class 붉은기 (5000-8/1) Pulg'ŭn'gi 5000-8/1 Number in class ≥41 Numbers 붉은기5397-5399, 붉은기5401 - 붉은기5440
[1]

In 1981, the Korean State Railway took delivery of seven Francorail-MTE CSE26-21 diesel locomotives from France, followed by five more in 1985.[2] Due to oil shortages in the late 1980s and early 1990s, it was decided to develop a new electric locomotive based on these diesels. Like all locomotive development in the DPRK, this work was carried out by the Kim Chong-t'ae Electric Locomotive Works in P'yŏngyang.[3]

Apparently intended as a replacement for the Red Flag 1-class locomotives, these locomotives, of which at least 41 have been built, incorporate components copied from the original French parts. Used for mainline passenger and freight service, they are painted in the standard light blue over dark green livery, or its newer light green/dark green variant.