British Rail Class 21 (MaK)

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This article is about 1990s-era locomotives used by DB Cargo France and Eurotunnel. For diesel locomotives built 1958-1960, see British Rail Class 21 (NBL).

British Rail Class 21 (MaK)
NS 6450 in 2009 - this locomotive was subsequently procured by Eurotunnel[1]
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-hydraulic
Diesel-electric
BuilderMaK, Kiel, Germany
ModelDE6400
DE1004
G1206
G1000
Build date1990-92 (diesel-electric)
2005-06 (diesel-hydraulic)
Total produced10 (diesel-electric)
6 (diesel-hydraulic)
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICBo'Bo'
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Wheel diameter1,000 mm (39.37 in)
Length14.7 m (48 ft 2+3⁄4 in) (21/5)
14.09 m (46 ft 2+3⁄4 in) (21/6)
14.4 m (47 ft 2+7⁄8 in) (21/9)
Width3.3 m (10 ft 9+7⁄8 in)
Height4.8 m (15 ft 9 in)
Loco weight87 t (86 long tons) (21/5)
80 t (79 long tons) (21/6)
90 t (89 long tons) (21/9)
Prime moverCAT 3512 B DITA-SC (21/5)
MTU 8V 4000R41L (21/6)
MTU 12V 396TC13 (21/9)
TransmissionHydraulic / L5r4szeU2 by Voith
Diesel electric / three phase electrical by ABB Group
Train heatingNone
Loco brakeAir disc (21/5 and/6)
Air (21/9)
Performance figures
Maximum speed100 km/h (62 mph)
Power output1,570 kW (2,110 hp) (21/5)
1,100 kW (1,500 hp) (21/6)
950 kW (1,270 hp) (21/9)
Career
OperatorsDB Cargo France
Getlink
Numbers21544-21547
21610-21611
21901-21910[2]

The second use of the TOPS classification Class 21 for locomotives used on the British railway network came through the use of a number of related diesel-hydraulic and diesel-electric locomotives procured following the opening of the Channel Tunnel. The total of 16 locomotives were obtained by two separate operators, with some used for freight, and others to propel service trains and as "Thunderbird" locomotives.

History[edit]

In the early 1980s, Maschinenbau Kiel introduced its MaK DE 1002 design of diesel-electric locomotive, which was chosen by Nederlandse Spoorwegen as the basis of its Class 6400 freight locomotive.[3] In 1991, Eurotunnel procured five similar locomotives as its Class 0001, for use both to operate service trains through the Channel Tunnel and as rescue locomotives.[4]

In 2005, Euro Cargo Rail (ECR) was formed as a freight operator in France by English, Welsh and Scottish Railway (EWS). Its initial operations were carried out by a quartet of Vossloh G1206 diesel-hydraulic locomotives.[5] Although these locomotives were intended for use in France, maintenance was planned to be carried out at EWS's depot at Dollands Moor, close to the Eurotunnel terminal at Cheriton. Because the locomotives would be operating on railways in Great Britain, they were allocated numbers in the TOPS system as Class 21.[6] Two similar G1000 locomotives were procured in 2007.[7]

In 2009, Eurotunnel's five locomotives were used extensively for rescue operations following severe snow.[8] As a consequence, the company identified a need to have greater availability of these units, and so procured a pair of Class 6400 locomotives from DB Schenker Nederland in November 2010.[9] At the same time, Eurotunnel registered its locomotives on TOPS - the superficial similarity to the ECR locomotives led to the Eurotunnel units also being assigned as Class 21.[10] Eurotunnel acquired a further three secondhand units from the Netherlands in 2016.

Fleet details[edit]

Class Operator No. Built Year built TOPS Number Range Other numbers Type Notes
21/5 Euro Cargo Rail 4 2005-06 21544 - 21547 FB1544 - FB1547[11][12][13][14] G1206 21544 - 21545 off TOPS registration[1]
21/6 2 21610 - 21611 FB1610 - FB1611[15][16] G1000
21/9 Getlink 10 1990-92 21901 - 21905 0001 - 0005[4] DE1004 Original Eurotunnel locomotives
21906 - 21907 NS6456 - NS6457[17][18] DE6400 Purchased from DB in 2010
0006 - 0007
21908 - 21910 NS6450 - NS6451[19][20]
NS6447[21] 		Purchased from DB in 2016
0008 - 0010

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Booth, Tony (4 February 2017). "AbRail Rail Databases - Diesel Locomotives". AbRail Rail Databases. Archived from the original on 7 September 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  2. ^ British Rail Locomotives & Coaching Stock 2017. Sheffield: Platform 5 Publishing. 2017. p. 86. ISBN 978-1909431362.
  3. ^ "MaK - DE 6400 für die Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)". www.loks-aus-kiel.de (in German).
  4. ^ a b "MaK - DE 1004", www.loks-aus-kiel.de (in German)
  5. ^ "News Desk: Euro Cargo Rail". Railway Herald (22): 4. 18 November 2005.
  6. ^ "TOPS numbers issued for Euro Cargo Rail Vossloh locomotives". Railway Herald (28): 5.
  7. ^ "Two more locomotives for ECR". Railways Illustrated. 5 (3): 17. March 2007.
  8. ^ "Eurostar Independent Review" (PDF), www.railwaysarchive,co.uk, 12 February 2010
  9. ^ "Eurotunnel buys more rescue locomotives". www.railwaygazette.com. Railway Gazette International. 3 November 2010.
  10. ^ "Eurotunnel locos on TOPS". Railways Illustrated. 8 (4): 13. March 2007.
  11. ^ Fahrzeugportrait Vossloh 5001628 www.loks-aus-kiel.de
  12. ^ Fahrzeugportrait Vossloh 5001630 www.loks-aus-kiel.de
  13. ^ Fahrzeugportrait Vossloh 5001631 www.loks-aus-kiel.de
  14. ^ Fahrzeugportrait Vossloh 5001516 www.loks-aus-kiel.de
  15. ^ Fahrzeugportrait Vossloh 5001610 www.loks-aus-kiel.de
  16. ^ Fahrzeugportrait Vossloh 5001611 www.loks-aus-kiel.de
  17. ^ Fahrzeugportrait MaK 1200056 www.loks-aus-kiel.de
  18. ^ Fahrzeugportrait MaK 1200057 www.loks-aus-kiel.de
  19. ^ Fahrzeugportrait MaK 1200050 www.loks-aus-kiel.de
  20. ^ Fahrzeugportrait MaK 1200051 www.loks-aus-kiel.de
  21. ^ Fahrzeugportrait MaK 1200047 www.loks-aus-kiel.de
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