Railway engines of different countries

[Bilal9]

Some interesting Prototypes from Bangladesh Railway,

Oldest:
GMDL B12 (Built 1954), one of the surviving 11 from a series of 40 Meter-Gauge Canadian locos still soldiering on 60 years later - on container trains, no less. Pahartali Loco Shed in CTG builds refurbished custom parts for these beauties and keeps them running. B12 is the first diesel electric loco of entire subcontinent.

All image copyrights as noted on inages

Class 2000 (GMDL B12)

Production year : August 1953 to April 1956

Country of Origin : Ontario GMD Plant,Canada

Serial no : 2000-2039

Engine : EMD 12-567C

Wheel : A1A-A1A

Power : 1125hp

BR spec. : Metregauge Electric GM (M.E.G) - 11

Base : Pahartali,Ctg

Operational Locomotives:

2003,2015,2017,2018,2020,2021,2022,2023,2025,2030,2037

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Newest:

Class 2900 (Hyundai-Rotem/GM-EMD)

Model : GM-EMD GT18LA-2 (Meter gauge)

Builders : Hyundai/Rotem (Under GMC-EMD LiCenSe)

Serial no. : 2901-2928 Production year : 2901-2908 (1999) from Hyundai, 2909-2919 (2004) from Rotem, 2920-2928 (2011) from Rotem

Country of Origin : South korea

Engine : EMD 8-645E3C

Fuel Capacity : 3000 Ltr

Engine type :2-stroke diesel

Aspiration :Roots-type supercharger

Cylinders : V8

Transmission: DC traction motor

Top speed :107 km/h (66 mph)

Power output : 1,500 hp (1.12 MW)

Tractive effort :438 kN (98,000 lbf)

Locomotive brake :Straight air
Power :1500 hp

Max Speed :120 kPH (Allowed Upto 75 kph)

Wheel :A1A-A1A

Cylinders : 8

Tractive effort : 438 kN (98,000 lbf)

Locomotive brake : Straight air

Train brakes : Straight air

BR spec. : Meter gauge Electric HYUNDAI (M.E.I)-15

Base : Pahartali,Ctg.

Keloka GOH : 2901

Dhaka Bound 'Shubarna Express' at Bhairab Bridge, BrahmanBaria, Bangladesh, headed by a Hyundai-Rotem 2900 class

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Hitachi, Japan, HFA26A (Broad Gauge) 6206 Bangladesh Railway

 

[Bilal9]

Bangladesh Railway HYUNDAI ROTEM 2900 class on a branchline deep in the CTG hill tracts

 

[Bilal9]

Meter Gauge DEMU (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit) trains are rapidly taking over short-duration services between cities (Dhaka to Narayanganj and CTG to Comilla among other routes). The most common DEMU is a Chinese prototype like this,

Historical Photo of Bangladesh Railway Meter Gauge DEMU from the 1980's (Made in Germany) seen here being readied at the factory.

 

[Bilal9]

India’s RITES (Govt. Organization) has signed what it says is its first contract to export broad gauge passenger coaches to Bangladesh Railway.

The order finalized in Dhaka covers 120 vehicles to be manufactured by Rail Coach Factory (RCF) Kapurthala. These will be a mix of 160 km/h stainless steel sleeper and seating cars (LHB), some with air-conditioning.

ALSTOM LHB design was selected by Indian Railways a decade ago as the new generation high speed lightweight coach compared to the older designs.

LHB coaches made at RCF Kapurthala, Punjab

Their advanced Siemens Bogies made in Aurangabad plant

 

[Bilal9]

Some historical images of locomotives from Pakistan East Bengal Railway (EBR, predecessor of Bangladesh Railway).

2000 class GMDL B12 series

EBR 2005, GMDL B12 A1A-A1A 1125hp at London Ontario August 1953, GMD photo.

2601-2616 EMD 8-645E3C engine. built 1988, 63:14 gearing, #A4729-A4744
BR 2616 (2600 class), GMLG GT18L-2 A1A-A1A 1525/1425 hp at London, Ontario GMD plant April 25, 1988 copyright Don McQueen.

2701-2721 EMD 8-645E3C engine. built 1994, 1996, 63:14 gearing, Henschel #33054-33062, 33256-33267
BR 2706 (2700 class), Henschel JT18U6 (DE1650A1A) A1A-A1A 1525/1425 hp at Dhaka July, 1996 copyright Pat August.

A few years later, DLW in India built this diesel below by building a car-body dual-headed Henschel design on top of their Indian prototype Meter Gauge YDM4, which resulted in the 2800 class. This engine design faced some over heating issues and only 12 were imported as a result.

All images copyright Larry Russell unless otherwise stated

 

[Bilal9]

Recent addition to Bangladesh Railway (2013) Broad Gauge 6500 class, WDM-3a made in India (DLW).

Broad Gauge Locos and Consists (Passenger cars as well as Freight cars) are used only between Western Bangladesh (e.g. Rajshahi) and Dhaka.

Broad Gauge Locos are typically Hitachi or DLW (WDM-2, WDM-3a).
The line to Chittagong and Sylhet (Eastern Bangladesh) still Meter Gauge (DAC-CTG by now is dual line). Meter Gauge Locos are typically and most numerously 2900 class (Hyundai Rotem as posted earlier). IRFCA specs these as follows.

Builder : DLW
Engine: Upgraded (by DLW) Alco 251-C (16 cylinder), 3100hp (2900hp site rating) early models, 3300hp from 2003, 1050rpm max / 400rpm idle; direct fuel injection. Cooling and fans as with WDM-2. ABB VTC304-15 or Napier NA 295 IR turbocharger.
Governor: GE 17MG8 / Woodwards 8574-650.
Transmission: Electric with BHEL TA 10102 CW alternator, 1050rpm, 1130V, 4400A. (Earlier used BHEL TG 10931 AZ alternator.)
Axle Load: 18.8 tonnes. Wheelset: Co-Co trimount bogie.
Starting TE: 30.4t, at adhesion 27%.
Length over buffer beams: 15862m
Distance between bogies: 10516mm.
BR Spec. : Broad-gauge Electric
DLW - 30 (BED-30)
Serial : 6501-6526
Imported : 6501,6502,6503, 6504, 6505, 6506, 6507, 6508, 6509, 6510 (16 more were to enter by December 2013)

'Medha' Microprocessor Engine control

 

[Bilal9]

In addition to the DLW-made WDM-3's, HITACHI's HFA-13A (2500 class) are the other most numerous type in broad gauge lines in Western Bangladesh. Here are a couple of them near Dhaka's yardhouse.

Hitachi also supplied another class of broad-gauge loco HFA-26A (6200 class). Please see post 196 above for an image. The image below shows an example as well.

 

[Bilal9]

Ganz Mavag DHM-12 switcher (Hungary) for Bangladesh, 3300 class, probably 1980's

 

[Bilal9]

Another old switcher (shunter) of BR class 2200 (Bo-Bo) dating from the 60's - 70's. GMDL Canada Model GL8

 

[Bilal9]

Broad Gauge Observation car for Bangladesh railway, early 2000 vintage. The 'white-coach series' are used for the Dhaka-Kolkata Train (Maitree Express).

Copyrights as noted

 

[anant_s]

HXD2D：

Are these are for export markets?
I can also see an HXD 1 in background.

 

[Bilal9]

More orders on the way for Chinese DEMU's for Bangladesh Railway - this time for Broad gauge (BG) units. The 20 three-car sets of Chinese Meter Gauge (MG) DEMU's brought in earlier may not be similar.

These were the MG units brought into use in primarily MG tracks in the Eastern Railway routes.

New BG DEMU's (30 sets) may look like common CNR or CSR prototypes like below.

New BG coaches (Locomotive pulled, not DEMU - 200 units) for Bangladesh will probably look like this below. These BG coaches are again one step more modern than any Indonesian or Indian coaches so far operated by the Bangladesh Railway. Coaches may be sourced from either one or more of the following state-controlled factories:
BST Sifang, CNR Tangshan, CNR Changchun or CSR Puzhen.

"Eight big BR projects selected for completion with Beijing's support

An inter-ministerial committee has selected eight big projects involving an overall estimated cost of around $ 11 billion to be implemented with probable Chinese assistance to improve the country's railway network, reports UNB.

"The Economic Relations Division (ERD) has recently received a list of eight large projects to start negotiations with Beijing for concessional loan for implementing those," an ERD official told the news agency.

He said Chinese charge d' affaires in Dhaka Qu Guan Zhou at a meeting with senior government officials at the Prime Minister's Office on January 14, 2015 said China was interested to invest $15 billion to $20 billion in Bangladesh's rail sector.

Following the offer, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) formed a three-member committee, headed by additional Railways Secretary Shashi Kumar Singha. Its members are one joint chief from the Planning Commission and another deputy secretary from the ERD.

The eight railway sector priority projects to be implemented with Chinese assistance worth $10.84 billion include Padma Bridge Rail link Project Phase-1 (Dhaka-Maowa-Bhanga) involving $ 2,225.12 million, Padma Bridge Rail Link Project Phase-2 (Bhanga-Jessore) with $ 1,146.47 million, construction of single-line dual gauge railway track from Dohazari to Cox's Bazar via Ramu and Ramu to Gundum near Myanmar with $ 1,808 million, construction of double track standard gauge railway line from Dhaka to Chittagong via Comilla/Laksam with $ 3,968 million.

The four other proposed projects are construction of double line (dual gauge) between Joydevpur-Ishwardi section at a cost of $ 897 million, construction of a DG track parallel to the existing MG line in Joydevpur-Mymensingh section at $ 331 million, construction of a modern railway workshop at Rajbari project with $ 200 million and procurement of 30 set BG DEMU and 200 BG coaches project with $ 265 million.

Another official at the ERD said the government is set to send a proposal to the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka seeking soft loan for the Padma Bridge Rail Link (Phase-1) and Padma Bridge Rail Link (Phase-2) project following the approval of the Preliminary Development Project Proforma (PDPP) by the Planning Commission.

Out of the total estimated cost of $ 2,225.12 million for the Padma Bridge Rail Link (Phase-1) project, the government is expected to provide $ 566.55 million while the rest of $ 1,658.57 million as confessional loan from China or any other donor countries and agencies.

The proposed Phase-1 of the project is expected to be completed by June 2022 under which some 107.8 km railway track, including some 82.32 km new broad gauge single line railway track would be set up from Dhaka-Bhanga-Faridpur via Padma Multipurpose Bridge project.

Besides, out of the estimated cost of $ 1,146.47 million for the Padma Bridge Rail Link (Phase-2) project, the government is expected to provide $ 229.29 million while the rest of $ 917.18 million is expected to come as project assistance from China or any other donor countries or agencies.

Under the phase-2, some 123.10 km railway track, including 96 kilometer new broad gauge single line railway track from Bhanga junction to Jessore, would be set up."

Bangladesh has had the capability to make Railway coaches at the Railway workshops in Parbatipur in North Bengal area since WWII and has made them successfully during Pakistan period.

But because Railway is a massive-fraud area of the govt. rife with graft (Thanks to successive corrupt regimes and ministers), overseas contracts keep being pursued. The ministers are not going to shoot themselves in their own feet by arranging to have local products made because that would uncover graft too easily.

Hopefully TOT (at least for the new BG coaches) will be pursued with this massive USD 11 Billion order since Bangladesh labor costs are now very sensible (one-sixth that of China and one-third that of India's).

Even the local shipyards (any one of the local 200 large yards) could easily assemble aluminum-bodied lightweight coaches and carriages provided proper assembly and testing facilities exist which is a non-issue.

I never thought I was going to say this - but let's hear it for local graft for the ministers!

Roof manufacture for coaches at RCF Kapurthala in India

Frames and Bogies ready for coach building (simple welding work for steel under-frame)

 

[anant_s]

@Bilal9 What is the present status of dual gauge in BD? Is the government planning to move in direction of a single gauge policy (keeping only BG perhaps).

 

[Bilal9]

@Bilal9 What is the present status of dual gauge in BD? Is the government planning to move in direction of a single gauge policy (keeping only BG perhaps).

I think they are moving in that direction (BG Only). However the existing MG rolling stock will need to get used up or get obsolete first as you can understand. What is baffling is why they keep buying MG rolling stock and DEMU's (especially the new Chinese DEMU's in use in most major cities for commuter use). Those will last another ten years at least and maybe transferred to light-usage routes after that.

The Railway's first priority nowadays is to place dual lines (in addition to dual gauging) all heavily travelled sectors (such as DHAKA-SYLHET, DHAKA-CHITTAGONG, DHAKA-JESSORE & DHAKA-RAJSHAHI). DHAKA-CHITTAGONG has been completed but the other three are works in progress (and are part of the 11 Billion total project mentioned above).

Once Padma Bridge is completed, DHAKA-KOLKATA rail link (through JESSORE) will be a three to four hour affair with a high speed train (or maybe less). Right now Maitree Express has to travel 375 km but the new bridge will reduce the distance another 100 KM (so 275 KM altogether).

 

[anant_s]

WAG 7 class Locomotive

5,000 HP, Co-Co, Tap Changer 25 kV AC, Single phase dedicated freight locomotive.
Presently being built by Chittaranjan Locomotive works and BHEL Jhansi.
@Rain Man