Checkerboard Hill

The list of diesel locomotives in Hong Kong keeps on growing now that I’m digging into the MTR maintenances and work train fleet – the latest entry is the Chinese built CKD0A diesel electric locomotives.

The units were ordered in November 2012:

Following fierce competition, the first independently developed diesel locomotives made on the Chinese mainland have been selected by Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway Corp for use in its world-class transit system.

China CNR Co announced last week that it has secured an order worth more than 160 million yuan ($25.7 million) from the MTR for 23 diesel locomotives made with its proprietary technologies.

The designer and builder of the locomotives is a wholly owned CNR subsidiary headquartered in Dalian, Liaoning province.

According to an announcement from the State-owned railway equipment manufacturer, its CKD0A locomotives ordered by the MTR meet the strictest global emission standards and reduce operational noise to less than 70 decibels, lower than the 78-decibel standard on the Chinese mainland.

It can run at 80 kilometers an hour powered by two electric motors and a diesel engine. The design also provides more interior room by eliminating the need for a gearbox, which also improves the locomotive’s reliability.

The driver’s cab has two sets of controllers equipped with computer and cruise control systems.

The CKD0A locomotive is expected to be used in MTR’s rolling stock in addition to subway vehicle rescue.

The contract calls for the first locomotive to be delivered to MTR by March 2014, followed by a 5,000-kilometer test run.

The manufacturer describes them as:

The CKD0A diesel locomotive is an electric drive diesel locomotive developed by China CNR Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock Co., Ltd. according to the requirements of the Hong Kong Railway Company.

The locomotive has the characteristics of low emission, low noise, large traction, strong curve passing ability, high degree of automation, high reliability, small maintenance workload, etc. It is fully applicable to the urban subway company’s shunting operation and is the most advanced direct current in the world. Transmission diesel locomotive. The locomotive adopts the subway limit and is a double-cab indoor corridor structure.

It is equipped with CATERPPILAR company C32 diesel engine, which can meet the EU Stage IIIB emission standard and the loading power is 830kW. It adopts AC and DC electric drive, and the auxiliary equipment drives the AC motor drive mode; auxiliary control The voltage is 74VDC; the locomotive shaft is Bo-Bo, the continuous traction force is 149kN, and a single train 250t train can be started on the 35‰ ramp or at 18km/h. The maximum running speed of the locomotive is 80km/h. Adopting German KNORR An air-to-air brake system controlled by the MBS microcomputer in accordance with the UIC standard; with resistance braking and reconnection control functions; and anti-air-slip anti-slip control function.

Along with a list of specifications.

By 2015 locomotives were being unloaded at Pat Heung Depot on the West Rail Line, with the 23 locomotives numbered L9001 through 9023.

The first four locomotives entered service in 2016.

The first four of 23 diesel locomotives which MTR Corp ordered from CCRC Dalian in September 2012 have entered service in Hong Kong following the completion of testing. They will be used to haul maintenance trains on the existing network, and to support the construction of the Shatin – Central Link.

The 830 kW locomotives have a maximum speed of 80 km/h. According to the manufacturer, they are designed to meet international standards, complying with European Stage IIIB emission standards and also taking into account human factors in the layout of the low-noise cabs.

Further reading

• CKD0A specifications at HKRail.net

I’ve written about the Kowloon Canton Railway’s fleet of diesel locomotives before, as well as the MTR’s fleet of battery electric and diesel locomotives, but turns out I was only scratching the surface – on the West Rail line there is another type in use – the Chinese built JMY450 diesel hydraulics.

The locomotives were ordered by the KCRC as part of the West Rail line works, with the HK$33 million contract SP-2100 awarded to Shenzhen Sunray Group Co Ltd in June 2000, with the first three locomotives handed over in May 2001.

The first three KCR West Rail diesel locomotives, are completed in Changzhou, Jiangsu, today (Wednesday) and handed over to Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) by the Deputy Mayor of Changzhou.

The major function of the locomotives is to provide effective and convenient transportation on the newly installed West Rail tracks during the project’s construction stage, enabling engineering staff to install other railway systems along the 30.5 km alignment of West Rail in an effective manner.

The locomotives ready for delivery in Changzhou, China, were handed over to KCRC at a ceremony officiated by Deputy Mayor of Changzhou, Mr Wang Zhengping. The three locomotives will then be delivered to Hong Kong in June. The remaining 11 locomotives to be supplied under the same contract will come in four batches, with the last batch arriving in Hong Kong in April next year.

The on time delivery of the locomotives is of significance to the construction of West Rail as it will facilitate the commencement of the installation work of other railway systems contracts, including telecommunications systems, train control and signalling, as well as traction power supply and overhead line.

“The timely delivery of engineering supplies is critical to opening of West Rail on time and within budget. The West Rail project is progressing well and we are confident that West Rail will commence operation by the end of 2003,” a KCRC spokesman said.

The diesel Locomotives contract, with a value of $33 million, was awarded in June last year. The contractor is Shenzhen Sunray Group Company Limited, which is under the Ministry of Railways of China.

The manufacturer, now known as the Changzhou Kate Mining Machinery Engineering Company, describe the locomotives:

JMY450 hydraulic diesel locomotive can be applied for standard track gauge or for short distance operation, it also can supply traction power for other usage. 14 locomotives of this type have been ordered by Hong Kong Kowloon-Canton Railway corporation (KCRC).

The locomotive is provided with Caterpillar diesel engine with low fuel consumption and electrical fuel ejecting system and the emission of which can comply to EUR II standard, hydraulic reversing, electrical automatic gear shift, low speed control,and faults protecting device. The locomotives can be multiple unit operated, and kept with low noise and pollution which comply to the environmental protection specification of Hong Kong Government.

The Program Logic Controller(PLC) has been applied in electrical system, and the international advanced safety running automatic protecting system (ATC) has been applied in the locomotive.This type of locomotive is kept with good performance, easily operating, high reliability, small volume and long life.

Along with a specification sheet:

14 locomotives #1001-1014 are assigned to the West Rail Line, with an additional two locomotives #1101-1102 to the Ma On Shan Line. Their primary use is shunting trains around maintenance centres, such as this SP1900 set at Pat Heung Depot.

Further reading

• JMY450 specifications at HKRail.net