As railroads around the world haul larger quantities of freight efficiently, the title of world's most powerful locomotive has often been passed to new generations of rolling stock.
Standard
There are many ways in which a locomotive can be the largest: the heaviest, longest, most cylinders, most power, or most wheels. It is often defined as the longest in length, but even then sources differ on whether the measurement should include the tender of a steam locomotive. A steam locomotive that has a tender cannot function without it, but (with rare exceptions) the tender does not contribute to traction. To establish the "largest" category, several factors take precedence: overall weight, which gives traction over driving axles; size (length and height of engine itself); and power, which may be in terms of raw horsepower, tractive effort, available power at axles (shaft horsepower) or, in the case of steam locomotives, available steam on a sustained basis.
List
 |
| Name | Original owner | Fleet numbers | Manufacturer | Year of manufacture | Drive type | Wheel arrangement | Weight | Tractive effort/force | Power | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2ES10S | Russian Railways | — | Ural Locomotives | 2014–present | Electric | 3×Bo'Bo' | 300 tonnes (331 short tons) | 264,375 pounds-force (1,176 kN) | 17,701 horsepower (13,200 kW) 1-hour rating | Three sections modification of 2ES10. |
| 4E5K | Russian Railways | — | Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant | 2014–present | Electric | 4×Bo'Bo' | 392 tonnes (432 short tons) | 304,840 pounds-force (1,356 kN) | 17,594 horsepower (13,120 kW) 1-hour rating | Four sections modification of E5K. |
| 060-EA | Romanian Railways (CFR) and numerous private railways in Romania and Hungary | 40 (060-EA): 120 km/h, 41 (060-EA1): 160 km/h, 42: 200 km/h | ASEA (first ten), Electroputere Craiova (the rest, approx. 1,000) | 1965-91 | Electric | Co'Co' | 120 tonnes (132 short tons) | 93,000 pounds-force (414 kN) | 6,839 horsepower (5,100 kW) | Powerful locomotive in the 1970s; high continuous tractive effort. |
| 2-10-10-2 | Santa Fe and Virginian Railway | 3000-3009 (Santa Fe) 800-809 (Virginian) |
Baldwin Locomotive Works (Santa Fe) American Locomotive Company (Virginian) |
1911-1912, 1918 | Steam | 2-10-10-2 | 415 tonnes (457 short tons) | 175,000 pounds-force (778 kN) simple; 147,200 pounds-force (655 kN) compound | — | Weight and performance figures listed for the Virginian variant, as that locomotive was the heavier and more powerful of the two. |
| AA20 | Russian Railways | — | Voroshilovgrad | 1934 | Steam | 4-14-4 | 140 tonnes (154 short tons) | 71,940 pounds-force (320 kN) | 3,652 horsepower (2,723 kW) | Largest non-articulated steam locomotive, and the only seven-axle non-articulated steam locomotive ever built. |
| AD43C | Iranian Railways (RAI) | 2001-2100 | Alstom | 2001 | Diesel electric | Co'Co' | 120 tonnes (132 short tons) | 122,000 pounds-force (543 kN) | 4,300 horsepower (3,207 kW) | About 50 locomotives are stopped because of failures in the RK 215 diesel engines |
| AD60 class | New South Wales Government Railways | 6001-6042 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1952–1954, 1956 | Steam | 4-8-4+4-8-4 | 255 tonnes (281 short tons) | 59,575 pounds-force (265 kN) | 5,930 horsepower (4,422 kW) | Largest steam locomotive ever operated in Australia [1] |
| Ae 6/6 | Swiss Federal Railways | 11401-11520 | SLM, MFO/ BBC | 1952; 1955–66 | Electric | Co'Co' | 120 tonnes (132 short tons) | 88,125 pounds-force (392 kN) | 5,766 horsepower (4,300 kW) continuous | Still in operation as of October 2012 [update] |
| Ae 6/8 | BLS, Switzerland | 201-208 | SLM / Sécheron | 1939 | Electric | (1'Co)(Co1') | 140 tonnes (154 short tons) | 79,360 pounds-force (353 kN) | 5,914 horsepower (4,410 kW) 1-hour rating | Two remain in working order as heritage locos[ when?] |
| Ae 8/8 | BLS, Switzerland | 271-275 | SLM / BBC | 1959-66 | Electric | (Bo)(Bo)+(Bo)(Bo) | 160 tonnes (176 short tons) | 105,885 pounds-force (471 kN) | 8,683 horsepower (6,475 kW) 1-hour rating | One preserved in working order.[ when?] |
| Ae 8/14 | Swiss Federal Railways | 11852 | SLM, MFO/ BBC | 1939 | Electric | (1'A)A1'A(A1')+(1'A)A1'A(A1') | 236 tonnes (260 short tons) | 110,160 pounds-force (490 kN) | 10,945 horsepower (8,162 kW) 1-hour rating; 10,255 horsepower (7,647 kW) continuous | Exhibit at Swiss Museum of Transport |
| Allegheny |
Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Virginian Railway |
1600-1659 (C&O), 900-907 (VGN) | Lima Locomotive Works | 1941–48 | Steam | 2-6-6-6 | 544 tonnes (600 short tons) | 110,000 pounds-force (489 kN) | 7,500 horsepower (5,593 kW) | Two on static display |
| Big Blow | Union Pacific | 1-30 (control cab), 1B-30B (turbine unit) | General Electric | 1958–61 | Gas turbine-electric | C-C+C-C | 425 tonnes (468 short tons) | 212,312 pounds-force (944 kN) | 8,469 horsepower (6,315 kW); over 10,000 hp at lower altitude and ambient temperatures (turbine only) | Two preserved in museums; Surpassed by GT1s. |
| Big Boy | Union Pacific | 4000-4024 | ALCO | 1941-–44 | Steam | 4-8-8-4 | 548 tonnes (604 short tons) | 135,375 pounds-force (602 kN) | 6,290 horsepower (4,690 kW) | Several on static display. No. 4014 in service with the UP Heritage Steam collection [2] |
| BJ 6001 | China Railway | 北京6001 | Beijing Feb. 7th | 1969 | Diesel-hydraulic | D'D' | — | — | 5,900 horsepower (4,400 kW) | Most powerful diesel-hydraulic locomotive ever built. |
| Challenger | Union Pacific | 3950-3999 | ALCO | 1936–43 | Steam | 4-6-6-4 | 485 tonnes (535 short tons) | 97,350 pounds-force (433 kN) | 5,000 horsepower (3,728 kW) | Two locomotives preserved, one on static display. Union Pacific 3985 operated for company PR and occasional excursion service from 1981 to 2010. Donated to Railroading Heritage of Midwest America in April 2022 [3] |
| China Railways DF8 | China Railway | DF8DJ0001, later DF8B5672 | CSR Ziyang | 2006 | Diesel-electric | Co'Co' | 150 tonnes (165 short tons) | 130,389
pounds-force (580
kN) starting
98,916 pounds-force (440 kN) continuous |
6,437 horsepower (4,800 kW) | Most powerful single-engine diesel locomotive ever built. |
| China Railways HXD1 | China Railway | HXD10001 - HXD10220 | CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive, Siemens | 2006–08 | Electric | Bo'Bo'+Bo'Bo' | 200 tonnes (220 short tons) | 170,000 pounds-force (756 kN) starting; 111,000 pounds-force (494 kN) continuous | 12,874 horsepower (9,600 kW) | — |
| China Railways HXD1B | China Railway | HXD1B0001-HXD1B0500 | CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive, Siemens | 2009– | Electric | Co'Co' | 150 tonnes (165 short tons) | — | 12,874 horsepower (9,600 kW) | One of the most powerful single-frame locomotives currently[ when?] in series production. |
| China Railways HXD1C | China Railway | HXD1C0001-HXD1C0990 | CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive, Siemens | 2009– | Electric | Co'Co' | 150 tonnes (165 short tons) | 130,000 pounds-force (578 kN) starting | 9,655 horsepower (7,200 kW) | — |
| China Railways HXD2 | China Railway | HXD20001-
HXD20180 |
Datong Electric Locomotive, Alstom | 2006–08 | Electric | Bo'Bo'+Bo'Bo' | 200 tonnes (220 short tons) | 170,000 pounds-force (756 kN) | 13,410 horsepower (10,000 kW) | — |
| China Railways HXD2B | China Railway | HXD2B0001-HXD2B0500 | Datong Electric Locomotive, Alstom | 2009– | Electric | Co'Co' | 150 tonnes (165 short tons) | 131,000 pounds-force (583 kN) starting; 125,000 pounds-force (556 kN) continuous | 12,874 horsepower (9,600 kW) | One of the most powerful single-frame locomotives currently[ when?] in series production. |
| China Railways HXD2C | China Railway | HXD2C0001- | Datong Electric Locomotive, Alstom | 2010– | Electric | Co'Co' | 150 tonnes (165 short tons) | 130,000 pounds-force (578 kN) starting; 90,000 pounds-force (400 kN) continuous | 9,655 horsepower (7,200 kW) | — |
| China Railways HXD3 | China Railway | HXD30001-HXD30890, HXD38001-38150 | Toshiba, Dalian Locomotive | 2006–09 | Electric | Co'Co' | 150 tonnes (165 short tons) | 130,000 pounds-force (578 kN) | 9,655 horsepower (7,200 kW) | — |
| China Railways HXD3B | China Railway | HXD3B0001-HXD3B0500 | Dalian, Bombardier | 2009– | Electric | Co'Co' | 150 tonnes (165 short tons) | 128,000 pounds-force (569 kN) starting; 114,000 pounds-force (507 kN) | 12,874 horsepower (9,600 kW) 1-hour rating | One of the most powerful single-frame locomotives currently[ when?] in series production. |
| China Railways HXD3C | China Railway | HXD3C0001- | Dalian, Bombardier | 2010– | Electric | Co'Co' | 150 tonnes (165 short tons) | 130,000 pounds-force (578 kN) starting; 83,000 pounds-force (369 kN) | 9,655 horsepower (7,200 kW) | — |
| China Railways HXN3 | China Railway | HXN30001 - HXN30300 | Dalian Locomotive, Electro-Motive Diesel | 2008– | Diesel-Electric | Co'Co' | 150 tonnes (165 short tons) | 140,000
pounds-force (623
kN) starting;
134,000 pounds-force (596 kN) continuous |
6,300 horsepower (4,698 kW) | Most powerful diesel-electric locomotive in active production.[ when?] |
| China Railways HXN5 | China Railway | HXN50001 - HXN50300 | GE, CRRC Qishuyan | 2008– | Diesel-Electric | Co'Co' | 150 tonnes (165 short tons) | 140,000 pounds-force (623 kN) starting; 127,000 pounds-force (565 kN) continuous | 6,250 horsepower (4,661 kW) | Most powerful diesel-electric locomotive in active production.[ when?] |
| Class 461 | Železnice Srbije, Serbia | ŽS461-0/1, ŽS461-2 | Electroputere Craiova, Romania | 1965–91 | Electric | Co'Co' | 120 tonnes (132 short tons) | 88,125 pounds-force (392 kN) | 7,638 horsepower (5,696 kW) | Operational in Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Hungary & Macedonia.[ when?] |
| DB Class 101 | Deutsche Bahn | 101 001-145 | Adtranz | 1996–99 | Electric | Bo'Bo' | 83 tonnes (91 short tons) | 67,443 pounds-force (300 kN) | 8,583 horsepower (6,400 kW) continuous | Maximum speed 220 km/h (137 mph). |
| DB Class 103 | Deutsche Bahn | 103 101-245 | AEG, Brown, Boveri & Cie, Henschel, Krauss-Maffei, Krupp, Siemens | 1970–73 | Electric | Co'Co' | 114 tonnes (126 short tons) | 70,140 pounds-force (312 kN) | 16,270
horsepower (12,133
kW) or 13,900
horsepower (10,365
kW) short term;
10,433 horsepower (7,780 kW) 1-hour rating; 9,977 horsepower (7,440 kW) continuous rating |
One of the most powerful electric locomotives ever built, it also is the most powerful single-frame locomotive ever built (currently[ when?] its maximum short term power is limited to 12,000 horsepower (8,948 kW)); It has immense short term power with a tractive effort of 312 kN up to a speed of 140 km/h (87 mph). |
| DB Class 151 | Deutsche Bahn | 151 001-170 | AEG, BBC, Henschel, Krauss-Maffei, Krupp, Siemens | 1972–78 | Electric | Co'Co' | 118 tonnes (130 short tons) | 88,800 pounds-force (395 kN) | 8,432 horsepower (6,288 kW) | Powerful freight locomotive in the 1970s with high continuous tractive effort. |
| DSB EG | DB Schenker Rail | 3103-3113 | Siemens | 1999–2000 | Electric | Co'Co' | 132 tonnes (146 short tons) | 89,930 pounds-force (400 kN) | 8,717 horsepower (6,500 kW) continuous | One of the most powerful single-frame electric locomotives in operation in Europe[ when?]. |
| EMD DDA40X | Union Pacific | 6900-6946 | Electro-Motive Diesel | 1969–71 | Diesel-electric | Do'Do' | 244 tonnes (269 short tons) | 113,940 pounds-force (507 kN) starting; 103,000 pounds-force (458 kN) continuous | 6,600 horsepower (4,922 kW) | One operational, 13 in various museums; largest operational single-unit diesel locomotive and the most powerful.[ when?] |
| EMD SD70ACe-T4 | Union Pacific | 3000-3099 (Union Pacific) | Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) | 2015–present | Diesel-electric | Co'Co' | 194 tonnes (214 short tons) | 200,000
pounds-force (890
kN) starting
175,000 pounds-force (778 kN) continuous |
4,400 horsepower (3,281 kW) | — |
| EMD SD90MAC | Union Pacific | 8500-8561 | Electro-Motive Diesel | 1996–2002 | Diesel-electric | Co'Co' | 193 tonnes (213 short tons) | 200,000 pounds-force (890 kN) starting; 165,000 pounds-force (734 kN) continuous | 6,300 horsepower (4,698 kW) | Retired from service, some on lease with EMLX[ when?]. |
| Erie Class P-1 | Erie Railroad | 2603-2605, later 5014-5016 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1914-1916 | Steam | 2-8-8-8-2 | 531 tonnes (585 short tons) | 176,256 pounds-force (784 kN) | — | Maximum speed approx. 10 mph. |
| EuroSprinter | Deutsche Bahn, ÖBB | — | Krauss-Maffei, Siemens | 1996–2001 | Electric | Bo'Bo' | 86 tonnes (95 short tons) | 67,000 pounds-force (298 kN) | 9,790
horsepower (7,300
kW) short term;
8,583 horsepower (6,400 kW) continuous |
Maximum speed 230 km/h (143 mph); Taurus Rh 1216 050-5 holds the world speed record for conventional electric locomotives [ when?] at 357 km/h (222 mph). |
| Eurotunnel Class 9 | Getlink | 9000 | Euroshuttle Locomotive Consortium | 1993-2002 | Electric | Bo-Bo-Bo | 132 tonnes (146 short tons) | 90,000 pounds-force (400 kN) starting; 70,000 pounds-force (311 kN) continuous | 9,400 horsepower (7,010 kW) | Always used in pairs (one at each end of the train). Early versions were 7,500 horsepower (5,593 kW) but most have been rebuilt to 7 MW. |
| GE AC6000CW | Union Pacific; CSX; BHP | 600–699, 5000–5016, 6070–6077, 7500-7579 (being overhauled[ when?] and renumbered 69xx) | General Electric | 1996–2001 | Diesel-electric | Co'Co' | 196 tonnes (216 short tons) | 188,000 pounds-force (836 kN) starting; 166,000 pounds-force (738 kN) continuous | 6,250 horsepower (4,661 kW) | Actual HP output on early production units is 4,350 hp due to use of the 7FDL engine. |
| GT1s | Russian Railways | — | Sinara transport machines | — | Gas turbine-electric | — | 360 tonnes (397 short tons) | 220,313 pounds-force (980 kN) | 11,130 horsepower (8,300 kW) | Currently the most powerful non-electric locomotive ever produced. |
| H220 | Victorian Railways | H class | Newport Workshops | 1941–1958 | Steam | 4-8-4 | 265 tonnes (292 short tons) | 55,060 pounds-force (245 kN) | 3,600 horsepower (2,685 kW) | The most powerful steam locomotive built in Australia at the time. Only one was constructed, preserved at the Australian Railway Historical Society Museum. [4] |
| Indian locomotive class WAG-7 | Indian Railways | 27001–27999, 28000–28770, 24501-24700 | Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, India, BHEL, India | 1992 | Electric | Co'Co' | 132 tonnes (146 short tons) | 135,000 pounds-force (601 kN) | 5,350 horsepower (3,989 kW) | The WAG-7 is one of the most successful locomotives of Indian Railways currently serving both freight and passenger trains for over 31 years |
| Indian locomotive class WAG-9 | Indian Railways | Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, Electric Locomotive Works, Bhusawal | 1996– | Electric | Co'Co' | 123 tonnes (136 short tons) | 100,000 pounds-force (445 kN); 73,000 pounds-force (325 kN) continuous | 6,600 horsepower (4,922 kW) | WAG-9 has quickly become one of the important locos in the Indian railways. | |
| Indian locomotive class WAG-9H | Indian Railways | Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, Electric Locomotive Works, Bhusawal | 2000– | Electric | Co'Co' | 132 tonnes (146 short tons) | 120,000
pounds-force (534
kN) Continuous:73,000 pounds-force (325 kN) |
6,600 horsepower (4,922 kW) | The WAG-9 locomotive is referred to as the "Heavy Haul" freight locomotive of the Indian Railways | |
| Indian locomotive class WAG-9HH | Indian Railways | 90001+ | Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, India | 2019- | Electric | Co'Co' | 135 tonnes (149 short tons) | 9,000 horsepower (6,711 kW) | A passenger variant of the WAG-9 was developed namely the WAP-7 locomotive by modifying the gear ratio to pull lighter loads at higher speeds. | |
| Indian locomotive class WAG-11 | Indian Railways | 29001+ | Banaras Locomotive Works Varanasi | 2018–Present | Electric | Co'Co' | 11,000 horsepower | India's Indigenously developed 12000hp electric loco. | ||
| Indian locomotive class WAG-12 | Indian Railways | WAG12B60001+ onward | ELF Madhepura | 2018–present | Electric | Bo'Bo'+Bo'Bo' | 180
tonnes (198
short tons)
Up-gradable to 200 tonnes (220 short tons) |
176,475 pounds-force (785 kN) starting |
12,000 horsepower (8,948 kW) |
With a power output of 12,000 hp, the WAG 12 is twice as powerful as its immediate predecessor, WAG-9. |
| IORE | MTAB | IORE 101 - 126 | Bombardier | 2000–04 | Electric | Co'Co'+Co'Co' | 360 tonnes (397 short tons) | 314,732 pounds-force (1,400 kN) | 14,483
horsepower (10,800
kW) continuous rating (for a pair) |
The most powerful double-frame locomotive in series production.[ when?] It also has the largest tractive effort of any locomotive ever built.[ when?] It is possible to operate individual halves, however it is not usually done. |
| Jawn Henry | Norfolk & Western | 2300 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1954-58 | Steam turbine electric | C+C-C+C | 404 tonnes (445 short tons) | 175,000 pounds-force (778 kN) [5] | 4,500 horsepower (3,356 kW) | Struck from the N&W roster on January 4, 1958. |
| JR Freight Class EF200 | JR Freight | — | Hitachi | 1990– | Electric | Bo'Bo'Bo' | 100.8 tonnes (111 short tons) | 59,000 pounds-force (262 kN) | 8,046 horsepower (6,000 kW) | Most powerful single-frame narrow-gauge locomotive in series production[ when?]. |
| Korail Class 8500 | Korail | 8501-8587 | Hyundai Rotem | 2012-2014 | Electric | Co'Co' | 132 tonnes (146 short tons) | 101,164 pounds-force (450 kN) | 9,600 horsepower (7,159 kW) (1-hour rating); 9,300 horsepower (6,935 kW) continuous | 73 feet (22 m) overall length. |
| Little Joe | Milwaukee Road | EF-4 and EP-4 | General Electric | 1950-80 | Electric | 2-D+D-2 | 247.5 tonnes (273 short tons) | 75,700 pounds-force (337 kN) | 5,110 horsepower (3,811 kW) | Maximum speed of 68 mph, used for freight and passenger. |
| M-1 | Chesapeake and Ohio Railway | 500-502 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1947–50 | Steam turbine electric | 2-C1-2-C1-B (4-8-0-4-8-4) | 428 tonnes (472 short tons) | 98,000 pounds-force (436 kN) | 6,000 horsepower (4,474 kW) turbine; 4,960 horsepower (3,699 kW) generators | Nicknamed "Sacred Cows". Sold back to Baldwin in 1950 and scrapped. |
| Class M-137 | Western Pacific Railroad | 251-260 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1931, 1938 | Steam | 2-8-8-2 | 487 tonnes (537 short tons) | 137,174 pounds-force (610 kN) | — | Largest steam locomotives owned by Western Pacific. [6] |
| MPXpress MP54AC | GO Transit | 667-682 | MotivePower Industries | 2017-2018 | Diesel-electric | Bo'Bo' | 127-132 tonnes (140-145 short tons) [7] | 82,900 pounds-force (369 kN) peak, 50,700 pounds-force continuous (225 kN) | 5,400 horsepower (3972 kW) | Highest power diesel passenger locomotive in North America |
| Norfolk & Western Y Class | Norfolk & Western | — | Roanoke Shops | 1940s | Steam | 2-8-8-2 | 449 tonnes (495 short tons) | 166,000 pounds-force (738 kN) | 5,600 horsepower (4,176 kW) | Norfolk and Western 2156 is strongest-pulling steam locomotive still in existence[ when?]. |
| PRR GG1 | Pennsylvania Railroad, Penn Central, Conrail, Amtrak and NJ Transit | 4800–4938, 900-929 | Altoona Works, General Electric | 1934–43 | Electric | 2-C+C-2 (4-6-6-4) | 216.4 tonnes (239 short tons) | 65,500 pounds-force (291 kN) | 4,629 horsepower (3,452 kW) | Most scrapped; the prototype and 15 production locomotives have been preserved in museums. |
| PRR Q2 | Pennsylvania Railroad | 6131, 6175-6199 | Altoona Works | 1941–45 | Steam | 4-4-6-4 | 456 tonnes (503 short tons) | 115,816 pounds-force (515 kN) with booster | 7,987 horsepower (5,956 kW) | Most powerful steam locomotive ever static tested. |
| PRR S1 | Pennsylvania Railroad | 6100 | Altoona Works | 1939 | Steam | 6-4-4-6 | 487 tonnes (537 short tons) | 76,403 pounds-force (340 kN) | 7,200 horsepower (5,369 kW) | Fast passenger steam locomotive; the magazine Popular Mechanics cites 1941 a speed of 133.4 mph (214.7 km/h) |
| PRR S2 | Pennsylvania Railroad | 6200 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1944 | Steam turbine direct-drive | 6-8-6 | 470 tonnes (518 short tons) | 70,500 pounds-force (314 kN) | 6,900 horsepower (5,145 kW) | Most powerful steam turbine locomotive ever built. |
| Re 4/4 | BLS, Switzerland | Re 425 161-Re 425 195) | SLM / BBC | 1964-83 | Electric | Bo'Bo' | 80 tonnes (88 short tons) | 70,590 pounds-force (314 kN) | 6,678 horsepower (4,980 kW) continuous | In operation as of October 2012 [update] |
| Re 465 | BLS, Switzerland | Re 465 001-465 0018 | SLM, ABB | 1994-97 | Electric | Bo'Bo' | 84 tonnes (93 short tons) | 71,940 pounds-force (320 kN) | 9,390 horsepower (7,002 kW) short term 8,410 horsepower (6,271 kW) continuous; | Similar locomotives with slightly different technical data are in operation with SBB ( Re 460; 119 pc/NSB ( El 18; 22 pc)/VR ( Sr2; 46 pc)/ KCRC (Hong Kong; 2 pc). |
| Re 6/6 | SBB, Switzerland | 11601-11689 | SLM, MFO/ BBC/ Sécheron | 1972, 1975–80 | Electric | Bo'Bo'Bo' | 120 tonnes (132 short tons) | 89,475 pounds-force (398 kN) | 10,460 horsepower (7,800 kW) 1-hour rating; 9,705 horsepower (7,237 kW) continuous | At the time of construction (1972) one of the world's most powerful locomotives. Currently in operation as of May 2022 [update] with the revised classification of Re 620. |
| Shen 24 [8] [9] | Shenhua Mining Group | CRRC Zhuzhou | 2020–present | Electric | 6×Bo'Bo' | 512,564 pounds-force
(2,280 kN) |
38,621 horsepower (28,800 kW) | Six-section modification of HXD1, 106 metres (348 ft) long overall. | ||
| Shenhua Mining Group HXD1 | Shenhua Mining Group | HXD1.7 | CRRC Zhuzhou | 2013 | Electric | 3×Bo'Bo' | 276 tonnes (304 short tons) | 256,282 pounds-force (1,140 kN) | 12,900 horsepower (9,620 kW) continuous rating | Heavy haul locomotive of China |
| SJ Dm3 | SJ | — | ASEA | 1953–71 | Electric | 1'D+D+D1' | 273 tonnes (301 short tons) | 211,320 pounds-force
(970 kN) |
9,655 horsepower (7,200 kW) | Highest continuous tractive effort when built, most powerful locomotive using jackshafts. |
| Softronic Transmontana | Romanian Railways (CFR) and diverse private railways in Romania and Hungary | 480 (Romania) 610 (Hungary) | Softronic Craiova | 2010–present | Electric | Co'Co' | 120 tonnes (132 short tons) | 97,800 pounds-force (435 kN) | 8,851
horsepower (6,600
kW) 1-hour rating;
8,046 horsepower (6,000 kW) continuous |
Based on the ASEA 060-EA, but with asynchronous traction motors, IGBT and computerized control. |
| Stadler Euro Dual | N/A | N/A | Stadler Rail | 2012 | Dual power electro-diesel locomotive | Co'Co' | 114 tonnes (126 short tons) - 126 tonnes (139 short tons) | 112,500 pounds-force (500 kN) | 9,387.15 horsepower (7,000 kW) | |
| Union Pacific 9000 class | Union Pacific | 9000-9087 | American Locomotive Company | 1926-1930 | Steam | 4-12-2 | 355 tonnes (391 short tons) | 97,664 pounds-force (434 kN) | 4,750 horsepower (3,542 kW) | — |
| Union Pacific Coal GTELs | Union Pacific | 80 (later 8080) | Union Pacific Omaha Shops | 1961 | Diesel-electric + gas turbine-electric | A1A-A1A+2-D-D-2 | 661 tonnes (729 short tons) | — | 7,000 horsepower (5,220 kW) (2,000 hp Diesel + 5,000 hp turbine) | Home-built experimental coal-fired gas turbine. Assembled from ALCO PA-1 UP #607, GN W1 #5018, and the tender from Challenger #3990. 215 feet (66 m) overall length; 1,457,280 pounds (661,011 kg) total weight. Unsuccessful; set aside in 1964 and scrapped in 1968. |
| Virginian Railway EL-3A | Virginian Railway | 100-109 | ALCO + Westinghouse | 1925-1926 | Electric | 1-D-1+1-D-1+1-D-1 | 624 tonnes (688 short tons) | 277,500 pounds-force (1,234 kN) | 7,125 horsepower (5,313 kW) (1-hour rating); 6,000 horsepower (4,474 kW) continuous | 152.25 feet (46 m) overall length. |
| VL85 | Russian Railways | 270 | Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant | 1983-94 | Electric | Bo'Bo'Bo'+Bo'Bo'Bo' | 300 tonnes (331 short tons) | 209,522 pounds-force (932 kN) | 12,550 horsepower (9,359 kW) continuous; 13,437 horsepower (10,020 kW) short term | — |
| Voith Maxima | — | — | Voith | 2006–14 | Diesel-hydraulic | Co'Co' | 136 tonnes (150 short tons) | 91,730 pounds-force (408 kN) | 5,000 horsepower (3,728 kW) continuous (Maxima 40CC) | Voith Maxima 40CC is the most powerful single-engine diesel-hydraulic locomotive ever built. |
| XA Triplex | Virginian Railway | 700 | Baldwin | 1916 | Steam | 2-8-8-8-4 | 532 tonnes (586 short tons) | 166,600 pounds-force (741 kN) compound | — | Rebuilt into separate locomotives; Maximum speed approx. 10 mph. |
| Yellowstone | Northern Pacific, Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway and Baltimore & Ohio | 220-237 (DM&IR) | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1928-1945 | Steam | 2-8-8-4 | 566 tonnes (624 short tons) | 140,093 pounds-force (623 kN) | 6,250 horsepower (4,661 kW) | Figures are for the DM&IR Yellowstones, the largest and generally the most well-known of their type. |
See also
References
- ^ NSWGR AD60 Class Beyer-Garratt Locos Locomotives International issue 132 August 2021 page 16
- ^ Big Boy 4014 is back: UP restores, runs iconic train Railway Age May 8, 2019
- ^ Union Pacific donates Challenger for overhaul Steam Railway issue 532 May 27, 2022 page 22
- ^ "Heavy Harry, H220". Newsrail. Vol. 6, no. 4. Vic: ARHS Victoria Division. April 1978. p. 55. ISSN 0310-7477. OCLC 19676396.
- ^ "The N&W's Jawn Henry", https://www.american-rails.com. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
- ^ https://www.wplives.org/headlight_article_reprints/headlight_54/Western_Pacific_Steam_Locomotive_Fleet_an_Overview_Headlight_54.pdf
- ^ https://transittoronto.ca/images/MPI-MP54-spec-sheet.pdf
- ^ "28·8 MW freight locomotive unveiled". Railway Gazette International. 2020-08-04. Archived from the original on 2020-09-28. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
- ^ "CRRC Zhuzhou unveils 28.8MW electric freight locomotive". International Railway Journal. 2020-08-04. Retrieved 2020-08-09.