China Railways DF explained

Dongfeng
东风
Powertype:Diesel-electric
Uicclass:Co′Co′
Aarwheels:C-C
Builder:Dalian Locomotive Works
Qishuyan Locomotive Works
Datong Locomotive Works
Chengdu Locomotive Works
Builddate:1958 - 1974
1981
Buildmodel:TE3
Totalproduction:933
Axleload:21t
Fueltype:Diesel
Maxspeed:100km/h(DF)
120km/h(DF3)
Locoweight:126t
Length:16920mm
Width:3335mm
Height:4775mm
Primemover:10L207E
Transmission:electric (DC-DC)
Generator:ZQFR-1350
Tractionmotors:6 x ZQDR-204
Nicknames:Old DF (Chinese: 老东风)
Crying face (Chinese: 哭脸) (DF 1201~1277)
Operator: China Railway
Vietnam Railways
Fleetnumbers:DF 1201~1830 (CR)
DF 2001~2094 (CR)
DF3 0001~0226 (CR)
D16E 2006-2008 (VR)

The DF was a type of diesel-electric locomotive used in the People's Republic of China. It was first introduced in 1958 and was produced until 1974. It was the first common locomotive in China and was used for both passenger and freight services. The DF3 is an upgraded model of the DF.

History

The DF design was based on a 1958 built prototype, the Julong, which was essentially a Soviet TE3 and was built with Soviet technical assistance. The DF used a 10-cylinder opposed piston engine of type 10E207. This was a copy of the Soviet 2D100 design, itself a copy of the Fairbanks Morse 38D8 ¾. Like the TE3s, the DFs were designed to be used in pairs, back to back, but appear to have spent most of their lives working singly, hardly a problem when there were wyes everywhere to turn steam locomotives.[1]

DF and DF3 were used in many parts of China but by the late 1980s, more modern diesels, such as the DF4B, had ousted them from primary routes. Some hung on in CNR service until the mid-1990s but few, if any, made it beyond the millennium. A number of redundant locos were bought by industrial and local railway operators, including the Heihe Local Railway in northern Heilongjiang. Heihe's had finished by 2008 and it's highly unlikely that any remain in service.[2]

Named locomotive

Manufacturers

DFs have been manufactured by several factories:

Preservation

Static preservation

Other vehicles

Vietnam Railways D16E

These three DF Locomotives were imported from China and were numbered 2006 -2008. The main photo above depicts D16E - 2008 outside the Yen Vien Locomotive Workshop. They were apparently used for Yen Vien - Dong Dang freights and were rated at 1800 hp but were down rated to 1600 hp in VN service. It would appear that at least one locomotive has survived (at least up to 2004) and is stored at the back of a shed in Yen Vien. There is a suggestion also that the original 3 were somehow cannibalised when parts became scarce.[7]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Opposed Piston Engine Model 38 8 1/8 Fairbanks Morse Engine. www.fairbanksmorse.com. 2018-03-31.
  2. Web site: DF, DF3 Class Co'-Co' Diesel-Electrics. Railography. Duncan. Cotterill.
  3. Web site: 上海历史上的今天:一月五日. 上海市地方志办公室. Chinese. https://web.archive.org/web/20160307042006/http://www.shtong.gov.cn/node2/node79048/userobject1ai98313.html. 7 March 2016. Today in Shanghai History: January 5.
  4. Web site: 柳州:"元老级"内燃机车搬迁至官塘校区作为文物. _广西新闻网. Chinese. 16 March 2016. Liuzhou: "veteran class" diesel locomotive moved to Guantang campus as a cultural relic.
  5. Web site: China Railway Museum Dongjiao (Beijing) - All You Need to Know Before You Go (with Photos) - TripAdvisor. www.tripadvisor.com. en. 2018-03-31.
  6. News: zh:文青们,来拍个火车大片吧 . http://news.sina.com.cn/o/2017-02-23/doc-ifyavwcv8555624.shtml . 20 June 2018 . zh-cn. 广州日报. 23 February 2017. Sina news portal.
  7. Web site: Locomotive D16E/DF3. Railways in Vietnam. David. Gurnett. 18 December 2010.