China Railways DFH shunting locomotives

The China Railways "Dongfang Hong" diesel-hydraulic locomotive classes DFH2, DFH5, DFH6, and DFH7, built from the 1970s to 1990s, were all used as shunters on the Chinese railway network.

DFH2, DFH5, DFH6, DFH7, DFH21
东方红2、东方红5、东方红6、东方红7、东方红21
DFH2-0008
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-hydraulic
BuilderDFH2, DFH5, DFH6, DFH7 Ziyang locomotive works[1]
DFH2, DFH5, DFH21 Sifang locomotive works[1]
Build dateDFH2 1973[1]
DFH5 1976-1988[1]
DFH6 1981[1]
DFH7 1988[1]
DFH21 1977 (prototype), 1982
Total producedDFH2 ?
DFH5 >500[2]
DFH6 1[1]
DFH7 4[1]
DFH21 >29
Specifications
Configuration:
 • UICB'B'[1]
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in)
DFH21 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Minimum curve(?)
LengthDFH2 12.400 m (40 ft 8.2 in)[1]
DFH5 13.700 m (44 ft 11.4 in)[1]
DFH6 ?
DFH7 ?
DFH21 12.000 m (39 ft 4.4 in)[1]
TransmissionHydraulic
Performance figures
Maximum speedDFH2 62 km/h (39 mph)[1]
DFH5 40 km/h (25 mph)[1]
DFH6 ?
DFH7 ?
DFH21 50 km/h (31 mph)[1]
Power outputDFH2 650 kW (870 hp)[1]
DFH5 790 kW (1,060 hp)[2][3]
DFH6 1,740 kW (2,330 hp)[1]
DFH7 790 kW (1,060 hp)[1]
DFH21 640 kW (860 hp)[1]
Career
OperatorsChina Railway DFH2, DFH5, DFH6, DFH7, DFH21
Vietnam Railways D10H

The use of diesel-hydraulic shunters has fallen out of favour on the Chinese rail network, with diesel-electric locomotives being used. However, diesel-hydraulic machines continued to be produced for industrial railways – mainly the China Railways GK classes.[2]

The DFH21 class is a meter gauge version of the DFH2, and was used on the Yunnan–Vietnam Railway for both passenger and freight services; the same machines are used on the Vietnam Railways where they are known as the D10H.

China Railways standard gauge

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DFH2

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The DFH2 was originally designed by Sifang locomotive works in 1966 as a passenger locomotive of rated power 1,470 kW (1,970 hp). The design did not enter mass production, but in 1973, the design was changed at Ziyang locomotive works to a 650 kW (870 hp) power locomotive with a top speed of 62 km/h (39 mph).[1][img 1]

The mass was 60 t (59.1 long tons; 66.1 short tons) and the starting tractive effort was 192 kN (43,000 lbf). The locomotive used a 12V180ZL engine and SF2010 transmission.[4]

DFH5

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DFH5-0001

In comparison to the DFH2 type, a number of changes were made for the DFH5: a twin-speed transmission allowing a higher top speed when running without a heavy load was included, and the mass was increased to improve traction.[3]

The DFH5 class was produced in large quantities. The engine was a 12V180ZJ and transmission ZJ2011, producing 278 kN (62,000 lbf) of tractive effort with a mass of 86 t (84.6 long tons; 94.8 short tons) and with a top speed of 40 km/h (25 mph). A higher speed was available with a limit of 80 km/h (50 mph) and tractive effort reduced to approximately half.[2][img 2]

Variants, the DFH5B and DFH5C, were introduced in 1985, with modifications to improve reliability and performance – in both where the rated power was increased to 920 kW (1,230 hp), and the mass by 4 t (3.9 long tons; 4.4 short tons). DFH5C was produced for operations in metalworks.[3]

DFH6

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DFH6

One example was produced for shunting in the Chinese port of Huangpu District, Shanghai.[1]

DFH7

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Four units were produced for shunting in mines and industrial environments.[1]

Metre gauge

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DFH21

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A DF21 pulling a narrow-gauge commuter train in Kunming (2016)

Locomotives similar in design to the DFH2 type but built to meter gauge and used as universal locomotives.[1][5] The locomotives were used on the Kunming metre gauge railway, including passenger services.[6][img 3]

As of 2012, Kunming rail fans report that DFH21 locomotives are still used to haul a few passenger trains a day along the metre gauge tracks from Kunming North Railway Station to several nearby stations. As of 2014, these trains were still in operation.[7]

30 of the locomotives are also used by Vietnam Railways, where they are known as the D10H.[8] In 2005, Vietnam railways had 20 units operational.[9] In 2009, ten of the engines had Caterpillar Inc. 3512B engines fitted as replacements.[10]

Preserved locomotives

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DFH2 0008 and DFH5 0001 are both preserved at the Beijing China Railway Museum.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w 东方红型内燃机车, The East is Red Diesel locomotive, www.kepu.net.cn
  2. ^ a b c d DFH5 东方红5 Archived 2011-01-08 at the Wayback Machine, www.railwaysofchina.com
  3. ^ a b c 海子铁路网社区 » 中国内燃(干线) » 东方红5型(DFH5)内燃机车, (DF5 locomotive), technical drawing and description, bbs.hasea.com
  4. ^ 中国铁路东方红2型(DFH2)内燃机车, China Railway "Dongfang Hong" 2 (DFH2) Diesel locomotive, www.hudong.com
  5. ^ 中国機関車大全 液体式ディーゼル機関車編 : 東方紅21型(DFH21) Archived 2012-01-18 at the Wayback Machine Chinese locomotives : diesel hydraulics, section "DFH21", www.chinarailway.jp
  6. ^ South China March 2005, section "Kunming meter gauge", Peter Patt, Jan Schirling, 2005, www.sy-country.co.uk
  7. ^ 滇越铁路徒步第一程(昆明——宜良) Archived 2012-12-30 at the Wayback Machine (A walk along the Kunming-Vietnam Railway. Part 1: Kunming-Chenggong)
  8. ^ Danh sách đầu máy D10H tại Việt nam, Info on D10H in Vietnam, daumaytoaxe.com
  9. ^ Vietnam Railways: Rolling Stock, Number of locomotives (of the year 2005), archived from the original on 13 January 2011
  10. ^ Vòng quanh các xí nghiệp đầu máy ở VN, Tour of railway factories in Vietnam, p.16, daumaytoaxe.com
  11. ^ Preserved Locomotives Archived 2011-07-15 at the Wayback Machine, www.railwaysofchina.com

Images

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  1. ^ 新闻资料:东方红型内燃机车 Archived 2011-07-23 at the Wayback Machine, Dongfang Hong (The east is red) types 2 and 3 museum images, news.workercn.cn
  2. ^ 新闻资料:东方红型内燃机车 Archived 2011-07-23 at the Wayback Machine, Dongfang Hong (The east is red) type 5, museum images and technical details, news.workercn.cn
  3. ^ DFH21 Images via www.flickr.com
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