Russian Railways commissioned a new TEM19 locomotive, the world’s first shunting gas locomotive, during a recent ceremony at the V International Rail Salon EXPO 1520 in Moscow. The company had commissioned the TEM19 from JSC Bryansk Engineering Plant, which was presented with the government’s compliance certificate at the ceremony. The locomotive will enter service at Sverdlovsk Railways.
As part of the plan to introduce natural gas as a motor fuel at Russian Railways, the relevant documentation has been developed and at the Bryansk factory a prototype shunting gas locomotive was made with a capacity of 880 kW and gas engine running on liquefied natural gas without the use of diesel fuel. OJSC Maminykh Volgodieselmash (Balakovo) manufactured the gas engine.
The locomotive underwent full testing at Sverdlovsk Railways and handled the complete range of acceptance tests, whereupon the Commission approved the manufacture of a pilot batch.
Russian Railways plans to acquire one TEM19 locomotive in 2015. The company’s total investment programme provides for the purchase of 484 locomotives.
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