TCDD DE24000

TCDD DE 24000 (stylised as DE 24 000 in painted registration numbers) is a type of diesel locomotive built for operations on Turkish State Railways (TCDD) by Tülomsaş. 218 units were built between 1970 and 1984 under license from Matériel de Traction Electrique (MTE) of France. The DE 24000 formed the backbone of the dieselisation of the Turkish railways during the 1970s. It follows the hood unit road switcher design, like most Turkish mainline locomotives. DE 24 000 is the most commonly found locomotive class in Turkey (418 units produced, more than 100 in usable state).

DE 24000 [1][2]
Two DE24000 locomotives pulling a westbound regional train.
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Designer Matériel de Traction Electrique, modified vastly Builder Matériel de Traction Electrique (first units) Tülomsaş (all remaining) Model 1968 Build date 1970–1984[3] Total produced 418[3]
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR C-C  • UIC Co'Co' Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) Bogies 2 Wheel diameter 1,100 mm (43 in) Length 22.67 metres (74.4 ft) Loco weight 113 tonnes (111 long tons; 125 short tons) Fuel capacity 4,960 litres (1,090 imp gal; 1,310 US gal) Prime mover Pielstick 16PA4V185(most units)[note 1] Hedemora Diesel V16(some units) RPM range 679-1599 ​  • RPM low idle 620  • RPM idle 650  • Maximum RPM 1680 Engine type Diesel V16 Aspiration Turbocharged Alternator 72V Generator 600VAC Traction motors DC traction motors ​  • Rating 1 hour 1200 (automatically governed)  • Continuous 1200 (automatically governed) Cylinders V16 Transmission AC-DC Gear ratio 16⁄87 at traction motors MU working yes (with identical units) since 2017 revisions Loco brake Air brake Train brakes Air brake Safety systems emergency brake, gas-generator notching decoupler, dead man's switch
Performance figures Maximum speed 120 km/h (75 mph) (designation) 144 km/h (89 mph) (overspeed with blue and accelerated trains-this practice prohibited) Power output: ​  • Starting 1,760.0 kW (2,360.2 hp) (original rating with Pielstick engines) 1,610.0 kW (2,159.0 hp) (re-rating and all units with Hedemora engines)  • 1 hour no restriction  • Continuous 2,200.0 hp (1,640.5 kW) (road use) 1,860.0 hp (1,387.0 kW) (switching duties) Tractive effort: ​  • Starting 394 kilonewtons (89,000 lbf)  • Continuous 357 kilonewtons (80,000 lbf) @ 16 kilometres per hour (9.9 mph)
Career Operators Turkish State Railways(36 units) İZBAN(6 units) TCDD Taşımacılık (remaining) Numbers DE24001 – DE24418 Nicknames "Mavi lokomotif" (blue locomotive-ones with blue livery) Yirmidörtbinlik (24000ths) Locale Turkey

In addition to MTE, diesel parts were supplied by Chantiers de l'Atlantique, electric parts from Jeumont-Schneider, and mechanical parts from Forges et Ateliers du Creusot, all of which later acquired by Alstom.

History

During the 1970s the Turkish State Railways decided to replace their 800 steam locomotives with diesel. This quite-delayed task required the delivery of more than 400 diesel units. On February 15, 1968, TCDD and MTE signed an agreement for delivery of the DE 24000 along with the delivery of the smaller DE18000. To build up domestic competence on diesel engines, TCDD decided that the production would be done by Tülomsaş of Turkey. Only Tülomsaş-built units are still operational.

Blue trains (Mavi tren) and DE 24000

Main article: Blue Train (Turkey)

Blue trains are express passenger trains with 120 km/h (75 mph) timetable speed. They originally started replacing black trains (Turkish: kara tren), which are trains pulled by black steam locomotives with tenders. All cars of the blue trains had blue livery and were pulled by blue DE24000s. They are now pulled by TCDD E68000s and have regular livery but still retain their long-distance national passenger rail network status.

Overspeeding provision

These locomotives had been used over their power and speed ratings until 2004. Delayed trains were "force-fit" into the timetable by overspeeding up to 10% over timetable speeds. This required both overspeeding the prime mover and modifying the traction motors' final drive ratios. This practice was banned after the Pamukova train derailment.

DE 24409 at Alsancak.

Notes

1. Replaced by clones manufactured by TÜLOMSAŞ(TLM 16V185) as they go under maintenance.