Alstom Prima diesel locomotives
{{Short description|Diesel-electric locomotive}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox locomotive
| name = Prima
| powertype = Diesel
| image = CFS Alstom-Lokomotive Prima DE 32 C AC.jpg
| imagesize = 300
| caption = A Syrian Railways Prima DE 32 AC
| builder = Alstom with engine from EMD or Ruston
Except BB 47500: Alstom / Siemens with engine from MTU
| transmission = Diesel electric
}}
The Prima Diesel-electric locomotives are a class of medium and heavy, four- and six-axle, passenger and freight mainline locomotives.[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQQ/is_1_41/ai_69709293 Alstom Launches Prima Locomotive Range] International Railway Journal They have been built both to {{track gauge|sg}} standard and {{track gauge|1668mm}} broad gauges, and find use in the Middle East, Europe and North America. Alstom is the primary designer in cooperation with both General Motors (now EMD) and Siemens.
History
Initially the Prima locomotives were electric only, with the technology demonstrator and test platform being built in 2002[http://www.railcolor.net/index.php?nav=1405603&lang=1 Prima platform: electrical locomotives. Railcolor.net] in Belfort France by Alstom. Next came the Prima 6000 technology demonstrator; this too was an electric locomotive, with 6000 kW of power and primarily intended to test and demonstrate multi-voltage operations for European cross-border operations.[http://www.railcolor.net/index.php?nav=1405021&lang=1 Alstom Prima 6000 Demonstrator: Introduction. Railcolor.net] Orders for the Prima electrics came, mostly from SNCF.
A series of diesel locomotives also associated with the Prima name were also built. These were the General Motors (GM)-engined machines built by Alstom at its Spanish plant in Valencia, and Ruston-engined locomotives built in Belfort, France.
The Valencia plant was sold to Vossloh in 2004. Locomotives continued to be built there using EMD engines and electrical transmission systems – including almost total rebuilds of the RENFE 333 class. Vossloh changed the names of the products produced there to the "Vossloh Euro" platform[http://www.eurotrib.com/story/2009/7/4/62819/62696 Diesel heavy haul across Europe] eurotrib.com (see Vossloh Euro locomotives) and the end came of the association of the Valencia plant with the Prima name.[http://217.128.43.205/www.railcolor.net/PRIMA/start.html Brief description of all Primas except BB75000 : Railcolor.net] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220031952/http://217.128.43.205/www.railcolor.net/PRIMA/start.html |date=20 February 2012 }}
Also produced in the 1990s were Prima diesels countries outside Europe. The DE32C was produced for Chemins de Fer Syriens in Syria, and Sri Lanka received 10 locomotives which it designated M9 class. A DE43C model was exported to Iran (AD43C[http://www.rail.lu/materiel/alstomAD43C.html Alstom AD43C : Rail.lu]). Nevertheless, the Euro 3000 and Euro 4000 products produced at Vossloh España continue to show similarities with the earlier Prima products—such as the centrally located driver position with radially located controls, the single drivers window, and general body shape and design of the rigid body shell.
Alstom and Siemens collaborated to produce the BB 75000 diesel, which has received orders for at least 400 locomotives from SNCF with a possibility of 100 more. A Siemens/Alstom BB 75000 mock-up was unveiled on 25 March 2004,[http://www.railcolor.net/index.php?nav=1405020&lang=1 SNCF Fret BB 37000: Introduction. Railcolor.net] The first locomotive was produced in 2006.
In 2008 Alstom unveiled the 'Prima II' platform;[http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/prima-ii-unveiled-by-alstom.html Prima II unveiled by Alstom] Railway Gazette International 23 May 2008 diesel versions are to be offered,[http://conferinte.club-feroviar.ro/op_fer2009/Prezentari/Nicolae_Dragu_Alstom.pdf ALSTOM Transport] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813223243/http://conferinte.club-feroviar.ro/op_fer2009/Prezentari/Nicolae_Dragu_Alstom.pdf |date=13 August 2011 }}, 25 February 2009, via conferinte.club-feroviar.ro so it is expected that further models of the Prima diesel locomotive family will appear.
Technology
{{Expand section|date=January 2009}}
The Prima type locomotives built at Alstom's Valencia plant were engined with General motors engines; in fact the entire power train – engine, generator, electronics and motors were supplied by General Motors for the Valencia built Primas. For the locomotives built in France – primarily those exported outside Europe Ruston engines were used. The Prima diesels for SNCF Fret used MTU engines.
Modern innovations in the Prima class included – a centrally located drivers seat with ergonomically arranged controls, a monocoque rigid bodyshell.
The BB 75000 retains the Prima appearance – the single window, drivers position, body design, but the 'innards' are supplied by Siemens, the engine from Caterpillar.
{{anchor|Locomotives}}
Variants
=RENFE 334=
{{Main|RENFE Class 334}}
These were the last of the Valencia-built Prima locomotives and technically should be considered part of the Vossloh Euro series of locomotives since they came off the production line after 2004. Built for passenger work on non-electrified lines in Spain, and were intended to replace older Class 333s.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{citation|url=http://www.css-rzd.ru/zdm/10-1998/8300.htm |language=Russian |title=Новые локомотивы компании Alstom |journal=Железные дороги мира |year=1998 |number=10 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070504033531/http://www.css-rzd.ru/zdm/10-1998/8300.htm |archivedate=4 May 2007 }}