China Railways DF9

China Railway saw an increase in passenger traffic volumes on its trunk routes by the 1990s. It was decided to upgrade the main lines within the {{convert|1500|km|mi|abbr=on}} radius from Beijing to be upgraded to {{convert|140|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} operation. To achieve the projected 15 hour journey time, a high-speed diesel locomotive was to be developed.{{sfn|Su|2015|page=184}}{{cite journal |last=Shao |first=Guangzu |date=1988 |title=鐵道部大功率客運內燃機車的研制招標 我廠中標 |url= |trans-title=The Ministry of Railways issued a tender for the development of high-power passenger diesel locomotives and our factory won the bid. |journal=中国铁路 |language=zh |location=Dalian |publisher=Dalian Diesel Locomotive Research Institute |access-date= |issn=1003-1820 |pages=72+51}} From May to June 1987, bids were submitted by {{ill|CRRC Beijing Feb. 7th Locomotive Co.|lt=Beijing Feb. 7th Locomotive Co.|zh|中车北京二七机车}}, Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock Works, Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd., Ziyang Co., Ltd. and Qishuyan Locomotive and Rolling Stock Works, with the latter being selected by the Ministry of Railways in July 1987 to construct the locomotives.

File:China Railways DF9 0001 20050129.jpg]]

In 1991, Qishuyan unveiled the DF9,{{sfn|Su|2015|page=184}} and in that February, number 0001 was allocated to Zhengzhou Locomotive Depot for a {{convert|30000|km|mi|abbr=on}} endurance trial between Zhengzhou and Wuchang on the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway.{{cite journal |last=Shi |first=Baoshan |date=1994 |title=东风9型内燃机车 |url= |trans-title=Dongfeng 9 diesel locomotive |journal=内燃机车 |language=zh |location=Dalian |publisher=Dalian Diesel Locomotive Research Institute |access-date= |issn=1003-1820 |pages=1–7}}

In the late 1980s, China Railway faced competition from other modes of transport, so they sought to increase train speeds. The Ministry of Railways first decided to upgrade the existing Guangzhou-Shenzhen Railway to {{convert|160|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} operation, in order to gain experience in developing high-speed railways.{{cite journal |last=Gong |first=Shendi |date=1990 |title=铁道部通过广深线旅客列车最高时速160km的实施方案 |url= |trans-title=The Ministry of Railways has approved the implementation plan for the maximum speed of passenger trains on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen line to 160 km/h |journal=内燃机车 |language=zh |location=Beijing |publisher=Institute of Science and Technology Information of the Ministry of Railways |access-date= |issn=1001-683X}}

On 29 March 1992, DF9 0002, the second locomotive produced, was sent to the Beijing Ring Railway, where extreme wind conditions occurred before the tests. While the locomotive reached {{convert|160|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} during trials, setting a new rail speed record in China,{{cite journal |last=Yin |first=Jian |date=1992 |title=环行线160km／h准高速试验噪声测量简介 |url= |trans-title=Brief Introduction to Noise Measurement of 160km/h Quasi-High-Speed Test on Loop Line |journal=科技情报动态 |language=zh |publisher=Technical Center of the Fourth Railway Institute |access-date= |pages=4–8}}{{sfn|Me|2022}} one of its brake pipes failed due to the wind pressure of {{convert|600-800|kPa|abbr=on}}. In the following 15 days, the DF9 conducted gradual acceleration tests, eventually being pushed to {{convert|170|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} on another speed test.{{sfn|Me|2022}}

File:China Railways DF9 Guangzhou 20070223.jpg

Although the DF9, as an experimental class, was never put into serial production, Qishuyan would go on to develop the design into the DF11 in 1993.{{sfn|Su|2015|page=184}} In 2005, both DF9s were returned to Qishuyan for overhaul, where they would receive several modifications. These included a standardised oil and water piping arrangement, replacement of the original aluminum intercooler with a copper one, modified cabs with air-conditioning and ventilation, and other features present on the DF11s. After overhaul, both locomotives performed similarly to the DF11s.{{cite journal |last1=Yu |first1=Hongliu |last2=Zhu |first2=Chunyong |last3=Jiang |first3=Weiwei |date=2006 |title=DF9型内燃机车的改造 |url= |trans-title=Reconstruction of DF9 diesel locomotive |journal=内燃机车 |language=zh |location=Dalian |publisher=Dalian Locomotive Research Institute |access-date= |issn=1003-1820 |volume=394 |issue=12 |pages=18–23}}

In the second half of 2010, DF9 0001 was placed into storage at Guangzhou Locomotive Depot, followed by 0002 in the same year. In December 2010, both locomotives were sold through online bidding, and were scrapped in May 2011.{{sfn|Me|2022}}

• List of locomotives in China
• China Railways DF8
• China Railways DF11
• Guangzhou–Shenzhen railway

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |last=Su |first=Zhaozu |date=2015 |title=中國鐵道火車百科 I |trans-title=China Railway Train Encyclopedia I |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M6WXDwAAQBAJ&dq=china+railway+df9&pg=PA191 |language=zh |location= |publisher=Renren Publishing Co., Ltd. |isbn=9789864610273 |via=Google Books}}
• {{cite journal |last=Me |first=Zhang |date=9 August 2022 |title=Past Glories and Compromises |trans-title= |url=https://www.chinarailstory.com/en/me-zhang-past-glories-and-compromises-%E8%80%81%E5%BC%A0%E5%A4%B4%EF%BC%9A%E6%9B%BE%E7%BB%8F%E7%9A%84%E6%95%85%E4%BA%8B%E4%B8%8E%E8%83%8C%E5%90%8E%E7%9A%84%E5%A6%A5%E5%8D%8F/ |language= |journal=China Rail Stories |volume= |issue= |pages= |doi= |access-date=25 December 2024}}

{{commons category|China Railway DF9}}

• [https://www.trainnets.com/archives/2956 DF9型内燃机车] Trainnets.com.

{{Locomotives of China}}

DF9

Category:Co′Co′ locomotives

Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1990

Category:Standard-gauge locomotives of China

Category:Qishuyan locomotives

Category:Scrapped locomotives