The DF4 () is a type of

diesel–electric locomotive A diesel locomotive is a type of railway locomotive in which the power source is a diesel engine. Several types of diesel locomotives have been developed, differing mainly in the means by which mechanical power is conveyed to the driving whee ...

used in the

People's Republic of China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

. It has been in production since 1969 and is still produced as of 2007 by several local companies. It is the most common locomotive in China and is used for both passenger and freight services.

Models

DF4

The first DF4 was built in 1969 in

Dalian Dalian ( ) is a major sub-provincial port city in Liaoning province, People's Republic of China, and is Liaoning's second largest city (after the provincial capital Shenyang) and the third-most populous city of Northeast China (after Shenyang ...

. The first 108 locomotives that were built here are the original DF4s using the 16V240ZJ engine. It took seven years to build all 108 locomotives of this type. Due to unstable technique in the production of early-built DF4 locomotives, malfunctions of mechanic and electric parts occurred frequently during the operation, especially the diesel engine. Thus, most DF4 locomotives were taken out of service for maintenance, and

railroad engineer A train driver is a person who operates a train, railcar, or other rail transport vehicle. The driver is in charge of and is responsible for the mechanical operation of the train, train speed, and all of the train handling (also known as bra ...

s from Fengtai Locomotive Depot sarcastically joked that the DF4 "can't make it from Dongdan to

Xisi Xisi () literally, the "Western Four" or the "Western Quadrangle", is the name of an intersection and surrounding neighborhood in Xicheng District, Beijing. Xisi, at the intersection of what is now Xisi Avenue and Fuchengmen Inner Avenue, dates t ...

", two neighborhoods of Beijing. Therefore, Dalian Locomotive Works introduced 16V240ZJA, an improved diesel engine. Few of the early series DF4 are still in operation. The first DF4 of the class is currently in permanent exhibition at the Beijing Railway Museum.

DF4A

The DF4A distinguishes itself from first series DF4s with an improved engine, the 16V240ZJA. Production started in 1976 (the first model being DF4-0109) and lasted until 1984. The DF4A designation is unofficial.

DF4B

Nicknamed "Watermelon", " Armed Police", or "Orange". Generally speaking, "Watermelons" and "Armed Police" versions are used for freight, while "Oranges" (DF4 2000 Series) are manufactured with alternated gear ratio for the allowance of increased operation speed, intended for passenger services. DF4B are very similar to standard DF4, apart from an improved engine (16V240ZJB) and modified engine inlet filters in certain instances. Production started in Dalian in 1984.

DF4C

The DF4C was supposed to replace the DF4B as the main diesel locomotive in China and comes with several improvements, including a new engine revision (16240ZJC). The first DF4C was produced in 1985 and batch production started four years later, in 1989, and lasted until roughly the end of the 20th century. The first two DF4C (4001 and 4002) produced in 1985 continued the use of the DF4B hull. A new hull design is applied for the batch-produced configuration. The DF4C comes in a different color scheme than the previous DF4s, namely dark blue and later light blue and beige. The passenger version, informally called DF4CK, has an A1A-A1A wheel arrangement.

Gearing variations

The DF4, DF4B and DF4C were each produced with two different gear ratios, "passenger" (up to or for DF4C) and "freight" (up to ). The passenger variant was often painted orange.

DF4D

The DF4D, the most recent DF4 revision, has been produced since 1996 with the 16V240ZJD engine. The passenger versions increased top speed to or . The freight version comes in a different color scheme than the previous DF4Ds, namely green (7000 Series) and later light blue (4000 Series) and yellow. The green version sat on radial bogies but later converted to standard bogies. Their top speed to 100 km/h (62 mph). DF4D-7000 series are configured with shorter hull compared to standard DF4D series.

DF4DJ

The DF4DJ, originally DF4DAC, of which only 2 were built had AC drive technology supplied by

Siemens Siemens AG ( ) is a German multinational technology conglomerate. It is focused on industrial automation, building automation, rail transport and health technology. Siemens is the largest engineering company in Europe, and holds the positi ...

. They were China's first AC drive diesel locomotive.

DF4DD

road switcher A road switcher locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive designed to both haul railroad car, railcars in mainline service and Shunting (rail), shunt them in railroad yards. Both type and term are North American in origin, although similar t ...

version of the DF4 with side walkways and a full-body cab similar to modern American locomotives. The type was the most powerful road switcher class in China until the introduction of the HXN3B and HXN5B classes.

DF4E

The DF4E is a 2 unit locomotive of total power 4.86MW (2x2.43MW)

Manufacturers

DF4s have been manufactured by several companies: * CSR Sifang Locomotive and Rolling Stock Co., Ltd. * CSR

Ziyang Locomotive Works CRRC Ziyang Co., Ltd. () is a Chinese locomotive manufacturer, one of the subsidiaries of CRRC. The plant was located in Ziyang, Sichuan Province. History CRRC Ziyang Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as The company) is a subsidiary of CRRC Corp ...

(DF4B, DF4C & DF4C (A1A)) * Dalian Locomotive & Rolling Stock Works *

Datong locomotive factory CRRC Datong Co. Ltd. () is a Chinese railway locomotive manufacturing plant based in Datong, Shanxi, China, founded in 1953. The factory was a major producer of steam locomotives for the Chinese market up to 1988 when production switched to dies ...

North Korea

In 2001, the

Korean State Railway The Korean State Railway is the operating arm of the Ministry of Railways of North Korea (), commonly called the State Rail () and has its headquarters at Pyongyang, P'yŏngyang. The current Minister of Railways is Chang Jun-song. History 19 ...

bought two locomotives of type CKD4A (DF4D) new from

CNR Dalian CRRC Dalian Co., Ltd. (), often abbreviated as DLoco, is a company located in Dalian, Liaoning Province, China, producing railway locomotives, multiple units and diesel engines. The factory was established in 1899 during the period of constructio ...

; these were delivered in July 2002. These are powered by the same 16V240ZJD as the Chinese DF4D, producing and have a maximum speed of . They are painted in the standard light blue over dark green, but their numbers are not known. Between 2006 and 2008, three batches of refurbished second-hand DF4 ("DF4A") and DF4B were delivered to

North Korea North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders China and Russia to the north at the Yalu River, Yalu (Amnok) an ...

. These are numbered in the 내연200 series (내연 = ''Naeyŏn'', "internal combustion") and are in service for passenger and freight trains all over North Korea;Kokubu, Hayato, 将軍様の鉄道 (Shōgun-sama no Tetsudō), many are assigned to the

Hamhŭng Hamhŭng (''Hamhŭng-si''; ) is North Korea's second-most populous city, the capital of South Hamgyŏng Province and the 16th largest city in the Korean Peninsula. Located in the southern part of the South Hamgyong province, Hamhung is the main ...

area. The total number delivered is not known, but the number is at least 36 units, numbered 내연201 to 내연225 and 내연261 to 내연271. Many are still in their former Chinese paint, but some have been repainted into the standard light blue over dark green, and two have received the dark green/yellow scheme applied to many M62-type diesels obtained second hand from

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

and

Slovakia Slovakia, officially the Slovak Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the west, and the Czech Republic to the northwest. Slovakia's m ...

. There is at least one DF4D, in standard blue over green livery.

Indonesia

During the construction of Jakarta–Bandung high speed railway line, the Chinese construction company PowerChina brought and used several DF4 locomotives. The first unit, DF4B-1295, arrived at the Port of

Tanjung Priok Tanjung Priok is a district in the administrative city of North Jakarta, Indonesia. It hosts the western part of the city's main harbor, the Port of Tanjung Priok (located in Tanjung Priok District and Koja District). The district of Tanjung Prio ...

on 22 November 2021. It was transported to Tegalluar depot in

Bandung Bandung is the capital city of the West Java province of Indonesia. Located on the island of Java, the city is the List of Indonesian cities by population, fourth-most populous city and fourth largest city in Indonesia after Jakarta, Surabay ...

on 21 January 2022. The second batch arrived on 28 January, consisted of DF4B-7552, 7553, 9129 and 7549. The third batch arrived in Tanjung Priok in December 2022, with the DF4B-6385 on 16 December and the DF4C-4151 on 31 December. During the construction of the line, one of the DF4 was involved in an accident. The DF4B-7553 was derailed on 18 December 2022 while hauling a track-laying machine. The derailment occurred in Padalarang District,

West Bandung Regency West Bandung Regency () is a landlocked regency of West Java Province of Indonesia. It was established on 2 January 2007, after having been formerly part of Bandung Regency. The capital of this new regency is Ngamprah, an industrial district on ...

. The derailed train was evacuated on 20 December. At the conclusion of the line construction, the PowerChina's DF4s were moved out of the country for use elsewhere. For maintenance and backup purpose, the

Kereta Cepat Indonesia China PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (, abbreviated as KCIC) is an Indonesian transportation company that operates the High-speed railway in Indonesia, Indonesian high-speed rail network built on the Jakarta–Bandung route in the Parahyangan megapolit ...

(KCIC) operated a single DF4D, numbered CC207 23 01. Under the Indonesian railway nomenclature, the DF4 operated by KCIC was classified as CC207 class.

Gallery

File:东风4型2001号内燃机车.jpg, The first DF₄ locomotive in 1969 File:DF4-0001 at CRM.jpg, DF₄ 0001 at the Beijing Railway Museum File:DF4-0707 (Datong).jpg, DF₄ locomotive File:DF4B 9221 in Beijing North Railway Station 20110322.jpg, DF₄B locomotive File:China Railways DF4C 5127, Liuzhou Locomotive and Rolling Stock Plant, 20141019.jpg, DF₄C locomotive File:DF4D 0379 20101110.jpg, DF₄D(0000 Series) locomotive File:China Railways DF4D 3174 & China Railways DF4D 3265 20150725.jpg, DF₄D(3000 Series) locomotive File:China Railways DF4D 4019 20150725.jpg, DF₄D(4000 Series) locomotive File:China Railways DF4D 7007 20161217.jpg, DF₄D(7000 Series) locomotive File:China Railways DF4DD 0289 20171124 01.jpg, DF₄DD locomotive File:China Railways DF4DF 4035 20150709 02.jpg, DF₄DF locomotive which supports

head-end power In rail transport, head-end power (HEP), also known as electric train supply (ETS), is the electrical power distribution system on a passenger train. The power source, usually a locomotive (or a generator car) at the front or 'head' of a train, ...

File:China Railways DF4DJ 0001 20191003.jpg, DF₄DJ locomotive File:Chinese Locomotive DF4E 0002 in 2001, Nanxiang Station, Shanghai (34564169946).jpg, DF₄E locomotive File:Three China Railways DF-4 Locomotives in Padalarang Station.jpg, Two DF₄B and one DF₄C locomotives passing Padalarang Station, Indonesia File:DF4D-0560 Train passing K16+960 Junction on Xi'an-Huyi Railway, Mar 26 2023.jpg, DF₄D-0560 on Xi'an–Huyi railway

Preservation

DF4/DF4A

* DF4-0001: is preserved at the

China Railway Museum The China Railway Museum () is a Chinese museum preserving locomotives that have operated on the railways of the People's Republic of China. The museum offers a total exhibition space of and eight exhibition tracks. The museum is located in ...

* DF4-0002: is preserved at Fengtai Locomotive Depot,

Beijing Railway Bureau China Railway Beijing Group, officially abbreviated as CR Beijing or CR-Beijing, formerly, Beijing Railway Administration is a subsidiary company under the jurisdiction of the China Railway (formerly the Ministry of Railways of the People's Repub ...

* DF4-0084: is preserved at Baoji Railway Technicion College * DF4-0187: is preserved at Shandong Polytechnic * DF4-0212: is preserved at Hebei Vocational College Of Rail Transportation * DF4-2002: is preserved at Zhejiang Normal University * DF4-2012: is preserved at Jinan Railway Advanced Technical School

DF4B

* DF4B-1029: is preserved at the Shengyang Railway Museum * DF4B-1442: is preserved at Taiyuan Locomotive Depot, Taiyuan Railway Bureau * DF4B-1718: is preserved at Anhui Communications Vocational & Technical College * DF4B-1781: is preserved at Heilongjiang Communications Polytechnic * DF4B-1787: is preserved at Liuzhou Industrial Museum * DF4B-1884: is preserved at Heilongjiang Communications Polytechnic * DF4B-1893: is preserved at Fengtai Locomotive Depot,

* DF4B-1983: is preserved at

Central South University Central South University (CSU; ) is a public university in Changsha, Hunan, China. Funded and overseen by China's Ministry of Education, it is a member of Project 211, Project 985, and the Double First-Class Construction initiatives. History ...

* DF4B-2127: is preserved at Qiqihar Technician College * DF4B-2244: is preserved at Nanjing Railway Vacational Technical College * DF4B-2298: is preserved at Qiqihar Railway Engineering School * DF4B-2480: is preserved at Liuzhou Railway Vacational Technical College. * DF4B-3179: is preserved at Huhhot Vocational College * DF4B-6210: is preserved at

North University of China The North University of China (; NUC) is a provincial public university in Jiancaoping, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China. It is affiliated with the Province of Shanxi, and co-funded by the Shanxi Provincial People's Government, the Ministry of Industry ...

* DF4B-7019: is preserved at

Southwest Jiaotong University Southwest Jiaotong University (SWJTU; ) is a national public science and engineering university in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. The university is affiliated with the Ministry of Education. It is a national key university co-sponsored by the Minis ...

* DF4B-7149: is preserved at Shijiazhuang Tiedao University * DF4B-7260: is preserved at Tianjin Railway Vacational Technical College * DF4B-9008: is preserved at the

DF4C

* DF4C-4001: is preserved at the

* DF4C-4040: is preserved at the

* DF4C-5331: is preserved at the

Shenyang Railway Museum The Shenyang Railway Museum () is railway museum located at No. 8 Shandan Street, Sujiatun District, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China, on the north side of the Sujiatun Locomotive Depot of the Shenyang Railway Bureau. The museum covers an ...

References

* * *

External links

CR DF4B @ Trainspo
{{DEFAULTSORT:China Railways Df4 DF4 Diesel–electric locomotives of North Korea Co′Co′ locomotives Co-Co+Co-Co locomotives A1A-A1A locomotives Railway locomotives introduced in 1969 Standard-gauge locomotives of China Standard-gauge locomotives of North Korea CRRC Dalian locomotives CRRC Datong locomotives CRRC Qingdao Sifang locomotives CSR Ziyang Locomotive Co., Ltd. locomotives Siemens locomotives Diesel–electric locomotives of Indonesia Standard-gauge locomotives of Indonesia