HE 4/4 electric rack-and-pinion and adhesion locomotive for MRS
In January 2010, MRS Logística S.A. ordered seven He 4/4 electric rack-and-pinion and adhesion locomotives from Stadler for the transport of goods. They are largely used to pull trains loaded with iron ore and agricultural products from the interior of the country to the Port of Santos on the railway line from São Paulo and Jundiaí. The line has a rack-and-pinion section of around 10 kilometres.
The new locomotives will be able to pull 50 per cent more load at higher speeds than the existing locomotives. Two new locomotives in multiple unit train control can pull an 850-tonne trailing load on the 104‰ ramp (triple-lamella Abt rack). The new locomotives, designed especially for intensive use around the clock, have an output of 5 MW at 3 kV DC catenary supply voltage, and are able to recuperate braking energy. The position of the rack can be adjusted as the wheels wear down.
Technical features
Technology
Each bogie has two adhesion and rack-and-pinion engines
High redundancy: each locomotive comprises two drive units powered independently of each other
Multiple unit train control with two vehicles
Robust and high-strength steel underframe, designed for 5000 kN longitudinal force
Standard AAR couplers and adhesion brake system
Rack rail: Abt, three lamellae of 60 mm width each
Maximum gradient: 104‰
Gauge: 1600 mm
Personnel
Air-conditioned driver’s cab
The locomotive is always on the downhill side, as the carriages have no rack brake. The driver’s seat is therefore positioned at right angles to the direction of travel, and is turned around by
the driver depending on the direction of travel
Reliability / Availability / Maintainability / Safety
Power supply via an external diesel generator group is possible on the uphill side, enabling track maintenance to be mechanised and carried out independently of contact wires