Afro 4000 Vossloh Report

7/24/2019 Afro 4000 Vossloh Report

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LOCOMOTIVE HEIGHT

Euro 4000 Diesel Locomotive


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INDEX1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................. 3

2 BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................................................... 4

2.1 HISTORICVIEW ............................................................................................................................................................. 4

2.2 LOADINGGAUGEDIAGRAM ......................................................................................................................................... 5

2.3 LOCOMOTIVELOADINGGAUGE ................................................................................................................................... 6

2.4 CATENARYHEIGHT ....................................................................................................................................................... 6

2.4.1 3kV Catenary ................................................................... ................................................................... ...................... 7

2.4.2 25kV Catenary ................................................................. ................................................................... ...................... 8

2.4.3 SPECIAL TRACK CONDITIONS - TAMPING ......................................................... ........................................................ 8

3 EFFECTS & CONSEQUENCES ......................................................................................................................................... 10

4 CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................................................................. 12

ANNEX 1 .............................................................................................................................................................................. 13

ANNEX 2 .............................................................................................................................................................................. 14

ANNEX 3 .............................................................................................................................................................................. 15


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1 INTRODUCTION

PRASA has signed a contract to purchase 20 x Euro4000 and 50 x EuroDUAL locomotives toSWIFAMBO. Swifambo has signed a sub-contract with VOSSLOH to manufacture the mentionedlocomotives to procure them to PRASA.

The objective of the present document is to present a formal answer to the new request received

the 5th

of November 2013 from PRASA to reduce the contractual height of the Euro4000 locomotivefrom 4.140mm to 3.965mm.


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2 BACKGROUND

2.1 HISTORIC VIEW

The Euro4000 locomotive platform was designed to operate throughout Europe andconsequently is compatible with the UIC loading gauge, that applies in European countries(except UK). The height of this locomotive is 4.264mm as can be seen on figure 1 layout.


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2.2 LOADING GAUGE DIAGRAM

Based on the information received so far by the contractor, there are 2 locomotive loadinggauges in South Africa, as shown in the following figures 2 and 3.

.

.


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2.3 LOCOMOTIVE LOADING GAUGE

Based on the information received during the tender and negotiation phase, the followingclearance diagram was produced for the contractual technical specification (see completedrawing in annex 3).

The design height of the locomotive is 4.120mm, but we reserve 15mm for manufacturingtolerances in height and 5mm of height increase when the fuel tank is empty (which is not anormal operating condition). This results in the maximum locomotive height of 4.140mm

(worst case) provided. Resulting diagram can be seen in figure 4.

4.140mm

Area for the pantographin electric locomotives


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2.4.1 3kV Catenary

The 3kV catenary nominal height is 5000mm, varying between 4500mm and 6000mm, withan absolute minimum at 4220mm.

As the nominal locomotive height is 4120+20

-0mm, the distance between the highest point ofthe locomotive and the catenary will vary between 1880mm and 380mm, with an absoluteminimum of 100mm when the catenary is at its absolute minimum height and 80mmwhenlocomotive height tolerances are in the most unfavorable conditions.

To comply with EN50124, under 3kV catenary systems an air distance of at least 45mmhas to be left between the catenary and the conductive parts (the locomotive body). In theworst case we leave 80mm, so the Euro4000 locomotive complies with the EN50124requirements if the catenary height complies with its nominal values, even for the worstcase (with empty tank fuel). See figure 5 below.

6000mm catenary

5000mm catenary

4500mm catenary

4220 t

1860mm/1880mm

860mm/880mm

360mm/380mm

6000mm catenary

5000mm catenary

4500mm catenary

4220 t

1860mm/1880mm

860mm/880mm

360mm/380mm


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2.4.2 25kV Catenary

In the 25kV catenaries, the nominal height is 5000mm, varying between 4500mm and6000mm. As nominal locomotive height is 4120

+20-0mm, the distance between the highest

point of the locomotive and the catenary will vary between 1880mm and 380mm

According to EN50124, under 25kV catenary systems an air distance of at least 150mmhas to be left between the catenary and the conductive part (the locomotive body). In theworst case, the Euro4000 will leave 360mm, so the Euro4000 locomotive complies with the

EN50124 requirements if the catenary height complies with its nominal values, even for theworst case. See figure 6 below.

6000mm catenary

5000mm catenary

4500mm catenary

Nominal Locomotive height 4120mm

(t l +20/ 0 )

1860mm/1880mm

860mm/880mm

360mm/380mm

Air distance 150mm

210mm/230mm

6000mm catenary

5000mm catenary

4500mm catenary

Nominal Locomotive height 4120mm

(t l +20/ 0 )

1860mm/1880mm

860mm/880mm

360mm/380mm

Air distance 150mm

210mm/230mm

As per EN50124


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2.4.3 SPECIAL TRACK CONDITIONS - TAMPING

As mentioned in the Introduction section, PRASA has requested to reduce the Euro4000locomotive height due to following reason textually explained by Swifambo the 5 th ofNovember 2013 by mail:

The current problem with the PRASA infrastructure is such that the height between the topof the rail and the catenary is 4110mm due to tamping and other activities happening on therail side, the normal distance between the rail and the catenary should be 4220mm,therefore with the locomotive at 4140mm we are 30mm out or 30mm above the catenary.

The mentioned requirement is related to a specific problem in PRASA infrastructure thatmay have reduced the height between the rail and the catenary (understood for 3kV lines)to 4.110mm (instead of the 4.220mm minimum specified in the mentioned public tendersand by the infrastructure manager), due to tamping activities in specific areas.

It is our understanding that that tamping process is only a temporary situation, located onlyin specific track sections, probably caused by track works, but should not last to definitiveconfiguration. The infrastructure maintenance responsible has to ensure that catenaryheight is maintained at the nominal values; which means between 6.000mm and 4.500mm,with some specific exceptions of 4.220mm for the 3kV lines.

In addition to that, it should be highlighted that this temporal height restriction will affect notonly Euro4000 locomotive, but also other South African locomotives like class 7E (4.200mmhigh), class 7E2 (4.200mm high).


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3 EFFECTS & CONSEQUENCES

In order to comply with a loading gauge height limit of 3.965mm, due to manufacturingtolerances (+15mm) and suspension unloading (+5mm), we would have to consider that thenominal maximal height of the locomotive would need to be 3.945mm.

In the following 3D layouts (see figure 7) the impact of reducing the loading gauge to

3.965mm can be appreciated. All components shown in intense colors would remain overthe 3.965mm line and therefore all the equipment below them would need to be redesignedin order to comply with the requested height, as well as the carbody structure.


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As mentioned before, it is not feasible to comply with the requested height without acomplete re-design of the vehicle equipment and carbody structure.


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4 CONCLUSIONS

The contractor received an official loading gauge document, that was provided during thetender and negotiation phase and the locomotive Euro4000 complies with it.

Regarding to the distances between catenary and locomotive, the contractual TechnicalSpecification of the Euro4000 locomotive complies with the air insulating distances required

by EN50124 standard by nominal catenary height, even with more margin than other actualoperating locomotives. There may exist track points where temporal restrictions could applyto the Euro4000 locomotive due to tamping activities, but this restriction would also beapplicable to other locomotives in service in South Africa.

Although it is not possible to reduce EURO4000 locomotive height below 4.140mm, due toall mentioned facts, it is understood that with actual height and with the information wemanage, the locomotive should be acceptable for operations in South African tracks.

Actually, PRASA has locomotives in operation that are higher than Euro4000 and it isunderstood they can run without restrictions in infrastructure (tunnels, bridges, etc).


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ANNEX 1


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ANNEX 2


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ANNEX 3

Documents

Afro 4000 Vossloh Report