DE MLW MX-627 & MX-636
- 7 years ago
The MLW DE CO'CO' MX-627 series A.451-470 and MX-636 series A.501-510 locomotives of OSE.
Soon after OSE was founded in 1971, shortage of adequate motive units became clear. The steam era was coming to an end, while the existing big 6-axles diesel units, Alsthom, Siemens and ALCo were of not enough power in face with present and future load needs.
So an order for the purchase of new diesel-electric locomotives was placed to the Canadian branch of ALCo, namely MLW.
The first 20 ordered in 1973 were CO'CO' DE locomotives of type MX-627 powered with the successful ALCo 251V12 diesel engine with 165b turbocharger, giving 2700 HP. They were equipped with a steam generator for heating carriages located in the front end and also featured multiple-unit connection system. They were introduced in 1974 and numbered A.451-470. They were assigned to all passenger trains, while they were often used to pull freight trains as well.
One year later an additional oder was placed to MLW for 10 more diesel-electric of the same but somehow bigger and heavier and more powerful type MX-636 of 3550 HP, without a steam-heating generator, because they were meant to be used mainly for pulling freight trains and only rarely were assigned to passenger trains The 10 MX-636 were introduced in 1975-76 and numbered A.501-510.
All MLW s proved sturdy and dependable having the lowest rate of immobility, despite some incidents of cracks on cylinder heads that provoked a 12% power decrease from 1980 on. It is remarkable that when a refurbishment was decided after more than 30 years of intensive use, almost all units were still in service, except A.502 and A.505 that were destroyed in accidents.
Today the refurbished and modernized MLW s still work in a second youth. Steam generator was removed from the MX-627 which then usually in pair with MX636 continue to pull the heavy freight trains.
Soon after OSE was founded in 1971, shortage of adequate motive units became clear. The steam era was coming to an end, while the existing big 6-axles diesel units, Alsthom, Siemens and ALCo were of not enough power in face with present and future load needs.
So an order for the purchase of new diesel-electric locomotives was placed to the Canadian branch of ALCo, namely MLW.
The first 20 ordered in 1973 were CO'CO' DE locomotives of type MX-627 powered with the successful ALCo 251V12 diesel engine with 165b turbocharger, giving 2700 HP. They were equipped with a steam generator for heating carriages located in the front end and also featured multiple-unit connection system. They were introduced in 1974 and numbered A.451-470. They were assigned to all passenger trains, while they were often used to pull freight trains as well.
One year later an additional oder was placed to MLW for 10 more diesel-electric of the same but somehow bigger and heavier and more powerful type MX-636 of 3550 HP, without a steam-heating generator, because they were meant to be used mainly for pulling freight trains and only rarely were assigned to passenger trains The 10 MX-636 were introduced in 1975-76 and numbered A.501-510.
All MLW s proved sturdy and dependable having the lowest rate of immobility, despite some incidents of cracks on cylinder heads that provoked a 12% power decrease from 1980 on. It is remarkable that when a refurbishment was decided after more than 30 years of intensive use, almost all units were still in service, except A.502 and A.505 that were destroyed in accidents.
Today the refurbished and modernized MLW s still work in a second youth. Steam generator was removed from the MX-627 which then usually in pair with MX636 continue to pull the heavy freight trains.