Heaviest Locomotives in the World

The world’s heaviest locomotives are some of the largest and most powerful machines ever built. These massive engines are used to haul heavy freight trains over long distances. Some of the heaviest locomotives weigh in at over 2,000 tons!

The heaviest locomotive ever built was the Union Pacific Big Boy, which weighed in at 2,250 tons. This behemoth was nearly 140 feet long and could haul a train weighing up to 4,800 tons!

The Heaviest Locomotives in the World There are some seriously massive locomotives out there in the world, and we’re not just talking about your average freight train. These behemoths are designed for hauling extremely heavy loads over long distances, and they definitely pack a punch when it comes to raw power.

Here’s a look at some of the heaviest locomotives ever built. The Union Pacific Big Boy is perhaps the most famous heavyweight locomotive of all time. Weighing in at 1.2 million pounds, it was originally built for hauling coal across the UP’s vast network of tracks.

A total of 25 were produced between 1941 and 1944, and today, only 8 remain operational. If you think the Big Boy is big, just wait until you see the Canadian National 6060. This massive machine weighs a whopping 1.4 million pounds and is capable of pulling 4500 tons of cargo!

It was built by General Motors in 1953 and is currently used for freight service in Alberta, Canada. And then there’s the Pennsylvania Railroad T1 steam locomotive. Weighing in at an incredible 1.5 million pounds, this monster was designed for high-speed passenger service on the PRR’s main line between New York and Chicago.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t very successful in that role and was eventually relegated to hauling freight instead. A total of 55 were built between 1945 and 1946, but today only 2 remain operational.

Worlds largest diesel locomotive on the Cheyenne turntable DD40X 6936.

World’S Most Powerful Diesel Locomotive

Diesel locomotives are the workhorses of the railroad industry, hauling freight and passengers across the country day in and day out. But which diesel locomotive is the most powerful? The most powerful diesel locomotive ever built is the Union Pacific DD40X.

This massive machine was designed specifically for hauling coal trains in Wyoming’s mountainous terrain. It was first put into service in 1969 and could pull a train weighing up to 18,000 tons up a 3% grade at 60 mph! The DD40X was powered by two 4,500 hp diesel engines and had 16 drive wheels.

It weighed over 1 million pounds and was almost 140 feet long. Only 13 of these locomotives were ever built, and they were all retired by Union Pacific in 1986. Today, the most powerful diesel locomotive in regular service is the CSX AC4400CW.

This loco is used primarily for hauling freight trains on flat or lightly graded routes. It can produce 6,300 hp from its four-stroke diesel engine and can reach speeds of up to 100 mph.

Most Powerful Train in the World

The most powerful train in the world is the Japanese Shinkansen “Bullet Train”. The Shinkansen has a maximum speed of 320 km/h (200 mph), and can travel up to 500 km (310 miles) without stopping. It is also one of the safest trains in the world, with a perfect safety record since it began operation in 1964.

Most Powerful Locomotive in Usa

In 1869, the Central Pacific Railroad’s “Big Four” – Collis P. Huntington, Leland Stanford, Mark Hopkins, and Charles Crocker – commissioned the construction of a steam locomotive that would be unrivaled in power and size. The result was the “Leviathan,” a massive machine weighing in at around 140 tons and measuring over 120 feet long. It was powered by an enormous 4-8-8-4 wheel arrangement and could generate up to 6,300 horsepower.

The Leviathan debuted on May 10th, 1869, pulling a train of 21 cars carrying 600 passengers from Sacramento to Promontory Summit in Utah – completing the first transcontinental railroad line in the process. It continued to haul freight for the Central Pacific until 1885 when it was retired due to its excessive weight and maintenance costs. While the Leviathan is no longer around today, it remains an impressive example of American engineering ingenuity – not to mention one of the most powerful locomotives ever built!

Shen 24 Locomotive Horsepower

The Shen 24 Locomotive Horsepower is one of the most powerful locomotives in the world. It is used to move heavy freight trains and pull passenger cars up steep grades. The locomotive was built by General Electric in 1968 and delivered to the Chinese Ministry of Railways.

It is still in service today, though it has been upgraded several times over the years. The original Shen 24 had a top speed of 120 km/h (75 mph) and could haul 4,500 metric tons (5,000 short tons) of freight. It was powered by two 2,300 hp (1,700 kW) engines and had a weight of 450 metric tons (500 short tons).

The locomotive was later upgraded to 3,200 hp (2,400 kW) engines and a top speed of 140 km/h (87 mph). Today, the Shen 24 is used primarily for hauling coal trains in China. It is estimated that the locomotive has hauled over 1 billion metric tons (1.1 billion short tons) of coal since it began service.

The Shen 24 is an important part of China’s railway system and will continue to be so for many years to come.

Credit: polishrail.wordpress.com

What is the Heaviest Diesel Locomotive?

The heaviest diesel locomotive is the Pacific Class GLA of the Canadian National Railway. It weighs in at 1,200 tons and is powered by a 4,500 horsepower diesel engine. This behemoth can haul up to 6,000 tons of freight at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour.

How Heavy is the Heaviest Locomotive?

The heaviest locomotive ever built was the American Locomotive Company’s AC-11, which weighed in at 2.5 million pounds (1.13 million kilograms). This massive machine was designed for use in hauling coal trains in West Virginia, and it could pull up to 16,000 tons (14,515 metric tons) of coal on a single trip. It is no longer in service, but it holds the record for being the heaviest locomotive ever built.

What is the Most Powerful Freight Locomotive?

There are a few different ways to judge the most powerful freight locomotive and it really depends on what metric you are using. The Union Pacific Railroad’s Big Boy locomotive was the largest steam locomotive ever built and could haul up to 3,600 tons of freight at speeds up to 80 miles per hour. However, in terms of pure horsepower, the British-built Class 55 Deltic diesel locomotive is hard to beat.

These engines were designed for high-speed passenger service but were also commonly used for hauling freight. Each engine had 2,500 horsepower and could reach speeds of up to 100 miles per hour.

What is the Strongest Steam Locomotive Ever Built?

The strongest steam locomotive ever built is the Union Pacific Big Boy. It was designed by Alco in 1941 and was the largest and most powerful steam locomotive ever built. It could pull a 3600-ton train up a 1% grade at 60 mph.

It had a 4-8-8-4 wheel arrangement and weighed 1,187,200 pounds.

Conclusion

At 2,300 metric tons, the CHME3 class diesel-electric locomotive is the heaviest locomotive in the world. The engine was designed by Chinese company CSR and is used for hauling coal trains in China. The engine is over 100 meters long and has a top speed of 120 kilometers per hour.

It produces 8,826 kilowatts of power and has a tractive effort of 610 kN.