MaK G 1206

MaK G 1206 / Vossloh G 1206
MaK 1206-2 diesel hydraulic locomotive, number 603 of the Eisenbahn und Häfen
Type and origin Power type Diesel-hydraulic Builder MaK / Vossloh in Kiel Build date G 1206: 1997 - G 1206-2: 2007 - Total produced G 1206 : 167+ G 1206-2 : 10
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC B'B' Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) Wheel diameter 1,000 mm (39.37 in) (new) 920 mm (36.22 in) (new/worn) Length 14.70 m (48 ft 3 in) Width 3.08 m (10 ft 1 in) Height 4.22 m (13 ft 10 in) Loco weight G 1206 : 80–90 t (79–89 long tons; 88–99 short tons) G 1206-2 : 84–90 t (83–89 long tons; 93–99 short tons) Fuel capacity G1206 3,500 L (770 imp gal; 920 US gal) G1206-2 3,150 L (690 imp gal; 830 US gal) Prime mover G 1206 : CAT 3512 B DITA-SC or MTU 12 V 4000 R41 also MTU 16V 396 TC14 */*** or MTU TC14 12 V 4000 R20 ** G 1206-2 : CAT 3508 B DITA-SC Cylinders G 1206 : V16 (or V12 **) G 1206-2 : 8 Transmission Hydraulic G 1206 : Voith L5r4zU2 also Voith L5r4zseU2 *** G 1206-2 : Voith L4r4zeU2 Loco brake Wheel disc brake, hydrodynamic brake optional
Performance figures Maximum speed G 1206 : 60 km/h (37 mph)/100 km/h (62 mph) with Voith L5r4zseU2 transmission *** 100 km/h (62 mph) Caterpillar engine and L5r4zU2 transmission also 90 km/h (56 mph) with MTU engine and Voith L54rzU2 transmission */** G 1206-2 : 50 km/h (31 mph) Power output G 1206 : 1,500 kW (2,000 hp) or 1,570 kW (2,110 hp) with MTU 16V 396 TC14 */*** G 1206-2 : 920 kW (1,230 hp) Tractive effort 282 kN (63,000 lbf) (starting with 87.3 t loco @ μ=0.33)
Career Locale Europe
* RAG ** Dortmunder Eisenbahn GmbH *** Swedish Rail Administration

The Vossloh G1206 is a B'B' diesel hydraulic freight locomotive built in Kiel and used by several European railway operators including a SNCF specific variant the BB 461000 series.

The design was created in the mid-1990s by Maschinenbau Kiel (MaK) for German coal supplier RAG Aktiengesellschaft (RAG AG) and is a follow-on to the MaK G1205 locomotive class built as the SNCB Class 77. Production continued under Vossloh ownership of the Kiel plant

In 2007 a shunting specific variant, the G1206-2 was created and began production.

Four Caterpillar-engined locomotives hired from Angel Trains Cargo by Euro Cargo Rail were assigned to TOPS Class 21 due to their presence at times on the UK side of the channel tunnel. ECR assigned the codes FB1544 to FB1547 to these locomotives.

In the 1990s the de-monopolisation and liberalisation of the railways of member states of the EU meant that private companies could access formerly state-owned track. With this came numerous private operators running locomotives on the main line for the first time. MaK had previously been quite successful in providing freight locomotives for industrial use to various companies. The G 1201 and G 1205 models (and intermediate variants) had been examples of the type of locomotives larger private companies had used. These locomotives were suitable for pulling fairly heavy freight consists as well as shunting. However track access charges (as well as the necessity not to interrupt passenger trains) meant that on the main lines freight trains must run much faster than they did in an industrial environment.

As a consequence Vossloh introduced the G 1206; it was based on the G 1205 but was substantially more powerful allowing it to pull freight trains at a higher speed (or simply pull heavier trains). Thus the 12-cylinder engine of the G 1205 was replaced with a 16-cylinder engine, because of this along with the increase size of the auxiliary equipment required the new locomotive was almost 2 metres longer than its 1,180 kW (1,580 hp) predecessor.