Think Railways

TEM19, the world’s first locomotive with gas-reciprocating engine manufactured by the Russian company Bryansk Engineering Plant (BMZ, a part of Transmashholding) was delivered for test to Depot Egorshino, Sverdlovsk region. It will run a test for 300 hours that is the most major part of new loco tests, as per the Holding’s PR department.

Run on cheaper liquefied natural gas makes the loco unique and reduces environmental impact as well as fuel expenses. In addition, time for loco servicing, infrastructure costs are cut, reliability and maintenance are improved thanks to movable fuel tanks placed on the open field.

The locomotive was engineered by experts of Russian Institute of Research, Design and Technological Studies in Railway Rolling Stock and Bryansk Engineering Plant with respect to RZD power strategy to replace diesel fuel by natural gas. The loco with gas reciprocating engine was designed with modular layout and equipped with multifunctional microprocessor control and monitoring system.

It is scheduled to complete testing by end of 2014.