Hunslet - continues to build its reputation as the UK's leading
supplier of industrial shunting locomotives having received an order
from Lafarge Cement UK, to supply two modernised locomotives to operate
at their Dunbar Works replacing their ageing locomotives.
Work has already commenced to rebuild and upgrade two 50 Tonne
diesel hydraulic locomotives for delivery in mid 2009. The donor
locomotives date back to the early 1980s, making them an ideal choice
for a refurbishment exercise, which will incorporate an engine repower
to maximise performance.
The locomotives are currently used to transport cement wagons to the
shunting area ready for main line collection. On completion, the
rebuilt 'driverless' cement trains will haul up to 32 loaded wagons – a
total weight of 1625 tonnes at controlled speeds - without a locomotive
driver. Using wireless technology, the locomotives are controlled via a
site operator using a transmitter. Locomotive control is simply executed
with a joystick - a little like driving a model train only for real.
During the project repower, HUNSLET will comply with latest
environmental legislation. Principally comprising of modernisation of
the power-train – diesel engine, cooling system, torque converter,
forward / reverse gearbox and driveline.
Through the exercise, the existing diesel engine will be replaced by
the new generation Caterpillar C15 diesel engine rated at 298 kW (400
hp) at 2100 rpm. As a result, the locomotives operators can anticipate
an improvement in fuel economy, lower emissions, reduced noise and
significantly extended lifetime for the entire locomotive.
The project upgrade will also see HUNSLET modernise the locomotives
in other areas. The integration of a new computerised electronic control
system will incorporate fault diagnosis capability, alerting the driver
of potential faults.
By combining identical and proven components with new modern
assemblies, the demand for improved environmental protection has been
fulfilled, while high reliability and availability are ensured for the
operator.
Hunslet Engine Company, fully supported by its parent company LH
Group Services Ltd, has now begun production on the first of a range of
multi-purpose, diesel hydraulic, shunting locomotives ranging from 40 to
100 tonnes, and suitable for light, medium and heavy haul of industrial
rolling stock.
The standard range will be modular in design making them highly
flexible in terms of operation, area of application, performance and
equipment specification. Designed to meet the latest environmental
protection and safety standards, the range will be fuel-efficient by
introducing clean burn diesel engine technology. The on board 'user
friendly' computerised electronic systems will incorporate fault
diagnosis capability, alerting the driver of potential faults or
failures.
Furthermore, modern design trends will ensure simple maintenance and
repair, and the use of technologically advanced components will reduce
life cycle costs.
The first locomotive to be built is a three-axle, 60 tonne type and
initial production has started on the mainframe, transmission and final
drive assemblies. All other areas of the locomotive are at an advanced
stage of the design.
Subsequent to exhaustive testing the first unit will be placed into
service at an appropriate site for field trials. Prospective customers
will then be invited to evaluate the locomotive under normal operating
conditions.
For further information contact Hunslet Engine Company
on 0113 2774007 or alternatively info@hunsletengine.com
Hunslet Engine Company have supplied a fully refurbished "Sentinel"
shunting locomotive to Hitachi Europe Limited for operation at their new
high-tech depot in Ashford, Kent.
The locomotive has been purchased primarily to move Class 395
Javelins around the Ashford site, although it is anticipated that other
types of rolling stock will be introduced from time to time.
The 1962 37 Ton 0-4-0 "Sentinel" locomotive build No: 10089 was fully
stripped at Hunslet's parent company L H Group Services Limited in
Staffordshire, before undergoing a complete refurbishment programme.
A new control system incorporating a state of the art PLC system has
been installed to give the locomotive a more modern feel of equipment
produced for the 21st century.
Hunslet Engine Company is developing a new shunter for the UK and export markets.
With Hunslet's continuing expansion of its hire fleet, and the high
expectations of availability by its customers, the company has realised
that operating and maintaining existing, outdated locomotives is no
longer the way forward. With this in mind, Hunslet is to produce a new,
cost effective, and environmentally friendly shunting locomotive.
The new locomotive will incorporate the latest engine and
transmission technology controlled by a fully integrated PLC control
system. The latest manufacturing methods will be used to ensure the
highest quality is achieved.
After exhaustive type testing the first locomotive will be placed
into service at one of the companies contract operating sites. This will
also allow future customers to see the locomotive in full daily
operation.
The design of the locomotive will be the first of a new family of
locomotives up to a maximum weight of 100 tonne. This new design will
meet the requirements of current industrial applications.
For further information contact Hunslet Engine Company on 0113 2774007 or alternatively info@hunsletengine.com
Hunslet Engine Company have proved they can carry on the tradition of building specialist locomotives.
This new locomotive has been designed, manufactured and assembled as
part of a package of equipment for a new coke plant at the POSCO
Steelworks in Pohang, South Korea. The complete package is being
supplied by John M Henderson of Arbroath, Scotland.
In order to win the project Henderson's had to agree to supply the
locomotive as part of the contract. They were then faced with finding a
locomotive company within the UK to work with. Henderson's had
previously worked with Greenwood & Batley of Leeds who had supplied
most of the coke works locomotives in the UK and to sites around the
world. What Henderson's were not aware of is that Hunslet had bought
Greenwood & Batley in 1980 when the company had gone into
receivership.
With this direct link to coke works locomotive manufacture,
Henderson's made its original approach to Hunslet for the design of the
locomotive. After discussions with Henderson's and the Koreans it was
agreed that the locomotive would be manufactured in the UK.
One of the reasons for the unconventional shape was that Henderson's
requested that they supplied all the electrical equipment for both the
drives of the locomotive and the equipment required on the locomotive to
operate the bucket car that transferred the coke from the oven to the
quenching equipment. This was to ensure that all the systems involved
would integrate with each other. Obviously Hunslet agreed to this
request and this led to the two companies working very closely together
to ensure the best possible interface between the mechanical and
electrical equipment. Hunslet also based the design of operator's cabin,
the pneumatic cabin and the electrical cabin on Henderson's designs,
again to ensure commonality across the package of equipment.
The result of the co-operation was to produce a 50 tonne locomotive
in excess of 5m high, 3m wide and 10.5 m long. Fitted with two 105kW
traction motors the locomotive is designed to work 24 hours a day, 7
days a week within a fully automatic manless operation.
In addition to the complete locomotive, Henderson's also had an
order for two more locomotives for a project to rebuild a coke plant
within the same steel works. Although Henderson's and Hunslet had hoped
to manufacture these locomotives in the UK, POSCO insisted that the
mechanical works was carried out in Korea. Although both companies were
disappointed there was still a sufficient supply of equipment from the
UK to ensure this was a viable project.
The design, procurement and project management were all controlled
from the Hunslet office in Leeds. The assembly was carried out at
Hunslet's manufacturing facility within the LH Group Services site at
Barton-Under-Needwood.
This was the first new locomotive build under LH Group ownership and
has involved several divisions of the group which have all assisted in
making this project a success.
For further information contact Hunslet Engine Company on 0113 2774007 or alternatively info@hunsletengine.com
This years Railtex proved to be successful for Hunslet.
We took along our Quarry Class 0-4-0 Saddle tank locomotive (No 3904 -
Jack Lane) which was extremely popular with visitors throughout the
show.
Jack Lane is currently for sale.
For more information please call 0113 2774007
The Snowdonia National Park Authority has for several years been
planning and raising money for the redevelopment of the building on
Snowdon Summit. The current building was built in 1935 and is in very
poor condition.
With the generous support of the Welsh Assembly Government and a public
appeal, the work on re-developing the Summit of Snowdon has begun.
Demolition of the old building will start in September 2006 and the
building of the new Visitors Centre will take place during 2007.
As part of this prestigious project Snowdon Mountain Railway have
recently taken delivery of the Summit Truck from the Hunslet Engine
Company. This Summit Truck will be used throughout the project,
initially to remove the spoil from the demolished building and then to
transport the materials and pre-fabricated sections of the new building
to the summit.
Although in appearance this looks to the casual observer as a flat
truck, this vehicle is fitted with all the safety systems needed to
operate on this unique and challenging railway. Hunslet engineers have
taken proven braking systems and combined them with the latest
electronic control and monitoring systems, giving the railways
operator’s full awareness of the status of the system.
The summit truck will be operated in conjunction with any one of
the four Hunslet Diesel Locomotives currently working on the mountain.
All four locomotives will be modified to accommodate the monitoring
system for the summit truck, giving full flexibility to the operation of
the railway.
Once the summit project is complete the truck will be used as a
permanent way vehicle. A personal accommodation module will be fitted to
one end of the vehicle and provision will be made for the fitting of
modular units i.e. cranes, hydraulic power packs etc.
Full details of the Summit project, Snowdon Mountain Railway and Hunslet Engine Company can be found at: www.snowdon-summit.co.uk and www.snowdonrailway.co.uk
