Can Shunting Locomotives Run Long Distances?
1 Answers
No. The single factor of insufficient power alone determines that shunting locomotives cannot be used as mainline locomotives. Below is an introduction to shunting locomotives: 1. Introduction: A shunting locomotive refers to a locomotive specifically used for train marshalling and disassembly operations in marshalling yards or shunting areas. 2. Operational Requirements: The requirements for shunting locomotives include having a high starting acceleration, the ability to easily pass through switches and curves with small radii, and a cab design that facilitates frequent directional changes. Therefore, such locomotives mostly feature an external walkway structure and a single cab. They have a high starting tractive force but a relatively low maximum operating speed. In the past, China did not have specialized steam shunting locomotives and generally used older freight locomotives as substitutes. After the advent of diesel locomotives, China successively produced the Dongfeng 5, Dongfeng 7, and Dongfeng 12 series of diesel shunting locomotives.