Diesel Engines

 Acceptance tests for diesel engines (UIC leaflet 623)

Since the beginning of ORE in 1950 acceptance tests from Diesel engines used as railway traction engines have been an important service provided by our institute.

With the growth of electrification on the European railways, diesel traction became gradually less important from the 1970’s. Consequently, the application of the UIC Leaflet by the railways when purchasing new railway diesel engines became less significant.

But from 1993 there were further development making the application of the leaflet pertinent to the railways. EU-wide guidelines for the acquisition of new rolling stock requests an international call for tenders, thus entailing dwindling influence of the railways concerning the choice of the traction engine. A test report certifying UIC approval of a railway engine according to Leaflet 623 represents a guarantee of its aptitude for railway use and compliance with emission limits. It is often the only objective option for comparing products on a competitive market.

As at present time, due to the limited market, with a few exceptions, no diesel engines are designed as purpose-built railway engines a completed UIC 623 test is the only guarantee for the user that an engine is able to comply with railway specific requirements.

Diesel experts from railways are supervising the whole test procedure with the UIC/PETR Project Manager acting as the coordinator and author of the related test report.

For specific information concerning the test procedure please contact the UIC/PETR expert.

Hans PAUKERT Senior advisor - Braking systems & Diesel Engines paukert@uic.org

Exclusively engines listed in Appendix D of Leaflet 623-1 have passed a UIC approval procedure and therefore proved their capability to comply with specific railway applications

Leaflet 623-1

Leaflet 623-2

leaflet 623-3

 Emission control of diesel engines (UIC Leaflet 624)

With the growth of electrification on the European railways, diesel traction became gradually less important from the 1970’s. Consequently, the application of the UIC Leaflet to approval procedures for railway diesel engines became less significant.

However, heightened environmental awareness in the late 1980’s inspired the railways to deal with the exhaust gas emission behaviour of engines used for railway traction and to define future limits for the generation of pollutants.

In a time of increased environmental awareness, the railways do not want to lose their reputation as an environmentally friendly mode of transport. Compliance with ever-decreasing exhaust gas emission limits is increasingly significant for railway vehicles driven by combustion engines.

To avoid the necessity to perform a full approval procedure against series of Leaflet 623 to demonstrate an engines capability to comply with emission limits a separate Leaflet (624) was created in 2000 containing only a control procedure of the pollutant emission of the engine together with the determination of the power and torque curves and fuel consumption. This Leaflet is mandatory for all engines to be used as traction engines in new rolling stock or as a replacement in existing vehicles.

For specific information concerning the test procedure please contact the UIC/PETR expert

Hans PAUKERT Senior advisor - Braking systems & Diesel Engines paukert@uic.org

Exclusively engines listed in Appendix F of Leaflet 624 have passed a UIC emission test and therefore proved their capability to comply with UIC II emission limits.

Leaflet 624