Algerian diesel motive power

Diesel and Electric motive power and operations in the rest of Africa.
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John Ashworth
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Algerian diesel motive power

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From a FOTR Forum member who prefers not to be named.
Most of the Algerian rail traffic flow is on an east-west axis following the coast, along the spline of the Tell Atlas, so between sea level and 1500 metres. Sections of the lines are above the snow line in winter. Not mountain railroading in the Andean tradition, but certainly steeper than most of Europe. Pre the final nationalisation of railways in 1938, most of the rail companies were affiliates or subsidiaries of those in France, so followed French practice. Algeria dieselised early, playing around with Sulzer powered units in the late 1930’s.

Dieselisation kicked off with a vengeance in 1947. There were 64 Baldwin covering 4 models, and 5 ALCo RSC-2, plus around 24 Sulzer powered sg, and 10 ng. Some very skilled Pieds-Noirs in the back shops prior to independence. The Baldwins soldered on into the ‘70’s, and the arrival of the initial EMD types. These were reliable workhorses. Spares were no problem following the demise of Baldwin, as the 600 series engine was license built (and further developed) by Cockerill-Ougrée in Belgium until the ‘80’s, and the electrics were from Westinghouse.

The 15 1850hp locos Cockerill-Ougrée Locomotives supplied to the Sudan (1200 Class) in 1961 used the same 8 cylinder engine, but at a higher rating.

040DA, classified as 040 as A-1-A bogies, so only 4 traction motors

Post-independence diesel numbering

040YDA1-25 1977 GL18M [A-1-A]
060YDD1-5 1989 GT18LC-2M
040YDR1-25 1977 GL18M [A-1-A]
Y prefix apparently indicates built for metre.

060WDK1-5 1977 GL18M [C-C] light weight (GL-C bogie) standard gauge switcher. Appears to be identical to 040YDA/YDR, apart from bogies.

060DD1-20 1971 GT26CW
060DD21-29 1971 GT26CW
060DF1-25 1973 GT26CW
060DG1-15 1976 GT26CW built as high nose
040DH1-5 1990 GL18B
040DH6-13 1993 GL18B
060DH1-25 1976 GT26CW
040DJ1-15 2000 GL18B 7FDL-8
060DJ1-25 1977 U18C
060DL1-25 1982 GT26CW
060DM1-10 1989/90 GT26HCW-2
060DP1-10 1994 GT26HCW-2
060DR1-16 2008 GT36CW “Indian” style cab
060DS1-14 2008 GT36HCW “Indian” style cab
060DT1-30 2016 GT46

The GE’s are orphans, only 25 purchased in total.
There are photos of some of these locos at http://baldwindiesels.railfan.net/algeria/index.html
Image
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