Eurotunnel has taken delivery of a new 9700 class electric locomotive. It is a Bo-Bo-Bo with a power rating of 7000 kW, if my calculations are correct, this is 9,383 hp!!! They are part of Eurotunnel's plans to double it's freight shuttle fleet from eight to sixteen trains. There will be one locomotive at each end of the train, giving 18,766 hp per train, and allow 3000 tonne trains to be hauled at up to 140kph.
WOW! I sure hope those "Beasts" have very precise distributed power control! I would hate to see that much horsepower get into an argument in the middle of the tunnel Any chance for a photo? [ 03 February 2002, 14:22: Message edited by: Hank Coolidge ]
One of the magazines asked if they could go have a look at the locomotive, and were told "not during the current security problems". I assume that means all the illegal immigrants trying to get through the tunnel from France. The locomotives look similar to the existing class 90 shuttle locomotives seen below.
