Old locomotives repowering projects could have economic justification!
As all you guys may know only the money talks!
With respect to different locomotives and their diesel types, the diesel engine worth some 15 to 25 percent of loco value. But the diesel engine expenditures such as fuel oil, lub oil and maintenance costs are about 60 to more than 80% of all locomotive operation costs . (depends on fuel cost , loco type and man power wage)
Repowering an old locomotive (for instance 20 years old) to extend its life span just 10 years within its overhaul, will have economic justification if new engine thermal efficiency is some 10% more.
(A mainline locomotive burns some 2000000 liters fuel per year with a new diesel engine with 10% higher efficiency the lump sum of fuel saving will be two million liters! In 10 years. (I don’t know the fuel price in states but it will be noticable, add to this saving, higher reliability, spare parts availability, lower emission, new engine warranty period, etc, I think it justifies the project. )
I visited DB last year, they obey economical rules very well, I saw three different repowering projects there they retrofitted new MTU diesel engines and Voith transmission systems to V294 shunters, new MTU 4000R41 engines to BR218 main line locomotive (they made prototypes with CAT and MTU engines then decided to use MTU.) and new 5D49 engines to former DR BR232 locomotives.( They made CAT, MaK and 5D49 prototypes.)
Also even Kazakhstan will upgrade its Russian Locomotives with GE engines and Syria going to do so.
New 8v710 engines have been fitted to worn out Romanian LDE2100 locomotives. (Please click on submitted link)
According to GM EMD site: 710G3eb engines are 12% more efficient than 645E3 ones.
A 12 cyl 710G3B engine can be substitute with a 16 cyl 645E3 engine with the same power and also 16 cyl 710G3B with a 20 cyl 645E3 one with more power. (no length problem)
Does it make any sense now?!
http://www.cfr.ro/JF/engleza/2001_1/engine.htm