MODEL/PROTOTYPE

General Electric JT 20004 also known as C38AChe

JT 20004 is a C38AChe produced by General Electric. The unit is bound for the Qinghai-Tibet Railway (QTR) in China. The QTR started construction in June 2001 and will cross 715 miles when complete. Amazingly, over 600 of those miles will be over 13,200 feet above sea level, with the highest point being 16,740 feet above sea level. The crews on board the trains will indeed have respirators that they can where as needed at the high altitude.

GECX 905 (a C44-9CW test unit of GE) and JT 20004 (a C38AChe prototype unit by GE) sit on the way at East Portal along with GECX 100 (GE's test car).

Now the engine is in Tibet, China.

The Qinghai-Tibet Railway

The Qinghai-Tibet railway runs for an incredible 960 kilometers over mountains which are over 4,000 meters above sea level. In order to assure that the high level railway runs efficiently, powerful locomotives are the main components of reliable operation of the Qinghai-Tibet railway.  The locomotives are designed to have special characteristics for running over the severe gradients of the Qinghai-Tibet route.

The total length of the second phase of Qinghai-Tibet railway from Golmud to Lhasa is 1142 kilometers. About 550 kilometers of the line were built on frozen earth. The demanding climatic conditions include high elevation, low are pressure, thin air, severe cold, significant temperature changes, strong sandstorms, etc. all add to the complexity of operation this line.

At present, the locomotive running on the Qinghai-Tibet railway are NJ2 diesel locomotive "Snowland Ship" diesel locomotives which operate alongside new DF 8B and DF 7G locomotives.

Exclusively licensed and produced by Bachmann China

NJ2 diesel locomotive 'White Prairie'

NJ2 diesel locomotive introduced from U.S.A. GE Transportation can run efficiently at high altitude and oxygen deficiency environment. The NJ2 is, therefore, specified for the Golmud to Lhasa section. Built in Pennsylvania, USA, its 4000 horsepower diesel is driven by 16 cylinders.

HO 1:87 D.C. with digital interface ~ Gleichstrom mit D.S.S.

R-T-R ready-to-run model with fine detail

Super detail with etched parts

With directional light and smooth operation characteristics

There are totally 78 Model NJ2 diesel locomotives. Triple-deck traction is adopted so as to to meet the special requirement of Qinghai-Tibet Railway. The two colors of locomotive body are milky white and blackish green, of which No.0001-0018 are white and No. 0019-0078 are blackish green respectively.

GE has Qinghai-Tibet Railway model C38AChe locomotive at East Portal, CO, as of January 25, 2006 on UP's East Portal Wye. Locomotive has engineer controls on left hand side of the cab. Since trains will operate at over 13,000 foot elevation, the locomotive is equipped with oxygen for the crew members.

About Qinghai-Tibet Railway The 1,118-kilometer (650-mile) railway, the first linking Tibet with the western China, will extend from Lhasa to Golmud and will be the longest and highest highland railway in the world. Construction started in June 2001. More than 960 kilometers, or four fifths of the railway, will be built at an altitude of more than 4,000 meters (13,120 feet). Setting off on June 29, 2001 the railroad started from Golmud in the north, stretching over a distance of 1,142 kilometers to end at Lhasa in the south. All along the way, a section of over 960 kilometers are over and above 4,000 meters above sea level, the highest altitude being 5,072 meters, of which about 550 kilometers are in the frozen earth region. It will take six years to bring the project to the finish. Route of Qinghai-Tibet Railway The route of the Qinghai-Tibet railway has been confirmed following the completion of a survey by the China State Railway Ministry. The railway, which is seen as marking the further integration of Tibet into China, will extend from Golmud in Qinghai to Lhasa, passing through Nagchu, Damshung county and Yangbajing county. It will be 1,110 km in length, including 30.6 km of tunnels, according to the survey, the findings of which were announced on the Tibet People's Broadcasting station on December 3, 2000. The Qinghai authorities are pushing for construction work on the railway to begin as soon as possible, arguing that it is essential for economic development and "stability and security" in the region.

GE fans,

Are you ready to ride?

Tibet fans, Auf geht's!