Eimco 40 ton Diesel Hydraulic Locomotive

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40 tonne locomotives built specially for sugar cane haulage. We run four of these.
Eimco 40 ton 'Farleigh'

 Eimco 40 ton 'Farleigh'
Eimco 40 ton 'Farleigh'

 Eimco 40 ton 'Farleigh'
Eimco 40 ton 'Narpi' shunting 4 tonne bins at Marian Mill Yard

Eimco 40 ton 'Narpi' shunting 4 tonne bins at Marian Mill Yard
Eimco 40 ton 'Narpi' shunting 4 tonne bins at Marian Mill Yard

Eimco 40 ton 'Narpi' shunting 4 tonne bins at Marian Mill Yard
Eimco on jacks for maintenance

Eimco on jacks for maintenance
Eimco bogie undergoing maintenance

Eimco bogie undergoing maintenance

 
Cab shots inside one of the four Eimco locomotives

Cab shots inside one of the four Eimco locomotives

 
Cab shots inside one of the four Eimco locomotives Cab shots inside one of the four Eimco locomotives
There are two driving positions in these cabs There are two driving positions in these cabs. This is the only locomotive class we use where two driving positions are used. The driver will sit at the console appropriate to the direction of travel. The only other controls are service brakes, sanders and vigilance acknowledgment buttons.

There is apparently some African history with these locomotives. The original design and prototype was built in Zimbabwe. These locomotives are 40 tonnes in weight, are powered by 12V92T Detroit Diesel engines and produce about 720 hp. They are very easy locomotives to drive. If you look at the cab shots you will notice a big wheel on the side of the dash. This wheel performs two functions, it increases engine RPM and the amount of fluid pumped into the driving transmission. Basically the wheel is moved in the direction you want to travel and the further you move it the more engine RPM and power is applied. When descending downgrades or stopping the wheel is simply pulled back through the “neutral” or idle position into reverse and oil is pumped against the turbines in the transmission therefore providing a “dynamic” braking effect. Engine speed is limited to1100 rpm in this mode.

Very simple, very reliable and very friendly as it does not wear out brake blocks etc. Only one catch, if you are on greasy track (dew or rain) and you have the transmission in dynamic, if the locomotive wheels lock up briefly the on board computer thinks that the train has stopped and the driver has now selected reverse and applies full power (2100rpm). So you end up with the train traveling in the forward direction and the locomotive wheels spinning in the reverse direction!  Catches out new drivers very easily (and some of the older ones too!!). It can be a scary experience and if not rectified quickly by an alert driver the train can end up in a runaway situation.

 


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