NRE 3GS21B
| NRE 3GS21B | |
|---|---|
National Railway Equipment (NRE) | |
| Model | 3GS21B |
| Build date | December 2006 – Present |
| Total produced | 182 |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Prime mover | Cummins QSK19C (×3) |
| Engine type | Diesel engine (×3) |
| Aspiration | Turbocharger (×3) |
| Cylinders | 6 (×3) |
| Performance figures | |
|---|---|
| Power output | 2,100 hp (1,570 kW) |
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Operators | See list |
The NRE 3GS21B is a low-emissions
kW). Each engine could be individually started or shut off depending on how much power is needed, reducing overall diesel emissions and improving fuel efficiency.[1] More than 150 of the 3GS21B genset locomotives have been produced to date, with the majority of these units being manufactured at NRE's Mount Vernon shops in Southern Illinois.[2] In addition, three road slug models have also been produced. The main difference between this and the NRE 3GS21C
is that these units are on B-B (four wheel) trucks and the others are on C-C (six wheel) trucks.
Flexibility
Because the engines are modular, flexibility is obtained:
- If one engine fails, the others can continue at reduced power.
- When reduced power is needed, one or more of the engines can be turned off, saving fuel and wear and tear.
- The QSK19C engine is common to the four variants of the NRE 3GS21C locomotive.
- The QSK19C engine is also widely used for non-railway applications, and spare parts are readily available.[3]
Original buyers
| Railroad | Quantity | Road numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BNSF Railway | 72 |
1220-1294 |
1293-1294 equipped with dynamic brakes, classified as 3GS21B-DE. 1259 converted to Q19-2.4GH for Canadian National and remembered 7100 in 2025[4] |
| California Northern Railroad | 5 |
501-505 |
|
Canadian Pacific |
2 |
2100-2101 |
Both units equipped with dynamic brakes, classified as 3GS21B-DE, 2100 retired 5/13, 2101 retired 6/13 (both returned to NRE). |
| CSX Transportation | 21 |
1300-1315, 1321-1325 |
4 units sold to San Joaquin Valley Railroad and 2 to California Northern Railroad for rebuilding into NZE24B locomotives by Knoxville Locomotive Works. Remaining units sold to KXHR. 1324 sold to LTEX. |
| Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority | 2 |
3248-3249 |
Both units equipped with dynamic brakes, classified as 3GS21B-DE |
| Metro Stevedore[5] | 1 |
805 |
Equipped with dynamic brakes, classified as 3GS21B-DE |
| Neptune Bulk Terminals[6] | 3 |
805-805A, 808-808A, 809-809A |
805A, 808A and 809A are the only road slug model built to date. |
Norfolk Southern |
2 |
300-301 |
|
| Nova Chemicals | 2 |
9120-9121 |
|
National Railway Equipment |
7 |
2008-2009, 2011, 2013–2015, & 2020 |
Demonstration Units |
Pacific Harbor Line |
4 |
30-31 & 33-34 |
|
| Tacoma Rail | 1 |
2100[7] |
|
Union Pacific |
59 |
Y2701-Y2760 |
|
| United States Army | 7 |
6500-6506 |
|
| San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad | 2 |
SDIY 701-702 |
|
| Total | 182[8] |
-
A brand new 3GS21B locomotive painted for the BNSF Railway. -
An NRE 3GS21B leads astreet running trackage at Anaheim, California. -
Two brand newU.S. Army 3GS21B locomotives working at Fort Lewis, Washington. -
Brand new MBTA 3GS21B-DE at South Station. -
MBTA 3GS21B-DE on the Grand Junction Railroad.
See also
References
- ^ "N-Viromotive new locomotive". www.nationalrailway.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-01.
- ^ Train Web: Gensets Gen-set switchers by National Railway Equipment.
- ^ Cummins Marine (August 2002). "Bulletin 4000084: QSK19-M" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on April 12, 2013.
- ^ "CN debuts its first medium horsepower hybrid diesel electric locomotive". Trains. 2025-01-17. Retrieved 2025-01-31.
- ^ Metro Ports
- ^ Neptune Terminals
- ^ Tacoma Rail Locomotives Tacoma Rail Acquires Eco-friendly Locomotives.
- ^ Train Web: Gensets Roster information on NREC 3GS21B engines.
External links
| External images | |
|---|---|
 RailPictures.Net – NRE 3GS21B photographs from RailPictures.Net. | |
| Railroad Picture Archives – Photographs of the NRE 3GS21B at Railroad Picture Archives. |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to NRE 3GS21B locomotives.
- National Railway Equipment Archived 2007-09-01 at the Wayback Machine – Official N-ViroMotive Product Page