Rynek Kolejowy reports: Newag is starting the construction of its first multi system electric locomotive with diesel engine, compliant with the European TSI 2014 norms: the designated E4MSUd-001.

It is stated it is the first multi system electric with combustion engine in Europe, but this will only be true if Newag finishes it before Bombardier will introduce the first TRAXX MS3, that may feature a diesel engine too.

Newag states it is searching for customers in countries such as Germany, Czech Republic and Slovakia.

This is the E4DCUd-001, the first Griffin locomotive for Lotos Kolej. The oil company has ordered five such 4-axle locomotives, to be leased from Newag, to be delivered this year.

The silver-blue E4DCUd-001 locomotive, captured today at PKP Intercity's depot in Cracow. The locomotive has received several visual modifications, that make it look slightly different from the prototype. Photo: Andrzej Brzeźny.

The blue and silver machine you see in the picture is the first machine of this type to be built since the completion of the Griffin prototype locomotive from 2012. The green metallic machine, that was recently repainted in the corporate colors of Newag, was built as a multi system locomotive, the new one you see now is a DC only locomotive with last mile diesel module. We expect that it will be transported to the Polish test center at Żmigród, after the initial tests in Cracow have been completed.

The cab design of the new E4DCUd-001 is slightly different compared to the prototype. The headlights have a different shape, as do the front windows, cabin roofs and grips and power boxes on the front.

The first Griffin locomotive, built for Lotos Kolej, is being subjected to the first homologation tests at the PKP Intercity base in Cracow. Photo: Andrzej Brzeźny.

This is the E4DCUd-001, the first Griffin locomotive for Lotos Kolej. The oil company has ordered five such 4-axle locomotives, to be leased from Newag, to be delivered this year.

The blue and silver machine you see in the picture is the first machine of this type to be built since the completion of the Griffin prototype locomotive from 2012. The green metallic machine, that was recently repainted in the corporate colors of Newag, was built as a multi system locomotive, the new one you see now is a DC only locomotive with last mile diesel module. We expect that it will be transported to the Polish test center at Zmigrod.

The cab design of the new E4DCUd-001 is slightly different compared to the prototype. The headlights have a different shape, as do the front windows, cabin roofs and grips and power boxes on the front. The blue-silver machine

The 'green mean machine' is no more. The ZNLE locomotive that had its debute on InnoTrans 2012, is now property of Newag, so it was time to make this more visible. Now the machine has the same livery as the recently outshopped Dragon locomotive no. E6ACTd-106, red, grey with large Newag logos.

The E4MSU-001 is now operated by Euronaft from Trzebinia. Several followers of our site were able to portray the locomotive in its new design during the past days. We thank Radek Kopras / Lucas Piotrowski / Andrzej Szafoni.

Inforail.pl reports about the final outcome of the Polish Innotabor innovation program, set-up by the Polish National Centre for Research and Development. Thirteen projects will receive funding, two of them are about locomotive development:

Newag receives 12,5 million złoty (appr. 2,9 million euro) for the development of a 4-axle multi-system electric with additional diesel engine.

Pesa is working on a dual-mode locomotive, an AC/DC electric + diesel. For this project, 21,8 million złoty (appr. 5 milion euro) will be available.

This is Dragon locomotive no.5 for Freightliner PL from Poland. It had a test run today and is soon to be handed over to the operator. It is the very last locomotive built by Newag at its Gliwice plant. The company has decided to concentrate all its rolling stock construction activities at its other factory location in Nowy Sącz. The Gliwice factory came into possession of Newag when it (fully) took over ZNLE in 2015.

The history of the factory in Gliwice goes back to 1904. A history full of steam locomotives and locomotive modernization. In total, 15 new electrics have been built since 2006 at Gliwice. Dragon locomotive E6ACT-001 to 009. E6ACtd-101 to 105 and the Griffin prototype: E4MSU-001.

Just when you start to wonder, what has happened to the Newag Griffin locomotive, there is news. In 2017, Newag will deliver five Griffin locomotives to freight operator Lotos Kolej. Today, a contract was signed to lease these machines from Newag for a period of seven year. Maintenance is included. Otions to extend or to order more locomotives are included in the deal.

We are talking about Griffin locomotives for 3kV DC with a power rating of 5.6 MW. Additionally, the machine will get a combustion engine with a output of 350 kW (configuration E4DCU-DP). It is the first order for this type. Until now only one prototype was built, a metallic green painted machine that was presented during InnoTrans 2012 (configuration E4MSU). Since then, the machine was used for tests and demo runs for various rail operators in Poland (inlcuding Lotos Kolej).

rynek-kolejowy.pl

Newag has published the information that the multi system version of its Griffin platform locomotive has been granted three Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI) certificates: 1. Locomotives and passenger rolling stock" (Loc & Pas); 2. Rolling stock - Noise (NOI) and 3. Safety in Railway Tunnels (SRT). TSI certificates are valid for the whole European Union.

The TSI certificates are a mile stone for Newag and its plans to get the Griffin approved for several European countries. Until now the machine is only running in Poland. The only existing prototype has now been tested by several Polish operators.

(newag.pl)

On 28.05.2014, Newag Gliwice and the Croatian company Đuro Đaković Specijalna Vozila signed a contract for building Griffin electric locomotives in Croatia. The deal concerns building a single voltage, multi purpose version of the Griffin (official designation E4ACU).

The signing of the agreement took place at the Ministry of Economy in Zagreb, Croatia. The agreement defines a constant and long-term cooperation including technology transfer and exchange of experience and know-how about the production of electric locomotives .

Test runs are well underway now. The locomotive now also runs under AC catenary systems. Click here for some more nice pictures of the green machine in CZ.

< check the Trainspo.com gallery

Update: a new picture.

Another interesting fact: Newag plans to test the capabilities of the Griffin under 25kV, somewhere in the south of Europe. Unlike the Gama locomotive built by opponent Pesa, the first Griffin is a multi-system locomotive for 3kV DC, 15kV and 25kV AC voltage systems.

For this site, we will now refer to the former ZNLE products as Newag Dragon and Newag Griffin. Talking about the Griffin, the engine is still subjected to comprehensive static testing. Transformers, brakes, drive, auxiliary converters, air handling system are being evaluated. Same for less vital components as air-conditioning and lighting systems. According to planning, first dynamic runs will commence in March and supervised, test service in everyday practice are planned for April 2013. - www.rynek-kolejowy.pl

ZNLE made sure the Griffin got a lot of attention today. The locomotive was officially presented and revealed today, with a show, dancers, smoke effects and official announcements. It had to be clear, the Griffin is a new platform locomotive for the European market, developed in only twenty months. Unlike its direct opponent, the version on display does not have a last mile diesel, but the Griffin will be, like the Siemens Vectron, homologated for speeds up to 200 kph (the Gama is restricted to 190 kph).

The theoretic Griffin family is flexible. It has four base versions; the 3kV DC locomotive; a 15+25kV AC locomotive, a multi system engine with all these three voltage systems united, and a diesel-electric version with 2.3MW duration power. All electric version have 5.6 MW and can be delivered with a maximum speed of 140 or 200 kph. The starting traction effort will be 310kN (248kN for the diesel).

During the presentation, ZNLE stated they can guarantee a quick delivery, a 95 percent availability and an interval between important check-ups of 30.000km.

The project started in January 2011. The first goal is to built 140 kph fast prototype locomotive for 3kV DC / 15kV AC and 25 kV AC voltage systems. The engine should be ready for initial trials in the third quarter of 2012. (Let's hope this means it will be on time for the Innotrans fair).

For the Griffin platform, four theoretical base configurations have been formulated:
E4DCU - multi-purpose / 3 kV DC / 140 kph
E4DCP - passenger locomotive / 3 kV DC / 200 kph
E4MSU - multi-purpose / 3 kV DC - 15kV AC - 25 kV AC / 140 kph
E4MSP - passenger locomotive / 3 kV DC - 15kV AC - 25 kV AC / 200 kph

No real surprises here. Only the 200 kph DC version is remarkable, as Siemens and Bombardier do not have such configuration in their base package. It tells us that for the Griffin, the domestic Polish market will be very important.

The TRAKO leaflet about the Griffin now shows us a green and black locomotive, with a similar exterior design as the Dragon. That makes sense of course. Sharing building blocks reduces the price of both the Dragon and Griffin in the future. The head lights and nose section of the Griffin seem to be enhanced a bit, looking a bit more dynamic and modern.

The E4MSU Griffin will be a true asynchrone multi-system locomotive for mixed services. It can have top speeds ranging from 140 to 190 kph. That means the design does need meet the crash standards for high speed locomotives (+190 kph) but that market is rather small at this moment.
It can deal with both DC and AC voltage systems and the weight of the four-axle locomotuve ranges from 80 to 88 tonnes. Duration power will be 5600 kW.

Now there is the news that the future passenger locomotive from the house of Polish manufacturer ZNLE Gliwice will be called 'Griffin'. Another mythological name for a ZNLE product. A Griffin is half lion and half eagle, so a nice metaphor for a locomotive that will combine power and speed.

The E6ACT 'Dragon' is a six axle freight locomotive with 5MW duration power for the Polish domestic market. The E4ACU 'Griffin' has a more multi-purpose character; It will be a four axle machine with a top speed of 200 kph and 6MW power. The first design sketches, although very rough, look promising..

According to ZNLE, the design work on the 'Griffin' has progressed considerably; The company has ordered the first parts for the prototype. However, the first machine will not be complete before 2012. - http://www.rynek-kolejowy.pl

Some first clean design impressions at http://www.rynek-kolejowy.pl.