EMD 710

EMD 710
Karsini · Public domain · source
Name	EMD 710
Powertype	Diesel
Builder	Electro-Motive Division
Builddate	1980s–2000s
Primemover	Two-stroke V-type diesel
Cylinders	8, 12, 16
Aspiration	Turbocharged
Displacement	710 cu in per cylinder
Totalproduction	Various

EMD 710 is a family of two-stroke V-type diesel prime movers developed by Electro-Motive Division for railroad and industrial use beginning in the early 1980s. The design succeeded earlier EMD 645 engines and powered locomotives produced by General Motors and later Electro-Motive Diesel and Progress Rail for operators including Union Pacific Railroad, CSX Transportation, and Canadian National Railway. The platform influenced locomotive programs for General Electric, Alstom, and Siemens through market competition and emissions development.

Development and Design

The engine family was designed at Electro-Motive Division engineering facilities in La Grange, Illinois, responding to regulatory and market shifts led by agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and standards used by the Association of American Railroads. Chief engineers who worked on the program had prior experience from projects at General Motors Research Laboratories and collaborations with suppliers including Baldwin Locomotive Works veterans and contractors like Baker Hughes and Cummins. Design choices reflected lessons from the EMD 645 lineage and innovations comparable to developments at Sulzer and MAN for mainline traction, incorporating turbocharging approaches influenced by work at BorgWarner and ABB.

Major design goals balanced power density, fuel efficiency, and compliance with evolving emissions criteria promulgated after rulings in Clean Air Act amendments and discussions at the United States Congress. Manufacturing processes used machine tools and casting methods sourced from firms like General Electric suppliers and quality control protocols similar to those at Boeing and Rolls-Royce. The engine's modular architecture allowed adaptation for freight fleets run by Union Pacific Railroad, BNSF Railway, and passenger services operated by Amtrak.

Technical Specifications

The series features an internal displacement of 710 cubic inches per cylinder, arranged in V8, V12, and V16 configurations. Each variant uses two-stroke scavenging and a turbocharger supplied by manufacturers such as Holset and design inputs reminiscent of MTU systems. Power outputs range from medium-horsepower applications comparable to EMD 645 units to high-horsepower installations competitive with General Electric offerings in models used by CSX Transportation and Southern Pacific Railroad.

Auxiliary systems mirror practices from Siemens and Alstom traction packages: direct current traction motors or alternating current in later retrofits, automatic engine control systems analogous to units by Honeywell and Siemens Energy, and cooling arrangements influenced by marine applications at MAN Diesel. The unit employs a robust crankcase and forged components, with materials supplied by firms like Allegheny Technologies and ArcelorMittal and machining comparable to standards at Lockheed Martin.

Variants and Configurations

Manufacturers offered multiple blocks and ratings tailored to companies including Canadian Pacific Railway and Norfolk Southern Railway. Configurations included V8 units for industrial and switcher duties akin to models found on Metra commuter services, V12 variants for medium freight assigned to Providence and Worcester Railroad-class operations, and V16 high-horsepower variants used by Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway on heavy mainline corridors.

Special adaptations included low-emission packages developed in cooperation with Environmental Protection Agency programs and retrofits for AC traction with inverters from ABB and Siemens. Export versions saw deployment with operators such as South African Railways, Indian Railways, and SNCF subsidiaries, often modified per standards of International Union of Railways and local procurement agencies. Industrial use cases extended to power generation projects partnered with firms like GE Power and Siemens Energy.

Applications and Operators

Railway operators across North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe employed the engine family in freight, passenger, and switching roles. Notable fleets included Union Pacific Railroad, Norfolk Southern Railway, CSX Transportation, Canadian National Railway, BNSF Railway, and Canadian Pacific Railway. Passenger operators such as Amtrak and commuter agencies like Metra used locomotives equipped with the engines for regional services, while industrial operators included mining firms like BHP and energy companies such as Shell for remote power applications.

Regional railway administrations—Deutsche Bahn, SNCF, Indian Railways, and Transnet—specified variants for local gauges and emission regimes, often sourcing components from global suppliers including Cummins and MTU. Leasing companies like GE Capital and Wabtec managed assets fitted with these prime movers for shortline railroads like Genesee & Wyoming.

Service History and Performance

In service, the family demonstrated reliability comparable to predecessors used by Penn Central and later by successor fleets from Conrail. Operators reported favorable fuel economy in long-haul freight service across corridors such as the Transcontinental Railroad mainlines and on heavy-haul routes serviced by Union Pacific Railroad. Performance metrics were cited in comparative studies alongside General Electric locomotives and in trials conducted with transport authorities including Federal Railroad Administration.

Incidents and operational feedback led to iterative improvements comparable to upgrades pursued by Amtrak and British Rail programs—upgrades that addressed turbocharger life, lubrication systems, and thermal management similar to retrofits executed on fleets worldwide by Progress Rail and maintenance providers like Wabtec.

Maintenance and Rebuild Programs

Maintenance regimens were standardized by operators including Norfolk Southern Railway and CSX Transportation, with overhaul intervals influenced by practices at Union Pacific Railroad shops and techniques from General Electric service centers. Rebuild and life-extension programs were executed by firms such as Progress Rail, Wabtec, and independent contractors modeled after procedures used by Alstom and Bombardier.

Upgrades included emissions-compliant remanufacture packages, electronic control modernization integrating systems from Honeywell and Siemens, and conversion to AC traction drives using inverters supplied by ABB. Rebuilds for leasing companies and shortlines followed standards similar to those used by Genesee & Wyoming and Patriot Rail to maximize service life and meet procurement specifications set by agencies like Federal Railroad Administration.

Category:Diesel locomotive engines