List of largest locomotives


As railroads around the world haul larger quantities of freight efficiently, the title of world's largest locomotive has often been passed to new generations of rolling stock. Currently, with what information is published, the most powerful articulated and single unit locomotive is the 2ES10S, the strongest-pulling is the IORE, and the heaviest is the Union Pacific Coal GTEL. The information is incomplete on some locomotives, thus, the current leaders listed in each category may not be the actual leaders.

Standard

There are many ways in which a locomotive can be the largest: the heaviest, longest, most cylinders, most power, or most wheels. It is often defined as the longest in length, but there is even a debate on whether or not to include the tender, which is equivalent to the fuel tank of a diesel, in the measurement. To establish the "largest" category, several factors take precedence: overall weight, which gives traction over driving axles; size ; and power, which may be in terms of raw horsepower, tractive effort, available power at axles or, in the case of steam locomotives, available steam on a sustained basis.

List

NameRailwaySeriesManufacturerDatesMotive powerWheel arrangementWeightTractive Effort/ForcePowerNotes-
China Railways HXD1GChina RailwayHXD1G0001-
HXD1G0002		CRRC Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive2015ElectricBo'Bo'+Bo'Bo' starting;
continuous		Only 2 Prototype locomotives are made. It has another variant called FXD1-J and this will go into series production-
Indian locomotive class WAG-12Indian RailwaysWAG12B60001+ onwardELF Madhepura2018–presentElectricBo'Bo'+Bo'Bo'
Up-gradable to 		starting
-
EMD SD70ACe-T4Union Pacific Railroad
BNSF Railway		3000-3099 Electro-Motive Diesel 2015–presentDiesel-electricCo'Co' starting
continuous		-
Shenhua Mining Group HXD1Shenhua Mining GroupHXD1.7CRRC Zhuzhou2013Electric3xBo'Bo'
continuous rating		Heavy haul locomotive of China-
:ru:2ЭС10|2ES10S Russian RailwaysUral Locomotives2014–presentElectric3xBo'Bo' 1-hour ratingThree sections modification of 2ES10.-
:ru:Э5К#4.D0.AD.D0.A15.D0.9A|4E5KRussian RailwaysNovocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant2014–presentElectric4xBo'Bo' 1-hour ratingFour sections modification of E5K.-
:ru:ГТ1|GT1sRussian RailwaysSinara transport machinesGas turbine-ElectricCurrently the most powerful non-electric locomotive ever produced.-
Little JoeChicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad EF-4 and EP-4General Electric1950-80Electric2-D+D-2Max speed of 68 mph, used for freight and passenger.-
Eurotunnel Class 9Getlink9000Euroshuttle Locomotive Consortium1993-2002electricBo-Bo-Bo starting;
continuous		Always used in pairs. Early versions were but most have been rebuilt to 7 MW.-
AD43CIranian Railways2001-2100Alstom2001Diesel ElectricCo'Co'about 50 locomotives are stopped because of failures in the RK215 diesel engine-
Ae 6/6SBB, Switzerland11401-11520SLM, MFO/BBC1952; 1955–66electricCo-Co continuousstill in operation -
:de:BLS Ae 6/8|Ae 6/8BLS, Switzerland201-208SLM / Sécheron1939electric 1-hour rating2 remain in working order as heritage locos-
:de:BLS Ae 8/8|Ae 8/8BLS, Switzerland271-275SLM / BBC1959-66electric+ 1-hour rating1 preserved in working order-
Ae 8/14SBB, Switzerland11852SLM, MFO/BBC1939electricA1'A+A1'A 1-hour rating;
continuous		Exhibit at Swiss Transport Museum-
:de:BLS Re 4/4|Re 4/4BLS, SwitzerlandRe 425 161-Re 425 195)SLM / BBC1964-83electricBo'Bo' continuousin operation -
Re 465BLS, SwitzerlandRe 465 001-465 0018SLM, ABB1994-97electricBo-Bo short term
continuous;		Similar locomotives with slightly different technical data are in operation with SBB / VR / KCRC -
:de:SBB Re 6/6|Re 6/6SBB, Switzerland11601-11689SLM, MFO/BBC/Sécheron1972, 1975–80electricBo-Bo-Bo 1-hour rating;
continuous		At the time of construction one of the world's most powerful locomotives, still in operation, revised classification Re 620-
PRR GG1Pennsylvania Rail Road, Penn Central, Conrail, Amtrak & NJ Transit4800-4938, 900-929Altoona Works, General Electric1934–43Electric2-C+C-2 Most scrapped; the prototype and 15 production locomotives preserved in museums-
Class 461Železnice Srbije, SerbiaŽS461-0/1, ŽS461-2Electroputere Craiova, Romania1965–91ElectricCo'Co'Operational in Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Hungary & Macedonia.-
XA TriplexVirginian Railway700Baldwin1916Steam2-8-8-8-4 simple;
compound		Rebuilt into separate locomotives; Maximum speed approx. 10 mph-
Erie Class P-1Erie Railroad2603-2605,
later 5014-5016		Baldwin Locomotive Works1914-1916Steam2-8-8-8-2Maximum speed approx. 10 mph-
2-10-10-2Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Virginian Railway		3000-3009
800-809 		Baldwin Locomotive Works
American Locomotive Company 		1911-1912, 1918Steam2-10-10-2 simple;
compound		Weight and performance figures listed for the Virginian variant, as that locomotive was the heavier and more powerful of the two.-
Norfolk & WesternRoanoke Shops1940sSteam2-8-8-2Norfolk and Western 2156 is strongest-pulling steam locomotive still in existence-
Union Pacific 9000 classUnion Pacific9000-9087American Locomotive Company1926-1930Steam4-12-2-
ChallengerUnion Pacific3950-3999ALCO1936-43Steam4-6-6-4Two locomotives preserved, one on static display.
Union Pacific 3985 operated for company PR and occasional excursion service from 1981-2010, and officially retired in 2020.		-
Big BoyUnion Pacific4000-4024ALCO1941--44Steam4-8-8-4Several on static display.
No. 4014 is currently in service with the UP Heritage Steam collection.		-
YellowstoneNorthern Pacific
DM&IR
B&O Railroad		220-237 Baldwin Locomotive Works1928-1945Steam2-8-8-4-
China Railways DF8DJChina RailwaysDF8DJ0001, later DF8B5672CSR Ziyang2006Diesel-electricCo'Co' starting
continuous		Most powerful single-engine diesel locomotive ever built.
AlleghenyChesapeake & Ohio Railway & Virginian Railway 1600-1659,
900-907 		Lima Locomotive Works1941-48Steam2-6-6-6Two on static display-
PRR Q2Pennsylvania Railroad6131, 6175-6199Altoona Works1941-45Steam4-4-6-4 with boosterMost powerful steam locomotive ever static tested-
PRR S1Pennsylvania Railroad6100Altoona Works1939Steam6-4-4-6Fast passenger locomotive; the magazine Popular Mechanics cites 1941 a speed of 133.4 mph -
H220Victorian RailwaysH ClassVictorian Railways' Newport Workshops1941–1958Steam4-8-4The most powerful steam locomotive, at the time built in, Australia. 1 Built. Preserved at Australian Railway Historical Society Museum-
PRR S2Pennsylvania Railroad6200Baldwin Locomotive Works1944Steam Turbine Direct-drive6-8-6Most powerful steam turbine locomotive ever built-
M1Chesapeake & Ohio Railway 500-502Baldwin Locomotive Works1947-50Steam Turbine Electric2-C1-2-C1-B
 turbine;
generators		Nicknamed "Sacred Cows". Sold back to Baldwin in 1950 and scrapped.-
Jawn HenryNorfolk & Western Railway 2300Baldwin Locomotive Works1954-58Steam Turbine ElectricC+C-C+CStruck from the N&W roster on January 4, 1958-
Big BlowUnion Pacific1-30,
1B-30B 		General Electric1958-61Gas turbine-electricC-C+C-C;
over 10,000 hp at lower altitude and ambient temperatures 		Two preserved in museums. Surpassed by :ru:ГТ1|GT1s-
EMD DDA40XUnion Pacific6900-6946Electro-Motive Division of General Motors1969-71Diesel-electricD-D starting;
continuous		One operational, 13 in various museums; largest operational single-unit diesel locomotive and the most powerful-
Voith MaximaVoith2006-14Diesel-hydraulicCo'Co' continuous Voith Maxima 40CC is the most powerful single-engine diesel-hydraulic locomotive ever built-
BJ 6001China Railway北京6001Beijing Feb. 7th1969Diesel-hydraulicD'D'Most powerful diesel-hydraulic locomotive ever built-
SJ Dm3SJASEA1953-71Electric1'D+D+D1'Highest continuous tractive effort when built, most powerful locomotive using jackshafts-
DB Class 103Deutsche Bahn103 101-245AEG, BBC, Henschel, Krauss-Maffei, Krupp, Siemens1970-73ElectricCo'Co' or short term;
1-hour rating;
continuous rating		One of the most powerful electric locomotives ever built, it also is the most powerful single-frame locomotive ever build ; immense short term power: tractive effort of 312 kN up to a speed of 140 km/h -
DB Class 151Deutsche Bahn151 001-170AEG, BBC, Henschel, Krauss-Maffei, Krupp, Siemens1972-78ElectricCo'Co'Powerful freight locomotive in the 1970s with high continuous tractive effort-
DB Class 101Deutsche Bahn101 001-145Adtranz1996-99ElectricBo'Bo' continuousMaximum speed 220 km/h -
EuroSprinterDeutsche Bahn, ÖBBKrauss-Maffei, Siemens1996-2001ElectricBo'Bo' short term;
continuous		Maximum speed 230 km/h ;
Taurus Rh 1216 050-5: 357 km/h world record for conventional electric locomotives		-
:de:DSB EG|DSB EGDB Schenker Rail3103-3113Siemens1999-2000ElectricCo'Co' continuousOne of the most powerful single-frame electric locomotives in operation in Europe-
060-EARomanian Railways and diverse private railways in Romania and Hungary40 : 120 km/h
41 : 160 km/h
42: 200 km/h		ASEA
Electroputere Craiova 		1965-91ElectricCo'Co'Powerful locomotive in the 1970s; high continuous tractive effort-
:de:Softronic|Softronic TransmontanaRomanian Railways and diverse private railways in Romania and Hungary480
610 		Softronic Craiova2010–presentElectricCo'Co' 1-hour rating;
continuous		Based on the ASEA 060-EA, but with asynchronous traction motors, IGBT and computerized control-
JR Freight Class EF200JR FreightHitachi Ltd.1990-ElectricBo'Bo'Bo'Most powerful single-frame narrow-gauge locomotive in series production-
EMD SD90MACUnion Pacific8500-8561Electro-Motive Diesel1996-2002Diesel-ElectricC-C starting;
continuous		Retired from service, some on lease with EMLX-
GE AC6000CWUnion Pacific; CSX Transportation; BHP600-699, 5000-5016,
6070-6077, 7500-7579
General Electric1996-2001Diesel-ElectricCo'Co' starting;
continuous		Actual HP output on early production units is 4350 hp due to use of the 7FDL engine.-
Indian locomotive class WAG-7Indian Railways27001-27999, 28000-28770, 24501-24700Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, India, BHEL, India1992ElectricCo'Co'N/A-
Indian locomotive class WAG-9Indian RailwaysChittaranjan Locomotive Works, Electric Locomotive Works, Bhusawal1996–ElectricCo'Co';
continuous		-
Indian locomotive class WAG-9HIndian RailwaysChittaranjan Locomotive Works, Electric Locomotive Works, Bhusawal2000–ElectricCo'Co'
Continuous:		-
Indian locomotive class WAG-9HHIndian Railways90001+Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, India2019-ElectricCo'Co'-
Indian locomotive class WAG-11Indian RailwaysDiesel Locomotive Works Varanasi2018 - PresentElectricCo'Co'11,000 horsepower-
China Railways HXN3China RailwayHXN30001-
HXN30300		Dalian Locomotive, EMD2008-Diesel-ElectricCo'Co' starting;
continuous		Most powerful diesel-electric locomotive in active production.-
China Railways HXN5China RailwayHXN50001-
HXN50300		GE, CSR Qishuyan Locomotive2008-Diesel-ElectricCo'Co' starting;
continuous		Most powerful diesel-electric locomotive in active production.-
China Railways HXD1China RailwayHXD10001-
HXD10220		CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive, Siemens2006-08ElectricBo'Bo'+Bo'Bo' starting;
continuous		-
China Railways HXD2China RailwayHXD20001-
HXD20180		Datong Electric Locomotive, Alstom2006-08ElectricBo'Bo'+Bo'Bo'-
China Railways HXD3China RailwayHXD30001-HXD30890, HXD38001-38150Toshiba, Dalian Locomotive2006-09ElectricCo'Co'-
China Railways HXD1BChina RailwayHXD1B0001-HXD1B0500CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive, Siemens2009-ElectricCo'Co'One of the most powerful single-frame locomotives currently in series production.-
China Railways HXD2BChina RailwayHXD2B0001-HXD2B0500Datong Electric Locomotive, Alstom2009-ElectricCo'Co' starting;
continuous		One of the most powerful single-frame locomotives currently in series production.-
China Railways HXD3BChina RailwayHXD3B0001-HXD3B0500Dalian, Bombardier2009-ElectricCo'Co' starting;
1-hour ratingOne of the most powerful single-frame locomotives currently in series production.-
China Railways HXD1CChina RailwayHXD1C0001-HXD1C0990CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive, Siemens2009-ElectricCo'Co' starting;
continuous		-
China Railways HXD2CChina RailwayHXD2C0001-Datong Electric Locomotive, Alstom2010-ElectricCo'Co' starting; continuous-
China Railways HXD3CChina RailwayHXD3C0001-Dalian, Bombardier2010-ElectricCo'Co' starting; -
IOREMTABIORE 101 - 126Bombardier2000-04ElectricCo'Co'
+Co'Co'
continuous rating 		The most powerful double-frame locomotive in series production. It also has the largest tractive effort among all locomotives ever built. Possible to operate halves which is not usually done.-
VL85Russian Railways270Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant1983-94ElectricBo'Bo'Bo'
+Bo'Bo'Bo'		 continuous; short term-
Union Pacific Coal GTELsUnion Pacific80 Union Pacific Omaha Shops1961Diesel-Electric + Gas Turbine-ElectricA1A-A1A
+2-D-D-2		 Home-built experimental coal-fired gas turbine. Assembled from ALCO PA-1 UP #607, GN W1 #5018, and the tender from Challenger #3990. overall length; total weight. Unsuccessful; set aside in 1964 and scrapped in 1968.-
AD60 classNew South Wales Government Railways6001-6042Beyer, Peacock & Company1952–1954, 1956Steam4-8-4+4-8-4Largest steam locomotive operating in Australia-
Virginian Railway EL-3AVirginian Railway100-109ALCO + Westinghouse1925-1926Electric1-D-1+1-D-1+1-D-1 ;
continuous		 overall length.-
Korail Class 8500Korail8501-8587Hyundai Rotem2012-2014ElectricCo'Co ;
continuous		 overall length.-