Introduction

For the railway enthusiast, China offers a fascinating mix of old and new locomotives, American, Japanese, Soviet and European influences, steam, diesel and electric traction, heavy traffic, stunning landscapes and friendly people.

Until recently, my own visits had been exclusively aimed at capturing working steam on film but in the process I've seen and photographed many diesels of many classes in many places. Coverage is currently far from comprehensive as I've never been to the south and haven't photographed several of the more modern main line classes which were introduced after steam was banished to independent and industrial lines. As steam operation declines, trips, specifically to see modern traction, may become more common.

This feature describes more than a dozen classes of loco with brief technical details where known, history and operational data. Classes are listed alphabetically. This version includes several new classes and more will be added as time and availability permit. For more details of each class, click on the read more link or the photo.

Robin Gibbons' Railways of China site is an excellent source of information about Chinese diesel and electric locos and multiple units and is required surfing for those interested in the current rail scene. Thanks are also due to Bruce Evans for providing additional information.

BJ Class B'-B' Diesel-Hydraulics

92-157-10
Powerful hydraulics but very few now survive (read more ...).

DF Class Co'-Co' Diesel-Electrics
DF3 Class Co'-Co' Diesel-Electrics

99-032-01
Early main line locos, now extinct (read more ...).

DF2 Class Co'-Co' Diesel-Electrics

96-148-04
Early shunting engines, now extinct (read more ...).

DF4 Class Co'-Co' Diesel-Electrics
DF4A Class Co'-Co' Diesel-Electrics
DF4B Class Co'-Co' Diesel-Electrics

96-003-01
The diesel that conquered China (read more ...).

DF4C Class Co'-Co' Diesel-Electrics

96-025-10
A development of the DF4 design with a new shape and a new colour scheme (read more ...).

DF4D Class Co'-Co' Diesel-Electrics

06-d-0977-w
The final development of the DF4 design for fast passengers and heavy freight (read more ...).

DF5 Class Co'-Co' Diesel-Electrics

06-d-0538-w
Locos for heavy shunting and trip working (read more ...).

DF7 Class Co'-Co' Diesel-Electrics
DF7B Class Co'-Co' Diesel-Electrics
DF7C Class Co'-Co' Diesel-Electrics
DF7D Class Co'-Co' Diesel-Electrics
DF7G Class Co'-Co' Diesel-Electrics

04-d-0145-w
Locos for heavy shunting and trip working. There was a main line version but it didn’t last long (read more ...).

DF8 Class Co'-Co' Diesel-Electrics
DF8B Class Co'-Co' Diesel-Electrics

06-d-0987-w
Heavy freight diesels (read more ...).

DF10 Class Co'-Co' Diesel-Electrics

05-d-0039-w
Heavy shunting and trip locos for industry. The main line passenger version didn’t seem to catch on (read more ...).

DF11 Class Co'-Co' Diesel-Electrics

06-d-1560-w
Powerful main line passenger locos capable of 170km/h (read more ...).

DFH1 Class B'-B' Diesel-Hydraulics

85bw-03-13
Early hydraulics for express passenger trains, long since superseded (read more ...).

DFH3 Class B'-B' Diesel-Hydraulics

91-024-10
Passenger hydraulics, once widespread in the north-east but now virtually extinct (read more ...).

GKD Series Diesel-Electrics

03-d-0145-w
Industrial diesel-electrics of all shapes and sizes (read more ...).

ND5 Class Co'-Co' Diesel-Electrics

97-169-09
China’s first big American diesels (read more ...).

NYJ1, NZJ1, NZJ2 Class Units

05-d-3185-w
Unit trains with a diesel electric power car at each end (read more ...).