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UIC classification of locomotive axle arrangements

January 09, 2023

For the UIC system of classifying locomotives, see UIC identification marking for tractive stock.

The UIC classification of locomotive axle arrangements, sometimes known as the German classification[1] or German system,[2][3] describes the wheel arrangement of locomotives, multiple units and trams. It is used in much of the world, notable exceptions being the United Kingdom, which uses a slightly simplified form of UIC (except for steam locomotives and small diesel shunters, where Whyte notation is used), and in North America, where the AAR wheel arrangement system (essentially another simplification of the UIC system) is used to describe diesel and electric locomotives; Whyte notation is used in North America only for steam locomotives.

The classification system is managed by the International Union of Railways (UIC).[4]

Structure

The UIC uses the following structure:[4]

Upper-case letters
Indicate driving axles, starting at A for a single axle. C thus indicates three consecutive pairs of driving wheels.
Lower-case "o"
Related to driving axles (minimum 2, "B"), indicates they are individually driven by separate traction motors.
Numbers
Consecutive non-driving axles, starting with 1 for a single axle.
Prime symbol " ′ "
The axles indicated by a single letter or number are mounted on a bogie.
Parentheses
Groups letters and numbers describing the same bogie. For example, (A1A) indicates a three-axle bogie with the outer two axles driven. When parentheses are used around a single letter or number, a prime is not needed to indicate a bogie. Articulated locomotives can be indicated by bracketing the front power unit — for example, the Union Pacific Big Boy, 4-8-8-4 in Whyte notation, is (2′D)D2′ in UIC notation.
Plus sign "+"
The locomotive or multiple unit consists of permanently coupled but mechanically separate traction units.

Garratt-type locomotives are indicated by bracketing or placing plus signs between all individual units.

Other suffixes
  • h: superheated steam (German: Heißdampf, lit. 'hot steam')
  • n: saturated steam (German: Nassdampf, lit. 'wet steam')
  • v: compound (German: Verbund)
  • Turb: turbine
  • number: number of cylinders
  • t: tank locomotive
  • tr: tram (urban) locomotive
  • E: Engerth-type locomotive
  • G: freight (German: Güterzug, lit. 'goods train'). Also used to indicate shunting locomotives
  • P: passenger (German: Personenzug, lit. 'passenger train')
  • S: fast passenger (German: Schnellzug, lit. 'express train')

The most common wheel arrangements in modern locomotives are Bo′Bo′ and Co′Co′.

Examples

The following examples are based on the UIC classification:[4]

(A1A)(A1A)
Two bogies or wheel assemblies under the unit. Each bogie has one powered axle, one idle axle, and one more powered axle. All powered axles are individually driven by traction motors.
BB
Four powered axles all mounted in the locomotive's frame, driven in pairs, i.e. each pair of axles is connected by driving rods or gears. Compare with "D" below. (Whyte notation: 0-4-4-0)
B′B′
Two bogies or wheel assemblies under the unit. Each bogie has two powered axles, connected by driving rods or gears.
Bo′(A1A)
Two bogies or wheel assemblies. The "Bo′" bogie is under one end of the unit, and has two powered axles, while the "(A1A)" bogie under the other end of the unit has one powered axle, one idle axle, and another powered axle. All powered axles are individually driven by traction motors.
Bo′Bo′
Two bogies or wheel assemblies under the unit. Each bogie has two powered axles individually driven by traction motors. Three-quarters of all modern locomotives (and power cars of self-propelled trains) are configured in either this or the "B′B′" arrangement.
Bo′Bo′Bo′
Three bogies or wheel assemblies under the unit. Each bogie has two powered axles individually driven by traction motors.
C
Three powered axles, connected by driving rods or gears, all mounted in the locomotive's frame (Whyte notation: 0-6-0).
C′C′
Two bogies or wheel assemblies under the unit. Each bogie has three powered axles, connected by driving rods or gears. One such example of this type is Southern Pacific 9010.
Co′Co′
Two bogies or wheel assemblies under the unit. Each bogie has three powered axles individually driven by traction motors.
(2Co)(Co2)
A locomotive with two bogies, each with two leading axles and three individually powered axles. A number of Japanese electric locomotives used this wheel arrangement, including the JNR Class EF58, and the PRR GG1.
D
Four powered axles, connected by driving rods or gears, all mounted in the locomotive's frame (Whyte notation: 0-8-0).
1′D1′
One leading idle (non-driven) axle mounted in a bogie, four driven axles mounted in the frame and connected by driving rods or gears, followed by one trailing idle axle mounted in a bogie (Whyte notation: 2-8-2).
E
Five powered axles, mounted in the locomotive's frame (Whyte notation: 0-10-0).
2′D1′h3S
Two front leading axles grouped in a bogie, four driving axles, one trailing axle in a bogie, simple steam expansion, superheated steam, three-cylinders, for fast trains (Whyte notation: 4-8-2).
1′E1′h2Gt
One front leading axle in a bogie, five driving axles, one rear trailing axle, simple steam expansion, superheated steam, two-cylinder machine, for freight trains, tank engine (Whyte notation: 2-10-2T).
1′Dn4vP
One front leading axle in a bogie, four driving axles, saturated steam, four-cylinder machine, compound (double steam expansion), for passenger trains (Whyte notation: 2-8-0).
D′Dh4vtG (hypothetical example)
No front leading axle, four driving axles in a bogie, four more driven axles mounted in the frame (Mallet locomotive), superheated steam, four-cylinder machine, compound (double steam expansion), tank locomotive, for freight trains (Whyte notation: 0-8-8-0T).

See also

References

  1. ^ The Railway Data File. Leicester: Silverdale, 2000. p. 52. ISBN 1-85605-499-3.
  2. ^ Peck C.B., Locomotive cyclopedia of American practice, 1950-52, Association of American Railroads Mechanical Division, Simmons-Boardman Pub. Co., 1950, p. 449.
  3. ^ Kalla-Bishop P.M. & Greggio, Luciano, Steam Locomotives, Crescent, 1985, p. 226.
  4. ^ a b c IRS 60650 Railway Application - Rolling Stock - Standard designation of axle arrangement on locomotives and multiple-unit sets. Paris, France: International union of railways. 2021. ISBN 9782746125209. Retrieved 23 October 2021.

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to UIC classification.
  • Krebs, Gunter. "Wheel Arrangement". SkyRocket.de.

January 09, 2023
classification, locomotive, axle, arrangements, system, classifying, locomotives, identification, marking, tractive, stock, sometimes, known, german, classification, german, system, describes, wheel, arrangement, locomotives, multiple, units, trams, used, much. For the UIC system of classifying locomotives see UIC identification marking for tractive stock The UIC classification of locomotive axle arrangements sometimes known as the German classification 1 or German system 2 3 describes the wheel arrangement of locomotives multiple units and trams It is used in much of the world notable exceptions being the United Kingdom which uses a slightly simplified form of UIC except for steam locomotives and small diesel shunters where Whyte notation is used and in North America where the AAR wheel arrangement system essentially another simplification of the UIC system is used to describe diesel and electric locomotives Whyte notation is used in North America only for steam locomotives The classification system is managed by the International Union of Railways UIC 4 Contents 1 Structure 2 Examples 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksStructure EditThe UIC uses the following structure 4 Upper case letters Indicate driving axles starting at A for a single axle C thus indicates three consecutive pairs of driving wheels Lower case o Related to driving axles minimum 2 B indicates they are individually driven by separate traction motors Numbers Consecutive non driving axles starting with 1 for a single axle Prime symbol The axles indicated by a single letter or number are mounted on a bogie Parentheses Groups letters and numbers describing the same bogie For example A1A indicates a three axle bogie with the outer two axles driven When parentheses are used around a single letter or number a prime is not needed to indicate a bogie Articulated locomotives can be indicated by bracketing the front power unit for example the Union Pacific Big Boy 4 8 8 4 in Whyte notation is 2 D D2 in UIC notation Plus sign The locomotive or multiple unit consists of permanently coupled but mechanically separate traction units Garratt type locomotives are indicated by bracketing or placing plus signs between all individual units Other suffixes h superheated steam German Heissdampf lit hot steam n saturated steam German Nassdampf lit wet steam v compound German Verbund Turb turbine number number of cylinders t tank locomotive tr tram urban locomotive E Engerth type locomotive G freight German Guterzug lit goods train Also used to indicate shunting locomotives P passenger German Personenzug lit passenger train S fast passenger German Schnellzug lit express train The most common wheel arrangements in modern locomotives are Bo Bo and Co Co Examples EditThe following examples are based on the UIC classification 4 A1A A1A Two bogies or wheel assemblies under the unit Each bogie has one powered axle one idle axle and one more powered axle All powered axles are individually driven by traction motors BB Four powered axles all mounted in the locomotive s frame driven in pairs i e each pair of axles is connected by driving rods or gears Compare with D below Whyte notation 0 4 4 0 B B Two bogies or wheel assemblies under the unit Each bogie has two powered axles connected by driving rods or gears Bo A1A Two bogies or wheel assemblies The Bo bogie is under one end of the unit and has two powered axles while the A1A bogie under the other end of the unit has one powered axle one idle axle and another powered axle All powered axles are individually driven by traction motors Bo Bo Two bogies or wheel assemblies under the unit Each bogie has two powered axles individually driven by traction motors Three quarters of all modern locomotives and power cars of self propelled trains are configured in either this or the B B arrangement Bo Bo Bo Three bogies or wheel assemblies under the unit Each bogie has two powered axles individually driven by traction motors C Three powered axles connected by driving rods or gears all mounted in the locomotive s frame Whyte notation 0 6 0 C C Two bogies or wheel assemblies under the unit Each bogie has three powered axles connected by driving rods or gears One such example of this type is Southern Pacific 9010 Co Co Two bogies or wheel assemblies under the unit Each bogie has three powered axles individually driven by traction motors 2Co Co2 A locomotive with two bogies each with two leading axles and three individually powered axles A number of Japanese electric locomotives used this wheel arrangement including the JNR Class EF58 and the PRR GG1 D Four powered axles connected by driving rods or gears all mounted in the locomotive s frame Whyte notation 0 8 0 1 D1 One leading idle non driven axle mounted in a bogie four driven axles mounted in the frame and connected by driving rods or gears followed by one trailing idle axle mounted in a bogie Whyte notation 2 8 2 E Five powered axles mounted in the locomotive s frame Whyte notation 0 10 0 2 D1 h3S Two front leading axles grouped in a bogie four driving axles one trailing axle in a bogie simple steam expansion superheated steam three cylinders for fast trains Whyte notation 4 8 2 1 E1 h2Gt One front leading axle in a bogie five driving axles one rear trailing axle simple steam expansion superheated steam two cylinder machine for freight trains tank engine Whyte notation 2 10 2T 1 Dn4vP One front leading axle in a bogie four driving axles saturated steam four cylinder machine compound double steam expansion for passenger trains Whyte notation 2 8 0 D Dh4vtG hypothetical example No front leading axle four driving axles in a bogie four more driven axles mounted in the frame Mallet locomotive superheated steam four cylinder machine compound double steam expansion tank locomotive for freight trains Whyte notation 0 8 8 0T See also EditAAR wheel arrangement Co Co locomotives International Union of Railways List of UIC country codes Swiss locomotive and railcar classification UIC classification of goods wagons UIC classification of railway coaches UIC identification marking for tractive stock Wheel arrangementReferences Edit The Railway Data File Leicester Silverdale 2000 p 52 ISBN 1 85605 499 3 Peck C B Locomotive cyclopedia of American practice 1950 52 Association of American Railroads Mechanical Division Simmons Boardman Pub Co 1950 p 449 Kalla Bishop P M amp Greggio Luciano Steam Locomotives Crescent 1985 p 226 a b c IRS 60650 Railway Application Rolling Stock Standard designation of axle arrangement on locomotives and multiple unit sets Paris France International union of railways 2021 ISBN 9782746125209 Retrieved 23 October 2021 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to UIC classification Krebs Gunter Wheel Arrangement SkyRocket de Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title UIC classification of locomotive axle arrangements amp oldid 1119071990, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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